Cities and counties should be represented by public defenders
They all have law offices to handle all the civil matters, why do they have them if they’re not going to use them.
That would be a fantastic lawsuit against cities/counties. Justify why the taxpayer is payer for all these lawyers and when something significant happens you go outside to a private firm. One or the other. Pick. If you choose to go outside then the taxpayer approves the retainer amount and what can be paid.