Pack defends use of outside legal help.(Neighbor)

When the two challengers running for McHenry County state's attorney accused incumbent Gary Pack of overspending on outside legal help, Pack defended the practice.

The $2.16 million spent over three years was necessary because the state's attorney's office has been called upon to defend the county against an inordinately high number of lawsuits, Pack said.

Pack also notes the cost-savings that have come from winning such cases - with the help of legal top guns too expensive to have on staff.

But now, Pack admits at least a portion of the payment to one outside lawyer, Jim Harrison, was in error.

The acknowledgment comes after challenger Philip Prossnitz, a former assistant state's attorney, raised questions about $1 million - nearly half the 3-year total - in county business received by the Woodstock attorney, a friend of Pack's.

Another challenger, Wesley R. Pribla, also criticized Pack for his spending on outside legal help.

According to Prossnitz' review, Harrison was paid for 20 hours to attend a Nov. 17, 1998, county board meeting that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The tab? $2,500.

Pack's office paid Harrison for 11.7 hours, or $1,462, to attend a Jan. 19, 1999 executive session of the county board, Prossnitz added.

That meeting ran 20 minutes.

And on March 2, 1999, Harrison reportedly received $2,250 for 18 hours of legal work for an executive session lasting 1 hour and 8 minutes.

Pack said some of the billing reflects background work on a case - and not just the time spent before the county board.

But he did say Harrison's firm appears to have billed in some instances for multiple cases when, in fact, there was only a single appearance before the county board.

"That happened a few times," Pack said. "It didn't happen every time."

Pack said he has asked Harrison to review his billing back to 1994.

"I told him to look it over," Pack said. "It happened, and again, it's a very small fraction of the $1 million (in billing). He (Harrison) will reimburse the county for it."

Asked how the oversight could have occurred, Pack said his office is not "isolating every bill, every day."

"The way the bills are submitted, it's hard to determine," he said.

He noted Prossnitz reviewed thousands of bill entries, and only found a handful of questionable ones.

"I'm not saying it's insignificant, but to make this whole argument ... I don't think is right," Pack said.

Pack added he can't guarantee such an oversight won't happen again, because it involved human error.

Prossnitz said in a release that Harrison - referred to as a "friend of Pack's" and not by name - contributed more than $5,000 to Pack's campaign. Pack notes that was over a 6-year period, however.

Harrison previously said there was no "quid pro quo" exchange because of the campaign contribution.

Bill Cole covers law enforcement issues in McHenry County. To reach him, call (847) 608-2700 or write him at Daily Herald, 440H Airport Road, Elgin, IL 60123-9301.

Pack defends use of outside legal help.(Neighbor)

When the two challengers running for McHenry County state's attorney accused incumbent Gary Pack of overspending on outside legal help, Pack defended the practice.

The $2.16 million spent over three years was necessary because the state's attorney's office has been called upon to defend the county against an inordinately high number of lawsuits, Pack said.

Pack also notes the cost-savings that have come from winning such cases - with the help of legal top guns too expensive to have on staff.

But now, Pack admits at least a portion of the payment to one outside lawyer, Jim Harrison, was in error.

The acknowledgment comes after challenger Philip Prossnitz, a former assistant state's attorney, raised questions about $1 million - nearly half the 3-year total - in county business received by the Woodstock attorney, a friend of Pack's.

Another challenger, Wesley R. Pribla, also criticized Pack for his spending on outside legal help.

According to Prossnitz' review, Harrison was paid for 20 hours to attend a Nov. 17, 1998, county board meeting that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The tab? $2,500.

Pack's office paid Harrison for 11.7 hours, or $1,462, to attend a Jan. 19, 1999 executive session of the county board, Prossnitz added.

That meeting ran 20 minutes.

And on March 2, 1999, Harrison reportedly received $2,250 for 18 hours of legal work for an executive session lasting 1 hour and 8 minutes.

Pack said some of the billing reflects background work on a case - and not just the time spent before the county board.

But he did say Harrison's firm appears to have billed in some instances for multiple cases when, in fact, there was only a single appearance before the county board.

"That happened a few times," Pack said. "It didn't happen every time."

Pack said he has asked Harrison to review his billing back to 1994.

"I told him to look it over," Pack said. "It happened, and again, it's a very small fraction of the $1 million (in billing). He (Harrison) will reimburse the county for it."

Asked how the oversight could have occurred, Pack said his office is not "isolating every bill, every day."

"The way the bills are submitted, it's hard to determine," he said.

He noted Prossnitz reviewed thousands of bill entries, and only found a handful of questionable ones.

"I'm not saying it's insignificant, but to make this whole argument ... I don't think is right," Pack said.

Pack added he can't guarantee such an oversight won't happen again, because it involved human error.

Prossnitz said in a release that Harrison - referred to as a "friend of Pack's" and not by name - contributed more than $5,000 to Pack's campaign. Pack notes that was over a 6-year period, however.

Harrison previously said there was no "quid pro quo" exchange because of the campaign contribution.

Bill Cole covers law enforcement issues in McHenry County. To reach him, call (847) 608-2700 or write him at Daily Herald, 440H Airport Road, Elgin, IL 60123-9301.

Pack defends use of outside legal help.(Neighbor)

When the two challengers running for McHenry County state's attorney accused incumbent Gary Pack of overspending on outside legal help, Pack defended the practice.

The $2.16 million spent over three years was necessary because the state's attorney's office has been called upon to defend the county against an inordinately high number of lawsuits, Pack said.

Pack also notes the cost-savings that have come from winning such cases - with the help of legal top guns too expensive to have on staff.

But now, Pack admits at least a portion of the payment to one outside lawyer, Jim Harrison, was in error.

The acknowledgment comes after challenger Philip Prossnitz, a former assistant state's attorney, raised questions about $1 million - nearly half the 3-year total - in county business received by the Woodstock attorney, a friend of Pack's.

Another challenger, Wesley R. Pribla, also criticized Pack for his spending on outside legal help.

According to Prossnitz' review, Harrison was paid for 20 hours to attend a Nov. 17, 1998, county board meeting that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The tab? $2,500.

Pack's office paid Harrison for 11.7 hours, or $1,462, to attend a Jan. 19, 1999 executive session of the county board, Prossnitz added.

That meeting ran 20 minutes.

And on March 2, 1999, Harrison reportedly received $2,250 for 18 hours of legal work for an executive session lasting 1 hour and 8 minutes.

Pack said some of the billing reflects background work on a case - and not just the time spent before the county board.

But he did say Harrison's firm appears to have billed in some instances for multiple cases when, in fact, there was only a single appearance before the county board.

"That happened a few times," Pack said. "It didn't happen every time."

Pack said he has asked Harrison to review his billing back to 1994.

"I told him to look it over," Pack said. "It happened, and again, it's a very small fraction of the $1 million (in billing). He (Harrison) will reimburse the county for it."

Asked how the oversight could have occurred, Pack said his office is not "isolating every bill, every day."

"The way the bills are submitted, it's hard to determine," he said.

He noted Prossnitz reviewed thousands of bill entries, and only found a handful of questionable ones.

"I'm not saying it's insignificant, but to make this whole argument ... I don't think is right," Pack said.

Pack added he can't guarantee such an oversight won't happen again, because it involved human error.

Prossnitz said in a release that Harrison - referred to as a "friend of Pack's" and not by name - contributed more than $5,000 to Pack's campaign. Pack notes that was over a 6-year period, however.

Harrison previously said there was no "quid pro quo" exchange because of the campaign contribution.

Bill Cole covers law enforcement issues in McHenry County. To reach him, call (847) 608-2700 or write him at Daily Herald, 440H Airport Road, Elgin, IL 60123-9301.

Pack defends use of outside legal help.(Neighbor)

When the two challengers running for McHenry County state's attorney accused incumbent Gary Pack of overspending on outside legal help, Pack defended the practice.

The $2.16 million spent over three years was necessary because the state's attorney's office has been called upon to defend the county against an inordinately high number of lawsuits, Pack said.

Pack also notes the cost-savings that have come from winning such cases - with the help of legal top guns too expensive to have on staff.

But now, Pack admits at least a portion of the payment to one outside lawyer, Jim Harrison, was in error.

The acknowledgment comes after challenger Philip Prossnitz, a former assistant state's attorney, raised questions about $1 million - nearly half the 3-year total - in county business received by the Woodstock attorney, a friend of Pack's.

Another challenger, Wesley R. Pribla, also criticized Pack for his spending on outside legal help.

According to Prossnitz' review, Harrison was paid for 20 hours to attend a Nov. 17, 1998, county board meeting that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The tab? $2,500.

Pack's office paid Harrison for 11.7 hours, or $1,462, to attend a Jan. 19, 1999 executive session of the county board, Prossnitz added.

That meeting ran 20 minutes.

And on March 2, 1999, Harrison reportedly received $2,250 for 18 hours of legal work for an executive session lasting 1 hour and 8 minutes.

Pack said some of the billing reflects background work on a case - and not just the time spent before the county board.

But he did say Harrison's firm appears to have billed in some instances for multiple cases when, in fact, there was only a single appearance before the county board.

"That happened a few times," Pack said. "It didn't happen every time."

Pack said he has asked Harrison to review his billing back to 1994.

"I told him to look it over," Pack said. "It happened, and again, it's a very small fraction of the $1 million (in billing). He (Harrison) will reimburse the county for it."

Asked how the oversight could have occurred, Pack said his office is not "isolating every bill, every day."

"The way the bills are submitted, it's hard to determine," he said.

He noted Prossnitz reviewed thousands of bill entries, and only found a handful of questionable ones.

"I'm not saying it's insignificant, but to make this whole argument ... I don't think is right," Pack said.

Pack added he can't guarantee such an oversight won't happen again, because it involved human error.

Prossnitz said in a release that Harrison - referred to as a "friend of Pack's" and not by name - contributed more than $5,000 to Pack's campaign. Pack notes that was over a 6-year period, however.

Harrison previously said there was no "quid pro quo" exchange because of the campaign contribution.

Bill Cole covers law enforcement issues in McHenry County. To reach him, call (847) 608-2700 or write him at Daily Herald, 440H Airport Road, Elgin, IL 60123-9301.

Pack defends use of outside legal help.(Neighbor)

When the two challengers running for McHenry County state's attorney accused incumbent Gary Pack of overspending on outside legal help, Pack defended the practice.

The $2.16 million spent over three years was necessary because the state's attorney's office has been called upon to defend the county against an inordinately high number of lawsuits, Pack said.

Pack also notes the cost-savings that have come from winning such cases - with the help of legal top guns too expensive to have on staff.

But now, Pack admits at least a portion of the payment to one outside lawyer, Jim Harrison, was in error.

The acknowledgment comes after challenger Philip Prossnitz, a former assistant state's attorney, raised questions about $1 million - nearly half the 3-year total - in county business received by the Woodstock attorney, a friend of Pack's.

Another challenger, Wesley R. Pribla, also criticized Pack for his spending on outside legal help.

According to Prossnitz' review, Harrison was paid for 20 hours to attend a Nov. 17, 1998, county board meeting that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The tab? $2,500.

Pack's office paid Harrison for 11.7 hours, or $1,462, to attend a Jan. 19, 1999 executive session of the county board, Prossnitz added.

That meeting ran 20 minutes.

And on March 2, 1999, Harrison reportedly received $2,250 for 18 hours of legal work for an executive session lasting 1 hour and 8 minutes.

Pack said some of the billing reflects background work on a case - and not just the time spent before the county board.

But he did say Harrison's firm appears to have billed in some instances for multiple cases when, in fact, there was only a single appearance before the county board.

"That happened a few times," Pack said. "It didn't happen every time."

Pack said he has asked Harrison to review his billing back to 1994.

"I told him to look it over," Pack said. "It happened, and again, it's a very small fraction of the $1 million (in billing). He (Harrison) will reimburse the county for it."

Asked how the oversight could have occurred, Pack said his office is not "isolating every bill, every day."

"The way the bills are submitted, it's hard to determine," he said.

He noted Prossnitz reviewed thousands of bill entries, and only found a handful of questionable ones.

"I'm not saying it's insignificant, but to make this whole argument ... I don't think is right," Pack said.

Pack added he can't guarantee such an oversight won't happen again, because it involved human error.

Prossnitz said in a release that Harrison - referred to as a "friend of Pack's" and not by name - contributed more than $5,000 to Pack's campaign. Pack notes that was over a 6-year period, however.

Harrison previously said there was no "quid pro quo" exchange because of the campaign contribution.

Bill Cole covers law enforcement issues in McHenry County. To reach him, call (847) 608-2700 or write him at Daily Herald, 440H Airport Road, Elgin, IL 60123-9301.

Pack defends use of outside legal help.(Neighbor)

When the two challengers running for McHenry County state's attorney accused incumbent Gary Pack of overspending on outside legal help, Pack defended the practice.

The $2.16 million spent over three years was necessary because the state's attorney's office has been called upon to defend the county against an inordinately high number of lawsuits, Pack said.

Pack also notes the cost-savings that have come from winning such cases - with the help of legal top guns too expensive to have on staff.

But now, Pack admits at least a portion of the payment to one outside lawyer, Jim Harrison, was in error.

The acknowledgment comes after challenger Philip Prossnitz, a former assistant state's attorney, raised questions about $1 million - nearly half the 3-year total - in county business received by the Woodstock attorney, a friend of Pack's.

Another challenger, Wesley R. Pribla, also criticized Pack for his spending on outside legal help.

According to Prossnitz' review, Harrison was paid for 20 hours to attend a Nov. 17, 1998, county board meeting that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The tab? $2,500.

Pack's office paid Harrison for 11.7 hours, or $1,462, to attend a Jan. 19, 1999 executive session of the county board, Prossnitz added.

That meeting ran 20 minutes.

And on March 2, 1999, Harrison reportedly received $2,250 for 18 hours of legal work for an executive session lasting 1 hour and 8 minutes.

Pack said some of the billing reflects background work on a case - and not just the time spent before the county board.

But he did say Harrison's firm appears to have billed in some instances for multiple cases when, in fact, there was only a single appearance before the county board.

"That happened a few times," Pack said. "It didn't happen every time."

Pack said he has asked Harrison to review his billing back to 1994.

"I told him to look it over," Pack said. "It happened, and again, it's a very small fraction of the $1 million (in billing). He (Harrison) will reimburse the county for it."

Asked how the oversight could have occurred, Pack said his office is not "isolating every bill, every day."

"The way the bills are submitted, it's hard to determine," he said.

He noted Prossnitz reviewed thousands of bill entries, and only found a handful of questionable ones.

"I'm not saying it's insignificant, but to make this whole argument ... I don't think is right," Pack said.

Pack added he can't guarantee such an oversight won't happen again, because it involved human error.

Prossnitz said in a release that Harrison - referred to as a "friend of Pack's" and not by name - contributed more than $5,000 to Pack's campaign. Pack notes that was over a 6-year period, however.

Harrison previously said there was no "quid pro quo" exchange because of the campaign contribution.

Bill Cole covers law enforcement issues in McHenry County. To reach him, call (847) 608-2700 or write him at Daily Herald, 440H Airport Road, Elgin, IL 60123-9301.

Pack defends use of outside legal help.(Neighbor)

When the two challengers running for McHenry County state's attorney accused incumbent Gary Pack of overspending on outside legal help, Pack defended the practice.

The $2.16 million spent over three years was necessary because the state's attorney's office has been called upon to defend the county against an inordinately high number of lawsuits, Pack said.

Pack also notes the cost-savings that have come from winning such cases - with the help of legal top guns too expensive to have on staff.

But now, Pack admits at least a portion of the payment to one outside lawyer, Jim Harrison, was in error.

The acknowledgment comes after challenger Philip Prossnitz, a former assistant state's attorney, raised questions about $1 million - nearly half the 3-year total - in county business received by the Woodstock attorney, a friend of Pack's.

Another challenger, Wesley R. Pribla, also criticized Pack for his spending on outside legal help.

According to Prossnitz' review, Harrison was paid for 20 hours to attend a Nov. 17, 1998, county board meeting that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The tab? $2,500.

Pack's office paid Harrison for 11.7 hours, or $1,462, to attend a Jan. 19, 1999 executive session of the county board, Prossnitz added.

That meeting ran 20 minutes.

And on March 2, 1999, Harrison reportedly received $2,250 for 18 hours of legal work for an executive session lasting 1 hour and 8 minutes.

Pack said some of the billing reflects background work on a case - and not just the time spent before the county board.

But he did say Harrison's firm appears to have billed in some instances for multiple cases when, in fact, there was only a single appearance before the county board.

"That happened a few times," Pack said. "It didn't happen every time."

Pack said he has asked Harrison to review his billing back to 1994.

"I told him to look it over," Pack said. "It happened, and again, it's a very small fraction of the $1 million (in billing). He (Harrison) will reimburse the county for it."

Asked how the oversight could have occurred, Pack said his office is not "isolating every bill, every day."

"The way the bills are submitted, it's hard to determine," he said.

He noted Prossnitz reviewed thousands of bill entries, and only found a handful of questionable ones.

"I'm not saying it's insignificant, but to make this whole argument ... I don't think is right," Pack said.

Pack added he can't guarantee such an oversight won't happen again, because it involved human error.

Prossnitz said in a release that Harrison - referred to as a "friend of Pack's" and not by name - contributed more than $5,000 to Pack's campaign. Pack notes that was over a 6-year period, however.

Harrison previously said there was no "quid pro quo" exchange because of the campaign contribution.

Bill Cole covers law enforcement issues in McHenry County. To reach him, call (847) 608-2700 or write him at Daily Herald, 440H Airport Road, Elgin, IL 60123-9301.