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Doug Dowie, still on administrative leave from Fleishman-Hillard, filed a legal response Friday that denies the City Attorney's lawsuit allegations that, under Dowie, the PR firm padded its billings to various city departments. Both the Times and the Daily News run stories today on the filing, in which Dowie argues the case should be dismissed as "clearly frivolous, clearly vexatious, and...brought solely for the purposes of harassment." His attorney, Tom Holiday, says: "This lawsuit against Doug Dowie is an insult to him and his career. He has been respected, honest and ethical, and these allegations are all based on anonymous sources. It's outrageous." The city lawsuit was filed after a July 15 investigative story in the Times reported that several employees and ex-staffers said the agency deliberately submitted false billings. Dowie's response seeks the names of anyone alleging overbilling. Dowie, an ex-managing editor of the Daily News, was president of Fleishman's L.A. office during its rise to prominence as a central player in local PR and politics. But both he and the office have been dogged by controversy over the past year. The next step is expected to be the release next week of an audit by Controller Laura Chick.
Previously:
Dowie observed
Dowie sent home
Fleishman back in the news