Jury recommends award to LA housing agency

LOS ANGELES - A jury recommended a $528,000 award Tuesday for the city's housing authority in its lawsuit against two former officials accused of failing to properly oversee millions of dollars meant to help provide shelter for the poor.

The Housing Authority filed the lawsuit in October 2006, alleging former executive director Donald Smith and former assistant executive director Lucille Loyce failed to monitor federal dollars intended for use by the agency.

Smith resigned, and Loyce was fired.

The lawsuit also alleged Loyce had sent some of the money to a consultant who also is her friend.

Neither Loyce nor Smith was criminally prosecuted. They are jointly responsible for paying the entire award.

Attorneys for the pair did not immediately return messages.

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