The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
CLAIMS AND SUITS. SHOW BIC EXCESS
City Legal Department Sub- mits Annual Report To
 President McLendon

fiscal year far exceed those of 1922. Just why so many sought high priced redress from the city is not known, but the recoveries sought leaped from the hundred thousand to the million class in totals.
 President D. E. McLendon of the city commission was much impressed by the annual report of the city legal department which he received Satur- day morning from City Attorney w. J. Wynn and, Assistant City Attorneys w. A. Jenkins, w. M. Woodall and R. J. Wheeler. An analysis of the re- port showed that while there had been a great increase in the number of cases handled in 1923 compared to the year before, costs and claims paid by the city were about half of what they had been In 1922.
 The volume of claims filed against the city in 1922 totaled $115,357 com pared to $1.S07.595 this year.
 Suits filed against the city in 1922 amounted to s214,791, compared to $1,523,000 this year.
 Despite the great difference in volume the clty's lawyers so handled their work that they cut expenses in half as compared to the year before. Collections Increase.
 In spite of the great disadvantage under which the department has worked by reason of congestion of the criminal appeal docket. there was collected from these cases in 1923 the sum of $32,539.70, as against $16.S30. 55. collected in 1922, showing a net in- crease of more than 100 per cent.
 In spite of all the additional ef- forts to relieve the congestion of the criminal appeal docket, there were on and on the first day of October, 1923, Der, 1s23, 1,071 cases pending; and on the first day of october. 1925 1912. or a net increase of nearly LOU. Under the promise of the presiding judge of the circuit court. this con- dition is soon to the remedied.
 Annual Legal Report.
 The annual report of the legal de- partment for the fiscal year, 1923, as submitted to the city commission is as follows:
 Bankruptcy And PrObate Courts
 This department handled the citY's interest in a large number of bank ruptcy cases, securing in each case an allowance of the citys claim for licenses as preferred claims against the bankrupt estate. The department also handled a number of condemna- ton cases fin the probate court.
 As has been pointed out in pre- vious reports from this department. probably one-half of the time of the legal staff of the city Is consumed in a field of activity having no rela- tion to cases actually litigated, but relating to matters in which the city is interested. This field of activity includes the preparation of ordi- nances and resolutions, the lnVestl- gation of legal questions and rendi- ton of legal opinions, both written and verbal, to the commission. the various commissioners, heads of de- partments officers and employees of the city, the board of education and members thereof. the superintendent of schools, the civil service board, and to private citizens concerning the various phases of the municipal government. It also includes the ex animation of abstracts of title, the preparation of options, deeds and contracts of various sorts. This de- partment has also, during the year, as in previous years, given legal ad- vice to the board of trustees of the firemen's pension and relief fund, and has examined numerous abstracts of title and prepared many legal documents for this board during the year. Work of the same character has been required also in connection with the city's administration of two trust funds, each of whic his held by the city as trustee under the wills of deceased persons During the fiscal year the legislature was in session and this department devoted a great deal of time and work to the prepa- ration of bills to be proposed affect ing the interests of the city, and in Investigating the bearing of proposed legislation upon the city's interests. Respectfully submitted,
 W. J. WYNN,
 City Attorney.
 Birmin gham, Ala, Oct. 25, 1923. To the City Commission, Building.
 I beg to submit herewith report of the law department of the city for the period beginning October 1, 1922, and ending September 3, 1923.
 CLAIMS AND SUITS AGAINST THE
 CITY
 Claims filed during the year amounted to $1,SO7.595.45.
 Suits filed during the year amounted to S1.523,000.
 The cases disposed of and pending in various courts are indicated be- low:
 SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA Cases disposed of ..:.............. won ..,.......... ...0..a....... Lost .............,....... 5 Pend1ng ............. o COURT OF APPEALS OF ALABAMA Cases disposed of .:............... Won ...--............. z Lost ................... U Pending .................-..-. l CIRCUIT COURT, CIVIL DIVISION
 Legitimate damage suits and per sonal injury cases against the city: Cases disposed of .................. 50 Won .,.....'..''.'...' .%4 . bottled ..,.............. ....''... Pending ....,......... 4b
 Included in the cases won are II suits dismissed for want of prosecu- tion, and five dismissed by plaintiffs but such disposal was brought about in number of cases by reason of favorable rulings to the city in other cases litigated.
 In addition to the above, the pending appeals from assessments for public improvements were tried and settled in sufficient number to reduce the pending cases of this nature from TIA to 99
 Amount Paid Ont.
 The total amount pal out during the year for judgments, costs and claims, including settlements made by the commission directly, amounted to $4,161.06. There are outstanding three judgments against the city, totaling $1,025, from which the city has appealed to the higher courts, and which appeals are yet unde- termined.
 There was collected for the city through the efforts of this depart ment during the year the sum of $24,54767, exclusive of criminal cases. CIRCUIT COURT EQUITY DIVISION Cases disposed of ................ $ won .......,............ b Lost ......'..''' A Pending ........ ..................,. S
 One of the cases indicated above as won was dismissed for want of prosecution. The two cases indicated as lost were subsequently, reversed by the supreme court. Included in the cases pending are two suits upon which temporary insunctions were