Topeka ? The city of Topeka has spent more than $14,000 to defend four officers who were sued after a shooting that occurred when they were off duty.

Two brothers, Daniel and Devin Llamas, sued the officers after they were shot and wounded in March 2008 during a confrontation at a party. The brothers contend that even though the officers were off-duty, they were acting as police officers.

The Topeka city attorney’s office says private attorneys have been hired to avoid a conflict of interest for city attorneys.

The city refused to pay a claim the Llamas brothers filed seeking more than $47 million. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the federal lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 3, 2012.