ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Chemung County legislators now have a lawyer to represent the full legislature when they go to court next month. During a special meeting on Monday, following a budget committee meeting, legislators voted to hire William Keniry, a partner at the Albany law firm of Tabner, Ryan and Keniry. 

Keniry will represent the full legislative body in a lawsuit brought by Chemung County Executive Chris Moss. As WENY News has extensively reported, Moss fired Legislative and Special Districts Attorney, Bryan Maggs, at the end of February, effective March 1st.

The Chemung County legislature stands by its right to maintain the January appointment of Maggs. Legislators say they've attempted to talk with Moss about resolving the issue outside of court, but to no avail. 

When the legislature had been initially preparing to file a lawsuit, themselves, there was an offer for pro-bono services from Ithaca-based lawyer Ray Schlather, but the budget committee had tabled that offer at the time.

The cost of Keniry is $295 an hour, plus costs and disbursements.

"I hate the idea of spending any money on this, but I don't know...now that we've been sued; short of simply agreeing to a position that we don't feel is right, we don't see any way around this," says 7th District Legislator Christina Sonsire. 

The Supreme Court date for Moss and the legislature is set for Friday, April 5th at 9:30 a.m. In the meantime, WENY News will continue to bring you any updates as this story continues to develop.