AZCentral:  A law firm that represented the Maricopa County Sheriff’s and Attorney’s offices in multiple battles against the county Board of Supervisors, judges and others has filed a lawsuit against the county.

The complaint was filed late Wednesday in Superior Court on behalf of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart P.C.

It follows a March notice of claim that demanded about $1.1 million in outstanding attorney’s fees as well as a formal public apology for statements by county officials that the firm alleges were defamatory.

AZCentral:  Three years ago, former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas was investigating county supervisors, county employees and judges, saying he was the only elected official courageous enough to root out corruption.

Because of those investigations, Thomas and two of his former deputies must appear before an ethics panel at the Arizona Supreme Court starting at 11 a.m. Monday. For two of them, the outcome will determine if they can continue to practice law.

The hearing, resembling a trial in many ways, is expected to last five to nine weeks and will feature an all-star county cast of witnesses including Sheriff Joe Arpaio, retired judges, elected officials and top county employees.

ABA Journal: In the first settlement of some $125 million in claims made by Maricopa County, Ariz., officials who say they suffered damages because of alleged off-the-rails prosecution and litigation by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and ex-County Attorney Andrew Thomas, the county has agreed to pay $100,000 to a retired judge.

Former Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields had initially sought $1.75 million in a defamation and abuse of process claim contending that the two retaliated against him for adverse rulings by naming him as a defendant in a civil racketeering case, the Arizona Republic reports.

An apparent confidentiality provision precluded comment by Fields and his attorney. However, county records confirm the settlement, the newspaper says, and a private practitioner who is overseeing alternative dispute resolution for Maricopa notes that the settlement is minor relative to the amount sought.

AZ Central:  Add another $22 million to the tab in the infamous, ongoing and ever-more-expensive Maricopa County wars.

No longer are our public servants and our former public servants putting their hands out, expecting taxpayers to compensate them for their damages. Their pain and suffering is becoming so great that they are now rolling up with wheelbarrows and backing up pickup trucks to hold all the cash they evidently believe we owe them.

In all, $176 million worth of claims or lawsuits have now been filed as a result of the hostilities. Of that, $160 million is being sought by elected officials, judges and a few county employees caught up the hostilities

AZCentral: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer filed an appeal Wednesday with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that put on hold key parts of the state’s immigration enforcement law.