HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1999.12.16 - 25676MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #99330 December 16, 1999
BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE - SUE ANN DOUGLAS, CHAIRPERSON
IN RE: CLAIMS REVIEW COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE OUTSIDE
COUNSEL FEES
TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the law firms of Plunkett & Cooney, P.C.; Potter, Carniak,
Anderson & DeAgostino; and Vandeveer Garzia, have effectively represented
Oakland County in litigation claims; and
WHEREAS the County has been compensating these firms at an hourly
rate of $85.00, while other outside legal counsel for the County have
been recompensed at a significantly higher compensation; and
WHEREAS these law firms have requested that the Board of
Commissioners review the established hourly legal fee rate, and the
Claims Review Committee has recommended an increase in the present rate
of $85.00 to a new rate of $105.00, for all work done after January 1,
2000.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners does hereby approve an increase of $20.00 per hour for all
work done after January 1, 2000.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Finance Committee, I move the adoption
of the foregoing resolution.
FIN- CE COMMITTEE
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE:
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
INTER
OFFICE MEMO
To: Claims Review Committee
From Jody M Mcleod, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Date: 10/22/99
Re: Increase in Attorney Fees
It is hereby requested that the Claims Review Committee consider the issue of increasing the hourly
rate charged for legal work performed on behalf of the County of Oakland.
The current rate has been in effect for at least 5 years and is $85.00 an hour for services performed by
an attorney and $65.00 an hour for services provided by a paralegal. It is requested that the rates be
increased to $105.00 an hour for an attorney and $85.00 an hour for a paralegal The Department of
Corporation Counsel is in complete agreement with this request.
It should be noted that other attorneys working on behalf of the County receive rates greater than those
working through this Claims Committee. The Board of Corrmissioners pay its legal counsel $110/hour,
with some associates receiving $90/hour and paralegals/clerks receiving $60/hour. The Personnel
Dept. pays the labor retailer's attorney $115/hour (not to exceed $70,000/year). The Drain
Commissioner pays a general rate to several firms of $125/hour. However, for the Birmingham tunnel
collapse case, it paid counsel $175/hour.
Additionally, as this Committee is aware, the Dept. of Corporation Counsel is very irwolved and
proactive with outside counsel on all litigation. Through our Attorney Fee Guidelines and constant
monitoring of all cases, attorney fees are reasonable and controlled.
Thank you for your consideration on this issue.
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY / CLIENT COMMUNICATION
December 16, 1999
REPORT (Misc. #99330)
BY: CLAIMS REVIEW COMMITTEE - THOMAS A. LAW, CHAIRPERSON
IN RE: MR# , CLAIMS REVIEW COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
TO INCREASE OUTSIDE COUNSEL FEES
TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Claims Review Committee, having reviewed the above-
referenced resolution on October 28, 1999, reports with the
recommendation that the resolution be adopted.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Claims Review Committee, I move
the acceptance of the foregoing Report.
CLAIMS REVIEW COMMITTEE
Claims Review Committee Vote:
Ayes: Law, Fayne, Snavely, Schmid
Nays: None
Absent: Poisson
Motion carried.
HE FOREGOING RESOL'
//1, 1 eon. County Executive Date _ 1
I HEREBY
Resolution #99330 . December 16, 1999
Moved by Douglas supported by Law the Claims Review Committee Report to the
Finance Committee be accepted.
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the report was accepted.
Moved by Douglas supported by Law the resolution be adopted.
AYES: Coleman, Dingeldey, Douglas, Galloway, Garfield, Gregory, Jensen,
Law, McCulloch, McPherson, Melton, Millard, Moffitt, Obrecht, Palmer, Patterson,
Schmid, Sever, Suarez, Taub, Amos, Appel, Causey-Mitchell, Colasanti. (24)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the resolution was adopted.
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, G. William Caddell, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution is a true and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the
Oakland County Board of Commissioners on December 16, 1999 with the original
record thereof now remaining in my office.
Or
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand a affixed the seal of the
County of Oakland at Pontiac, Michigan this Jegth d of Decemlwr, 1999.
G. William Caddell, County Clerk