The Jewell School District in the Clatsop State Forest predicts it could lose millions in revenue if a plan to scale back logging on Oregon’s western state forests is implemented. (Oregon Department of Forestry)
Officials with a tiny school district nestled in northwest Oregon’s Clatsop State Forest have paid tens of thousands of dollars to fight new state limits on logging and are prepared to “bet the farm” to support its lawsuit against the state, the Capital Chronicle has learned.
The Jewell School District has paid $148,000 and owes $3,000 more to lawyer John DiLorenzo for his work on its lawsuit that was filed in March, according to records obtained by the Capital Chronicle. Jewell’s superintendent, Cory Pederson, said the cost was justified.
“Whatever the district pays in fees will be well worth the chance to avoid what will otherwise be a catastrophic loss to Jewell and the local community,” Pederson said. “This is truly a ‘bet the farm’ issue for our district.”
DiLorenzo, who’s part of the David Wright Tremaine law firm, which has offices in Portland and New York, also defended his $955 per hour fee.