SB Billing Feud With Private Investigator Intensifies

A private investigator's report on possible police corruption has been deemed "suspect" by the City Attorney's Office and a lawsuit likely looms as the investigator tries to recover roughly $40,000 the city has refused to pay him.

No written contract exists and officials declined to say whether billing guidelines were given to Dr. William Schneid when he was hired in June by Police Chief Keith Kilmer.

The city has paid about $22,000 of a $60,662 bill Schneid submitted months ago after completing a report that included reviewing internal probes on whether a sergeant was illegally detaining suspects.

"We had problems with the quality of his work and we didn't believe it warranted an additional $40,000," said Senior Assistant City Attorney Diane Roth. "We thought his report was suspect based on a number of factors."

Schneid declined to comment, referring all questions to attorney Robert Weinberg, whom he recently retained.

Weinberg also declined to comment and said he will file a claim against the city "as soon as the appropriate time comes."

A claim usually precedes a lawsuit.

Among other things, Roth said city officials are concerned about Schneid's associations with the paranormal.

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