HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem N02 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor Michelle Lincoln,District 2
The Florida. Keys Mayor Pro Tem David Rice,District 4
p Craig Cates,District I
James K. Scholl,District 3
Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Regular Meeting
May 20, 2026
Agenda Item Number: N2
26-6316
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
TIME APPROXIMATE: N/A STAFF CONTACT: Christine Limbert-Barrows
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: An Attorney-Client Closed Session in the case of Monroe County vs.
NGMlnsurance Company, Case No. 25-CA-538-MR.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The County is currently in litigation in the matter of Monroe County vs.
NGMlnsurance Company, 25-CA-538-MR. Persons in attendance will be the County Commissioners,
County Administrator Christine Hurley, County Attorney Bob Shillinger, Sr. Assistant County
Attorney Christine Limbert-Barrows, Assistant County Attorney Jessica Quiggle, Ira L. Libanoff
and/or Nestor Bustamante, III the County's outside counsel, and a certified court reporter.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: A Closed session was held regarding the matter at the
09/09/2025 BOCC meeting.
At the 03/11/2026 BOCC meeting, the County Attorney requested that a closed session be held at the
04/15/2026 BOCC meeting, regarding Monroe County vs. NGMlnsurance Company, 25-CA-538-
MR. The Board granted the request. At the 04/15/2026 BOCC meeting the closed session was
adjourned to the 05/20/2026 BOCC meeting via motion.
INSURANCE REQUIRED: No.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Hold the Closed Session.
DOCUMENTATION:
Closed Session Script.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Court Reporting Cost.
Effective Date:
Expiration Date:
Total Dollar Value of Contract:
Total Cost to County:
Current Year Portion:
Budgeted:
Source of Funds:
CPI:
Indirect Costs:
Estimated Ongoing Costs Not Included in above dollar amounts:
Revenue Producing: If yes, amount:
Grant:
County Match:
Insurance Required:
Mayor's Script for the Day of the Closed Session
The following should be read at the appropriate point during the day of the closed session.
1. Prior to going into closed session:
A closed attorney-client session pursuant to Section 286.011(8),Florida Statutes,will now be held.
It is estimated that this meeting will take approximately thirty(30)minutes. The persons attending
the meeting will be the County Commissioners, County Administrator Christine Hurley, County
Attorney Bob Shillinger, Sr. Assistant County Attorney Christine Limbert-Barrows, Assistant
County Attorney Jessica Quiggle, Ira L. Libanoff and/or Nestor Bustamante, III, the County's
outside counsel, and a certified court reporter.
Since the law prohibits any other person from being present at the closed session, the
Commissioners, the County Administrator, the attorneys for the County, and the court reporter
will now remain in this meeting room, and all other persons are required to leave the room. When
the closed session is over,we will re-convene and re-open the public meeting. This public meeting
is now closed.
2. At the beginning of the closed session:
I now call this closed session to order. For the record, this meeting is being held upon the request
of the County Attorney, Bob Shillinger, who announced at a prior BOCC Meeting held on
03/11/2026, that he needed advice in the matter of Monroe County, Florida v. NGM Insurance
Co., Case No. 25-CA-538-MR. At that meeting, the Board approved holding a closed session and
public notice was given through public announcement of the meeting at the 03/11/2026 BOCC
Meeting and through publication of the 04/15/2026 BOCC regular meeting agenda on the County's
website. At the 04/15/26 BOCC meeting the closed session was adjourned to the 05/20/2026
meeting via motion and public notice was given through public announcement of the meeting at
the 04/15/2026 BOCC Meeting and through publication of the 05/20/2026 BOCC regular meeting
agenda on the County's website.
For the record, and the benefit of the court reporter, each of us will state our name and
position, starting with the Commission.
(After all have identified themselves)—Thank you.
Just as a reminder, we will only be discussing settlement negotiations and strategy related
to litigation expenditures. We cannot take any decisive action at this meeting. We can only
provide information and direction to the attorneys. Any decisions this Board makes concerning
this case must be done in a meeting open to the public.
Let's start our discussion with the County Attorney.
3. At the end of the closed session,prior to going into open session:
This closed session is now terminated and we will now reconvene in the public meeting.
4. After the public session has been re-opened:
The attorney-client session has been terminated, and we are now re-opening this public
meeting.