HOW WE GOT THE STORY

In July 2017, the AJC requested invoices for all Baker Donelson work related to the Atlanta City Hall bribery investigation. Three months later, City Attorney Jeremy Berry produced what he represented were 11 months of the firm’s invoices with the title“DOJ.”The AJC used the records to publish a story about the legal expenses of the bribery investigation.

In January, the AJC obtained a database containing three years of city expenditures. The AJC noticed several Baker Donelson invoices with the description “Whistleblower Complaint” totaling nearly $1 million. The AJC requested copies of a few of those invoices. The itemized fees for the “Whistleblower” invoices seemed identical to the “DOJ” invoices. But while reporters could identify payments in the data for “Whistleblower” invoices, they couldn’t for the ones titled“DOJ.”

Although the “DOJ” invoices were on Baker Donelson letterhead, they lacked invoice numbers and client matter numbers.

After reporters pressed Berry and other city officials for explanations, the city and Baker Donelson acknowledged they had extracted time entries from real invoices and used them to create documents represented as invoices to the AJC.

The AJC also asked legal experts to review the records and statements provided by the city, and assess the city’s compliance with state records laws.

FILE Jeremy Berry, pictured here at a pension board meeting in January, said he acted in good faith when he produced the records.