Title
County Counsel recommending Chairman be authorized to sign Agreement with Scharff, Brady & Vinding for a term commencing January 18, 2008 for legal services related to the Indian casino litigation, and also in CEQA litigation arising from the Board's approval of the Pedrigal development project in Cameron Park. (4/5 vote required)
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: None
Background/Reason for Recommendation:
The law firm of Diepenbrock-Harrison is currently representing the county in the Indian casino litigation and related matters, and also in a CEQA case arising from the Board's approval of the Pedrigal development project in Cameron Park. Mike Brady has been the lawyer primarily dealing with the county's legal matters. Mr. Brady has now started his own law firm, Scharff, Brady & Vinding. County Counsel recommends that the County sign a new contract with Mr. Brady's new firm to continue the representation. Because of the demands of litigation, Mr. Brady has been handling the County's matters without a contract since January 18, 2008, so this contract will be retroactive to that time in order to pay him for his work. The hourly rate for the Pedrigal case has been $300 per hour, which represents a significant discount from the usual rate at both the old and the new firms. The rate for the casino matters has been at $250 per hour for the past several years. This contract provides for a rate of $300 per hour for both cases.
The Board has previously encumbered a sum of money for the casino litigation, which should be adequate for the balance of legal matters for the foreseeable future. Those funds can be transferred to cover the new contract. The County's legal expense in the Pedrigal litigation is reimbursed from the developer.
Action to be taken following Board approval: Board Chair will sign the Agreement for Legal Services with copies for County Counsel and Scharff, Brady & Vinding.
Contact: Edward L. Knapp