The Costa Mesa Sanitary District has spent more than $25,000 this year trying to oust board member Jim Fitzpatrick, according to the agency's estimates.
About $18,667 has gone to the Los Angeles-based Meyers Nave law firm, which earlier this year offered its opinion that it was likely a conflict of interest for Fitzpatrick to serve on both the sanitary district's board and the Costa Mesa Planning Commission.
Nearly $7,000 has gone to the district's contracted in-house counsel, Harper & Burns of Orange.
In February, a majority of the board voted to move forward with asking the state attorney general's office to allow the district to seek legal action against Fitzpatrick, who was elected over incumbent Arlene Schafer in 2010.