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File #: 1411-2025    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Consent
File created: 5/19/2025 In control: Finance & Governance Committee
On agenda: 6/30/2025 Final action:
Title: To authorize the City Attorney to modify an existing contract for special legal counsel services with Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, for the Litigation Matters that are currently pending in the Common Pleas Court of Franklin County, OH and any other litigation arising from the data security intrusion; to authorize the expenditure of $375,000.00 from the Department of Technology Information Services Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($375,000.00)
Attachments: 1. Ord 1411-2025 Accounting Template, 2. Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP SOS
Date Ver.Action ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting Details
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Explanation

BACKGROUND:
The cases of Doe, et al. v. City of Columbus, Case No. 24cv006195 and Doe, et al. v. City of Columbus, Case No. 24cv006428 (collectively “Litigation Matters”), are currently pending in the Common Pleas Court of Franklin County, OH, arising from a data security intrusion experienced by the city. Due to a potential conflict of interest, it was necessary for the City Attorney’s office to retain outside counsel to represent the city. The City Attorney’s office entered into a special legal counsel contract with Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP on September 24, 2024. Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP will represent the city in the above cases and any additional litigation that may be filed as a result of the data security intrusion. It is now necessary to modify that contract in order to continue to provide the statutorily required representation.

Ordinance 2804-2024 authorized the City Attorney to modify the contract to add funds to continue to provide representation in the amount of $250,000.00.
This ordinance authorizes the City Attorney to modify the contract to add additional funds in the amount of $375,000.00 to pay for continued legal services.
FISCAL IMPACT: This contract modification will be funded by the Department of Technology Information Services fund.

EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested as funds are needed immediately to ensure these services can continue without interruption.

COMPANY: Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, Vendor Number: 006042

Title

To authorize the City Attorney to modify an existing contract for special legal counsel services with Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, for the Litigation Matters that are currently pending in the Common Pleas Court of Franklin County, OH and any other litigation arising from the data security intrusion; to authorize the expenditure of $375,000.00 from the Department of Technology Information Services Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($375,000....

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