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HomeMy WebLinkAbout25D - AGMT SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSELREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2018 TITLE: APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL SERVICES WITH COTA COLE & HUBER RELATED TO POLICE DEFENSE LITIGATION SERVICES (STRAGIC PLAN NO. 1, 3, 4, 5) i CITY MANAGER 4' - RECOMMENDED ACTION CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: APPROVED ❑ As Recommended ❑ As Amended ❑ Ordinance on 1" Reading ❑ Ordinance on 2n° Reading ❑ Implementing Resolution ❑ Set Public Hearing For CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER Authorize the City Manager and the Clerk of the Council to execute an agreement with Cota Cole & Huber LLP related to police defense litigation services, for a one (1) year term from February 6, 2018 until February 5, 2019 for a maximum amount to be spent of $250,000 subject to non - substantive changes approved by the City Manager and the City Attorney. DISCUSSION Cota Cole & Huber LLP is a highly reputable, and specialized law firm which offers extensive experience in the area of police defense. The firm that has provided legal services to numerous cities, counties and other public entities and the firm's police defense litigation team has been successful in defending numerous municipalities in law enforcement civil liability. Dennis M. Cota, whom will be lead counsel for police defense litigation, has more than 30 years' experience as a public law litigator. He has represented multiple cities and counties throughout the state and his extensive trial experience include complex civil litigation, specializing in police defense. He has also successfully mediated many complex actions. Daniels S. Roberts, whom will also serve as co -lead counsel, is regarded as a municipal defense and federal court specialist with extensive experience in civil rights defense, police critical incident review, and police advisory maters. The other attorneys and staff whom are exceptionally knowledgeable regarding law enforcement issues and operations. Historically, the City's police personnel matters have been handled by outside counsel to avoid the potential for conflicts between an in-house city attorney who may have to later defend the same officer in subsequent litigation. The proposed hourly billable rate of $225 for lead counsel is 25D-1 Agreement For Special Legal Counsel Services with Cota Cole & Huber LLP Related to Police Legal Defense Litigation February 6, 2018 Page 2 competitive, and comparable to the hourly rate charged by other law firms who have represented the City. The attached agreement for legal services is necessary to guarantee the continuity of services for the City in on-going police personnel matters and police defense litigation for two matters. This agreement will authorize the City Attorney to call upon Cota Cole & Huber LLP for legal services as necessary to defend existing and future police defense litigation. This contract has a one (1) year term with a not to exceed amount of $250,000. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Approval of this item supports the City's efforts to meet Goal #1 Community Safety, Goal #3 Economic Development, Goal #4. Government Financial Stability, and Goal #5 Community Health, Livability, Engagement and Sustainability. FISCAL IMPACT The special legal counsel services will be paid out of the Liability Fund (account no. 08009051- 62302) Sonia R. Carvalho City Attorney Ellen Smiley Acting Executive Di Personnel Services FY 2017-18 $100,000 FY 2018-19 $150,000 APPROVED AS TO FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS: Francisco Gutierrez Executive Director Finance & Management Services Agency Exhibit — Legal Services Agreement with Cota Cole & Huber LLP 25D-2 SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL SERVICES AGREEMENT This AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 6�h day of February, 2018, by and between Cota Cole & Huber, a Limited Liability Partnership ("Attorneys"), and the City of Santa Ana, a charter city and municipal corporation duly organized and existing under the constitution and laws of the State of California ("City"). RECITALS, A. City desires to employ Attorneys to assist the in-house attorneys for the City ("City Attorney") in the provision of police defense legal services to the City, and B. Attorneys represent that they are licensed to practice law in the State of California, have special experience and knowledge in the field of municipal litigation, specifically, police defense litigation and related personnel matters, and desire to undertake said services. C. City and Attorneys entered into a prior Agreement to provide legal services in December 2017, for an impending appellate court hearing. City agrees to pay Attorneys for legal services incurred from the time period established for this prior December 2017 Agreement up to the date of this Agreement for any work that may have exceeded the compensation amount listed in the previous Agreement. NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual and respective promises, and subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows: 1. RETENTION OF ATTORNEYS City hereby agrees to and does retain Attorneys, for the compensation hereinafter specified, to assist the City Attorney with police defense litigation and personnel matters. Attorneys accept said retention and agree to perform, in a timely and efficient manner, all such services as may be requested by the City Attorney. Attorneys shall confirm their acceptance of work requested by City in writing by e-mail or letter. COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES RENDERED a. Compensation shall be based on the actual amount of time spent in adequately performing the Services, and shall be billed at the rate of $225 for partners, $205 an hour for associates and $165 an hour for paralegal work. Time will be billed in 1/10th of an hour increments. b. The total sum to be expended under this Agreement shall not exceed $250,000 during the term of this Agreement. C. City agrees to reimburse Attorneys for out-of-pocket expenses, including butnot limited to, mileage, expert witness fees, copying costs, service of process, and mail services authorized by the City Attorney in connection with the performance of duties under this Agreement. Copying charges will be reimbursed at the rate of 10 cents per page. Any costs in excess of $5,000 require City Attorney approval prior to incurring the expense. All expenses must have supporting documentation submitted with the invoice. Exhibit 1 256-3 3. METHOD OF PAYMENT Attorneys shall submit a monthly statement specifying the services performed, dates and number of hours, and an itemization of expenses related thereto with supporting documentation (i.e. receipts, invoices, copy of check, etc.). 4. CONTROL OF LEGAL MATIERS Attorneys agree that each and every matter or proceeding in which they undertake to assist the City Attorney, as aforesaid, shall be and remain under, and subject to the control and direction of said City Attorney at all stages, and that they shall at all times keep the City Attorney informed of all matters pertaining thereto. City will keep Attorneys informed of all significant developments in matters relating to any representation undertaken by Attorneys. Attorneys further agree, if and when their retention hereunder is terminated by City, as hereinafter specified, they shall return to City Attorney any and all files then in their possession concerning each and every matter or proceeding in which they represented the City pursuant to this Agreement. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, Attorneys agree to keep the City Attorney, Director of Personnel, and any other person(s) designated by the City Attorney, informed of significant events in the Actions, including but not limited to trial date, filing of motions for summary judgment, hearing date for motion for summary judgment, settlement conference date, and mediation date. Attorneys also agree to provide the following reports: a. 45 day initial evaluation of case and budget; and b. Pre-trial report 90 days before trial; 6. TERM The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first written above and terminate one (1) year from said commencement date, unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 15 below. The term of this Agreement may be extended upon a writing executed by both parties, including the City Manager and the City Attorney for the City. 7. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS It is mutually agreed by and between the parties that, in the performance of their covenants hereunder, Attorneys are and shall be independent contractors, and not officers or employees of City. 8. INSURANCE Attorneys shall provide to the City Attorney proof of Professional Liability (errors and omissions) insurance, with a combined single limit of not less than $1,000,000 per claim, and maintain such insurance throughout the term of this Agreement. If Attorneys fail or refuse to produce and maintain the insurance required by this section, or fail or refuse to furnish the City with required proof that insurance has been procured and is in force and paid for, the City shall have the right, at the City's election, to forthwith terminate this Agreement. Such termination shall not affect Attorneys' right to be paid for its time and materials expended prior to notification of termination. 9. INDEMNIFICATION Attorneys agree to and shall indemnify and hold harmless the City, its officers, agents, employees, and representatives from liability for personal injury, damages, restitution, judicial or equitable relief to the extent caused by Attorneys' negligent or wrongful performance or conduct related to this Agreement. 10. CONFIDENTIALITY All information and documents shared with Attorneys as well as all work performed by Attorneys in connection with this Agreement should be treated as strictly z 25D-4 confidential. Moreover, all communications between Attorneys and City shall be treated as protected by the attomey-client privilege and the attorney work product doctrine. Accordingly, information received by Attorneys from City should be kept in a secure place, and no information about this work may be disclosed to any third party without City's prior written approval. Attorneys shall provide materials directly to the City Attorney, Sonia Carvalho, or selected members of her office, as directed by the City Attorney. All such information and any written product in connection with Attorneys` retention under this Agreement, shall be marked as "PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL / ATTORNEY -WORK PRODUCT" and shall be the property of the City Attorney's Office, and shall be returned/provided to the Office of the City Attorney with all copies upon the request of the City Attorney. Confidential information disclosed to either party by any subsidiary and/or agent of the other party is covered by this Agreement. The foregoing obligations of non-use and nondisclosure shall not apply to any information that (a) has been disclosed in publicly available sources; (b) is, through no fault of the Attorneys, disclosed in a publicly available source; (c) is in rightful possession of the Attorneys without an obligation of confidentiality; (d) is required to be disclosed by operation of law; or (e) is independently developed by the Attorneys without reference to information disclosed by the City. 11. CONFLICT OF INTEREST CLAUSE Attorneys covenant that it presently has no interests and shall not have interests, direct or indirect, that would conflict in any manner with performance of services specified under this Agreement. 12.ON TICS Any notice, tender, demand, delivery, or other communication pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be properly given if delivered in person or mailed by first class or certified mail, postage prepaid, or sent by telefacsimile or other electronic communication in the manner provided in this Section, to the following persons: To City: Clerk of the Council City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza (M-30) P.O. Box 1988 Santa Ana, California 92702-1988 Facsimile (714) 647-6956 Courtesy Copy: City Attorney City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza (M-29) P.O. Box 1988 Santa Ana, California 92702 Facsimile (714) 647-6515 To Attorneys: Dennis M. Cota, Esq. Cota Cole & Huber, LLP 2261 Lava Ridge Court Roseville, California 95661 Telephone: (916) 780-9009 Facsimile: (916) 780-9050 3 25D-5 A party may change its address by giving notice in writing to the other party. Thereafter, any notice, tender, demand, delivery, or other communication shall be addressed and transmitted to the new address. If sent by mail, communication shall be effective or deemed to have been given three (3) days after it has been deposited in the United States mail, duly registered or certified, with postage prepaid, and addressed as set forth above. If sent by telefacsimile, communication shall be effective or deemed to have been given twenty-four (24) hours after the time set forth on the transmission report issued by the transmitting facsimile machine, addressed as set forth above. For purposes of calculating these time frames, weekends, federal, state, County or City holidays shall be excluded, 13. EXCLUSIVITY AND AMENDMENT This Agreement represents the complete and exclusive statement between the City and Attorneys, and supersedes any and all other agreements, oral or written, between the parties. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and any attachments hereto, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. This Agreement may not be modified except by written instrument signed by the City and by an authorized representative of Attorneys. The parties agree that any terms or conditions of any purchase order or other instrument that are inconsistent with, or in addition to, the terms and conditions hereof, shall not bind or obligate Attorneys or the City. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises or agreements, orally or otherwise, have been made by any party, or anyone acting on behalf of any parties, which are not embodied herein. 14. ASSIGNMENT Inasmuch as this Agreement is intended to secure the specialized services of Attorneys, Attorneys may not assign, transfer, delegate, or subcontract any interest herein without the prior written consent of the City and any such assignment, transfer, delegation or subcontract without the City's prior written consent shall be considered null and void. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the City's ability to have any of the services which are the subject of this Agreement performed by City personnel or by other Attorneys retained by City. 15. TERMINATION This Agreement may be terminated by City at any time. In such event, Attorneys shall be entitled to receive and the City shall pay Attorneys compensation for all services performed by Attorneys prior to receipt of such notice of termination. As a condition of such payment, Attorneys shall deliver to the City all files and records generated under this Agreement as of such date. Attorneys may terminate this agreement, subject to their obligation to provide written reasonable notice of at least thirty (30) days to arrange alternative representation. In such case, City agrees to secure new counsel as quickly as possible and to cooperate fully in the substitution of the new counsel as counsel of record in in the Actions. 16. DISCRIMINATION Attorneys shall not discriminate because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, or disability, as defined and prohibited by applicable law, in the recruitment, selection, training, utilization, promotion, termination or other employment related activities. Attorneys affirm that it is an equal opportunity employer and shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. 4 25D-6 17. JURISDICTION - VENUE This Agreement has been executed and delivered in the State of California and the validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of any of the clauses of this Agreement shall be determined and governed by the laws of the State of California. Both parties further agree that Orange County, California, shall be the venue for any action or proceeding that may be brought or arise out of, in connection with or by reason of this Agreement. 18. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Each undersigned represents and warrants that its signature herein below has the power, authority and right to bind their respective parties to each of the terms of this Agreement, and shall indemnify City fully, including reasonable costs and attorney's fees, for any injuries or damages to City in the event that such authority or power is not, in fact, held by the signatory or is withdrawn. 19. QOLJNTERPARTSLSLGNATURES This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, secured via facsimile or e-mail transmission or otherwise, each of which shall be deemed to be an original. Photocopies of any executed counterpart shall have the same force and effect as an original. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written. ATTEST: Maria D. Huizar Cleric of the Council RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL: — X ! S CARVALHO "City Attorney Office APPROVED AS TO FORM SONIA R. CARVALHO V �✓ �' Sandra' warzmann Seri r Assistant City Attorney CITY OF SANTA ANA Raul Godinez II City Manager COTA COLE & HUBER LLP Dennis Cota, Esq. Partner s 25D-7 25D-8