County officials have rejected more than $21,000 in bills submitted by a law firm advising them on how to help the Chargers get a new stadium.

County Counsel John Sansone said the firm, Nixon Peabody, violated the county's billing guidelines, but he wasn't more specific. He provided partial records, saying the county didn't require expense documentation for all bills. The county guidelines regulate all expenses, from hourly rates to photocopies to reimbursement for travel, meals, phone calls and hotels.

At least one of the rejected Nixon Peabody bills was for five nights at the Hotel del Coronado, according to county records. The bill was submitted by Peter White, a partner in the firm who charged the county $680 an hour.

White stayed at the hotel Sept. 18 and 19, Oct. 2 and 3, and Oct. 25. The records the county provided indicate the room rate for only two nights in October - $530 per night, plus tax. White stayed in a "large no view room in the historic Victorian building," the bill states.

For all five nights, the county reimbursed White $139 per night, plus tax. The county's guidelines state hotel reimbursement is based on the rate charged by the Hampton Inn, across from the County Administration Center on Pacific Highway.

Sansone said the county also rejected $21,269 in hourly billings from Nixon Peabody. He did not provide an itemized list of the fees that were denied.

"They did something (billable), but it didn't comport with our billing guidelines," Sansone said. "So we didn't pay it."

He said some of the rejected bills involved fees for travel time, when the lawyers were not working for the county. Although Sansone wasn't specific, the county's records detail some of the expenses.

On Oct. 5, White billed the county for six hours, describing his services as "travel to N.Y. (New York). Review file." On Oct. 27 he billed the county for seven hours, describing his services as "travel to NYC (New York City). E-mail D. Barrett regarding news article."

County documents also indicate White was reimbursed for a nonstop flight Oct. 25 from New York to San Diego, but there is no information about the cost. He was reimbursed $305.90 for a flight he took Oct. 27 from San Diego to Los Angeles to New York City, where his office is located.

County officials hired Nixon Peabody and another stadium expert, Barrett Sports Group, last year after announcing they planned to partner with the city of San Diego to help the Chargers find a new home. Since then, county Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Ron Roberts and the consultants met with the Chargers once - on Oct. 26.

Although the county is not actively engaged in the Chargers' search for a stadium site, the two consultants have billed $109,787 for work they did from Sept. 18 through Feb. 26. County officials are refusing to disclose what the two firms did for the money, citing attorney-client privilege. County officials can waive the privilege but have not done so.

Sansone provided copies of the consultants' bills, but edited out nearly all descriptions of the work performed. He said the work generally deals with the financing of a stadium, site acquisition and construction.

Barrett, a Manhattan Beach firm, was paid for all the $29,940 it charged. Nixon Peabody, a law firm with more than 700 attorneys in 16 cities, received $59,850 of the $79,847 it billed. The law firm gave the county a 10 percent discount as a government client, Sansone said.

For nearly a year, the Chargers have been seeking a site for a new stadium in the county. The search is down to sites in three cities - Chula Vista, National City and Oceanside - and team executives plan to select one this year.

The Chargers plan to work out a development deal with the city selected and put the proposal before voters in that city in November 2008. If a proposal is approved, team executives believe a new stadium might open in 2013.