According to a Request for Council Action on Tuesday’s City Council agenda, “Firefly’s bankruptcy filing, and the City’s and County’s guarantee of a loan from National City (now PNC) Bank to Firefly have given rise to a complex legal situation. It has been deemed advisable to retain outside counsel with experience in this type of complex bankruptcy.”

The request asks the Council to approve hiring Thomas O’Neal of the law firm Westervelt, Johnson, Nicoll & Keller for $255 per hour. Here’s your trivia fact for the day: Tom O’Neal sought to fill a judicial vacancy on the Third District Appellate Court in 2006 after the retirement of Judge Kent Slater of Macomb, but lost the Democratic primary. He’s also been recognized by the state and county for his pro bono legal representation of the poor.