City Attorney

Legal services are provided to the city by attorneys Timothy Tomlinson and Debra Walling. To assist in legal matters, the attendance of a City Attorney is required at all City Council, Planning Commission and certain committee meetings. Attendance also is required for meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Pension Plan and Election Commission. The advice of legal counsel avoids litigation entanglements and ultimately results in savings to the taxpayer. The City Attorneys are appointed by the City Council.

The City Attorney or, in their absence, the assistant City Attorney, reviews complaints made to the Department of Public Safety and either approves or disapproves the issuance of court complaints for violations of local ordinances. A determination is made as to whether or not a certain factual situation appears to indicate that an ordinance has been violated and whether such action should result in a misdemeanor prosecution in the Grosse Pointe Woods Municipal Court. Ordinary traffic violation cases are not generally reviewed since they are usually issued by Public Safety Officers at the time of the offense. One of the attorneys attends the traffic and ordinance violation proceedings in the Municipal Court and represents the city in such proceedings.

The City Attorney also drafts all proposed new ordinances or amendments to ordinances and consults with the various city department heads concerning the need and advisability of ordinance amendments.

Legal defense of lawsuits brought against the city that are not covered by liability insurance is another function of the City Attorney. The City Attorneys maintain current files on cases defended by the various liability insurance carriers for the city in order to be certain cases are handled in a manner that will protect the best interests of the city.