Following on from a previous Freedom of Information Act response: “External Solicitors are instructed to deal with litigated and very high value/complex claims” (which can be viewed at https://www.devon.gov.uk/accesstoinformation/archives/information_request/road-defect-claims-staffing-numbers-and-contract)
1. What have been the total annual payments made by DCC, say for the years 2014 to 2018, to ‘external’ solicitors?
Given the context of your request and the previous response , we have interpreted your question to only refer to insurance claims and not to all external solicitors which are instructed by Devon County Council.
In respect of insurance claims, we can confirm that we paid external Solicitors acting on our behalf £1.3 million from 01/01/14 to 01/01/18.
2. Do Gallagher Bassett, a claims management company, share some of the costs claimed by ‘external’ solicitors?
No