Item B12
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: September 20, 2001
Division:
Growth Management
Bulk Item: Yes X
No
Department: N/ A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Approval of a Letter of Engagement with the law firm of Morgan and Hendrick renewing for an
additional term of one year the Letter of Engagement authorizing the firm to act as General Civil
Litigation Counsel to the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County for fiscal year 2001-
2002.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
On December 8, 1992 and each year thereafter, the Board of County Commissioners approved and
authorized execution of a Letter of Engagement with the firm to provide legal representation in matters
involving potential and pending general and civil litigation as may be assigned by the County
Attorney, excluding areas of representation covered in the parties' engagement letter for Land Use-
Growth Management representation. The total billing amount is set at $150,000.
PREVIOUS REVELANT BOCC ACTION:
As above.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
Increase of $70,000 over amount in the current Letter of Engagement; increases in the hourly billing
rate for attorney and law clerk's fees.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approval.
TOTAL COST: $150,000
BUDGETED: Yes X
No
COST TO COUNTY:
$150,000
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No X AMOUNT PER MONTH
Year _$150,000_
APPROVED BY: County Atty ~ OMB/Purchasing ~
DOCUMENTATION:
Included ~
Risk Management _ X_
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
, AICP
To Follow
Not Required_
AGENDA ITEM #d ~/ L
DISPOSITION:
Revised 2/27/01
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONTRACT SUMMARY
Contract with: Morgan & Hendrick Contract #
Effective Date: 10/01/01
Expiration Date: 9/31/02
Contract Purpose/Description:
Letter of engagement for general civil litigation counsel to -the Board
of County Gommissioners for a,/period of one year.
Contract Manager: James Roberts 4741 County Administration/Stop 1
(Name) (Ext. ) (Department/Stop #)
for BOCC meeting on 09/20101 Agenda Deadline: 08/31/01
CONTRACT COSTS
Total Dollar Value of Contract: $, 150,000
Budgeted? Yesrg] No 0
Grant: $ NI A
County Match: $
Current Year Portion: $ 150,000
FY'02
Account Codes: 001-67501-530-310-
ADDITIONAL COSTS
Estimated Ongoing Costs: $ _/yr For:
(Not included in dollar value above) (eg. maintenance, utilities, janitorial, salaries, etc.)
CONTRACT REVIEW
Division Director
Changes
Date In Needed ~
'/1.61'" YesD NOI:::T _
Date Out
O.M.B./Purchasing
(~"f~C'_" ,_
'l.c ~ (.,1 C ,:ja '- J.U J
9 u I (11
Risk Management
1 / /,: /,'/
i~
YesD No[!j
YesD NoQ/'
~) YesDNo~
I (
I i r
, 1')<.:; ('
I
County Attorney
Comments:
OMB Form Revised 2/27/01 Mep #2
LAW OFFICES
HUGH J. MORGAN
JAMES T. HENDRICK
KAREN K. CABANAS
JEDDE V. REGANTE
ROBERT CINTRON, JR.
MORGAN & HENDRICK
W. CURRY HARRIS
( I 907- 1988)
HILARY U. ALBURY
(1920-1999)
317 WHITEHEAD STREET. KEY WEST FL 33040
P.O. Box I I 17, KEY WEST FL 3304 I
TELEPHONE 305.296.5676
FACSIMILE 305.296.4331
August 27,2001
Board of County Commissioners
Monroe County
Key West, Florida
RE: General Civil Litigation - Letter of Engagement
Dear Mayor & Commissioners:
The law firm of Morgan & Hendrick ("Law Firm") hereby submits to the Board of County
Commissioners this letter of engagement reciting the legal services the Law Firm will perfonn and the
basis for compensation.
The Law Firm agrees to serve as litigation counsel to the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida ("BOCC") in accordance with the terms set forth herein.
The Law Firm agrees to provide legal representation to Monroe County in matters involving
potential and pending general civil litigation as may be assigned by the County Attorney, excluding the
areas of representation covered by the parties' engagement letter for Land Use-Growth Management
Division representation. The County Attorney shall be guided by the policy directive of the BOCC to
refer to the Law Firm those matters involving significant exposure to, or substantial recovery by the
County, including claims in which the complaintant seeks to recover substantial sums. In all matters
involving personal injury liability in which the County may be found liable, as long as the County
participates in the self-insurance program of the Florida League of Cities ("the League"), referral shall
be governed by the provisions of the County's contractual arrangements with the League.
As compensation for legal services, the County will pay to the Law Firm a fee which will be
billed monthly on the following schedule:
Attorneys
Law Clerk (must have law degree)
Paralegal
$225.00 per hour
$150.00 per hour
$ 75.00 per hour
The Law Firm may, at its own discretion, select counsel to assist them; however, said counsel
shall be compensated at the same rates set forth herein. Unless otherwise subsequently agreed, the
compensation earned by the Law Firm as fees under this Contract shall not exceed $150,000.00 for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, subject to the budget for that fiscal year, allocating sufficient
funds. The Law Firm will not bill for any services performed by James T. Hendrick while he serves as
County Attorney.
lof2
MORGAN is. HENDRICK
P,Q. Box I I 17. KEY WEST FL 33041
Additionally, the County agrees to reimburse the Law Firm for all costs that are incurred in the
course of representation. Normal costs include expert witness fees, copying charges, long distance
telephone calls, travel and lodging expenses, mailing charges, fax charges, mileage, research charges,
court reporters and other out-of-pocket expenses. A statement showing the amount of fees and expenses
will be forwarded monthly. Each statement is payable upon receipt.
Further, the County will reimburse the Law Firm for the acqulSltlOn of legal informational
materials specifically related to the legal representation of the County, including the cost of seminar
fees, travel and lodging not to exceed $2,500 per year.
We believe that the above provisions outline in reasonable detail our agreement as to this
representation and we sincerely appreciate the opportunity to represent Monroe County and look
forward to continuing a pleasant and successful relationship.
Very truly yours,
~
For the Law Firm of Morgan & Hendrick
ACKNOWLEDGED, UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED this _ day of
,2001.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Monroe County
(Seal) DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
Attest:
Deputy Clerk
APPROVED AS ~~
:n~FF I ..
DATE h
By:
20f2
MORGAN IS. HENDRICK
p,O, Box I I 17, KEY WEST FL 3304 I
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aoara Of Coun~v Ccamis.ion.~~
Monroe Ccun1:.y
XAY wen, F ~ar ida
R.: Specia~ L1tiqation Couneel
Dear CC"1CGionera:
All part of our practice in open11'lq new ae:::te=.- :J"" 1:\ "'"'r.o,,,:.-:;
existi hfJ -119&9ament oontracts. and "16 a resUl1;, 0: p..,...;r. ~~~I:" .~n.~p.
tne lay fi..-.o: ~! Mor;::.n . u.;r.4r1~, CLav,~I'.irJD), p'.'O""1.2cas an
enq.q....nt lettu to pro3pec1;ive clienls. This: '..e~~t" s~t.;~ fort.h,
qanerally, a recital ot leq&l .erviOQ3 we vill ~~:torm ana ~e
haRia tor our co~cn3~t10n.
Aecorc11nq1y, this letter contina. ow: aqreement to continue t~
serve tor tiscal year 1992-93 .. .pacia] 11ti~tion co~n3el to th~
Boara of County Commiaaionara of Konroe County, Floric1a, (county)
AS wall ac cpec1al cOunael to Monroe county tor le;islative and
State aqency matters.
The seop.. uf serv1C8S \meaa%' thia enqaqlUllant lC!._?:iI~" ':~C(.l.i'i. al~y
1ncl~aec, b~t .j., m~t lim1t~t1 "n. leqal ~cb~l"'c. ... :'L.~, ..LVI.itn
MllnaqeJllent D1vi.l0~ (nthe Diviaion") and 98na:ra.:. .~nql".l s'~r'iceG 10
connoction witiJ l~nc1 U~a i~cuea. The Lav Firm w'~l 4C~ ~~r~~ant
eo 1natruc'tion ot the Director ot Growth M~na9ftJDAnt 'lttha
Direc;:tcr") .
The Law ~trm will aavicQ tha Director and D1v1~~on aea~f on l~nd
use m~tters aa and when requaatect, tn:t cahall have Jlu r.aponci.bi.~lty
or author1~y to make policy cieciaiuna w1th reCl)cct tc /Specific
!3nd-use permits or ~pp11ea1:.~one, nor to render advisory op1nione
tu ar.yon. oen.r than the Division .nd the BUcC. Except a. ~y be
cuatomary And necessary in the course ot 1 it11_t.io:l c':" wr.en
specitically ~ccte4 to do aD by the Director. tn. :e~ rlra s~all
refuse, and shall direct to the Division'. Htarf, &1. th:rd-party
(~, a landowner, ~PPlicant, JIIU1J)er ot t:.nc ~en(':".11 L'~ bl.i _ ;.,~ an
intare:st ',group, or a repr..en1:~tive thereof) i.n~..~z: i.1~~ reCl\o.st.:J.
and Ot:har' ec_unic~ticna which r.-.,late to ~ epeei.:'i.: lAr.ll-u~. permit
~. 0 15.;0. II''', "EY WE." ~I "1304. · TCloE....O..C 1.:)0:'1 .'e"~Cl7e . TEI.~CC:-.'''. '":It:'!>l 2QS'..::I~1
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Doard af Coun~y CO~i.eicnar8
OQe~cr 11, 1992
Pa9'e 2
or apPlication. Th1a provi.ion till in'tQnclCd to &:~.el!i':.L"" ':'he
attorn.y-oU""t ral&tionab1p be"".... tII. oivislN> .n. th~ i.<.w PI'''.
to 110110 bil111lq for llUlcl ua. 1'"9"1 .erv~Ob ~~ "os~ >orv._
caqu..~.cI bY.the DiVision, ana. to define th~ app~e,r.4:l-:e ~:mts ::Jt
pOlicy deci.~Qn-m&k1nq.
r.o. Lov FirD ogr... Dot to Undertake rapr..ent4tion ot any P~.on
directly r.latinq to .ny bu8in.... P8Zaitting. l~olgati.n or othAr
..alin... in ....1"" tlla C.um:y .... any ~ 11:& .......oi.s is .1<11... ""
adver.. puty or the 8cure. trom wAich a permlt, c1evC.1.cl)aent CrdRr
or =ther h.n.t1~ i. aouqht.
A. O__1olon r.... 1_1 .ervlo... tlla COUnty "'ill pal' to tII. Lov
rin. a.... vlUoh v1l1 be b111... a.atllly on tbe fol!",,~.... .en.dul.,
Partnv
AsaoC:i&1:Q
Pualtt9aI
$150.001110ur
$12S.DO/h~
$ 50.aO/hour
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Th. Lav pi.... in 1ta """ dlo="Uon. ..y -ploy UO""".l '0 "cislo
10....; bov.~ ..id coun..l aball be comp.nsated .10 r.teu 'gre.. by
tII. County Att......y, C.._ in V1Uoll tb. Lo. Fint is ~'.l"d.d by
conflict ot inbtrllat tZ'OJI rept-eeentinq thca County will ba ra1:a1nees
by tho COW\ty Att"""By or r.f....... by tho CoUnty Attorn.y to OtllAr
oouneel oU~idll ot th1a contract.
Oalec. otb.."l.. CUbaequently .qroacs, tho ooepen"Lior. ....ne~ by
Law FirlI aa f_a. UDder tbia COfttraot shall n.t eY.u..c $200.COO.oo
tor th. t1Ecal year 1992 _ 199].
Additionally, tile Calmt.y a_a to rei........_ lb. ~.'.: '.il":' _or all
coa~ 'that w. 1nCU%' in the eour.. ot raprecant3 t: i ~;: _ xor~3l c:oats
.nol"". ."Pert .itn.... f_., eopyinIJ ~h.=qe.., i.r... di ......,..
t.l_Pbon_, travol .... lodq1n~ chAr9... cailin.. ct.argas and .tller
out-of-poCket expen_s. .\. ct&tOmel\~ showing t.bca aJt.ount of rt'.s and
expense.w will be forwarded monthly. EaaA .tcatemant.. is paYable ~Pon
rcaceipt.
We believe thdt the above proviaiona out~1n. 1n ~easanablQ ~Qta11
our .qr.Qme.n~ .. to thlR rcaprQaentation. If you rind th~sa
azrancrementli .~t1:1.Er.C'tory, pIe... 81'ln tha enc.lo8ec! CQIJ~" 0: ~.la
latt.r,ana. rC1:urn it to ua 1mme~1a'tely.
W. ..nc.raly apP%"eGi... tile OPPOrtunlty to reV'A..n' ~.'x., "'<nt,
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Bo~d of Coun~y comaic:ioners
Doc.~or 11, 1992
Po:aqe J
and loox rorward to contlnuinq' a pleasAnt ~nd ~ue~Q8sful
rel~tion.h.ip.
v~ ~ruly yours,
H~~~ for
KO~ , BE1mRTa
AC1QlOWLP'.DGzr), UNDERSTOOO ANJ)
l.n~ .
ut 2eceILDcr
com:1~~::.onC!1.8
(SEAJ.) n.._ r. EC)T.Q'AI"!1IO Clerk
ATTEST. ......u, ~ --..-~
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D.pury Clerk I
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