Detroit mayor seen likely to sue council

DETROIT, June 16 (UPI) -- Embattled Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will likely sue the City Council if it tries to oust him from office, the council's attorney said Monday.

In a meeting called to discuss plans to force the mayor's removal, attorney William Goodman told the group that the mayor's fate would probably end up in the hands of the court if the council decides to pursue so-called forfeiture hearings, the Detroit News reported.

Such hearings are called if the City Council determines the mayor has violated the city charter. Kilpatrick is accused of violating the charter in part because he didn't get the council's "informed consent" before approving an $8.4 million settlement to three police department whistle-blowers who had damaging information about him, the newspaper said.

Goodman also laid out how such hearings could be conducted, saying the council's role would be similar to that of prosecutors issuing charges but he also said many people would doubt the impartiality of such a hearing, given that a majority of the council's members have called for Kilpatrick's resignation, the News reported.