Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Columbus City Attorney’s Office faces an ongoing conflict of interest pertaining to the need to conduct probable cause evaluations and represent the City in the event that the prosecution of City employees of the Columbus Division of Police is warranted for potential criminal wrongdoing associated with the police response to George Floyd protests occurring in the City beginning in late May 2020. The City Attorney deemed it in the best interest of the City to assign a Special Prosecutor to such matters so as to avoid the conflict of interest and to assure the independence of the review process. The City Attorney engaged Kathleen Garber, Attorney at Law, on August 10, 2020 and in exchange for said services, the City agreed to pay Ms. Garber up to $15,000 which was subsequently modified on January 31, 2021 to up to $30,000 to account for the expansion of the scope of Ms. Garber’s services which had occurred on October 7, 2020. This contract modification is needed to continue this representation uninterrupted.
FISCAL IMPACT: This contract modification will be funded by the City Attorney’s Office. The amount of this contract is not to exceed $80,000.00.
COMPANY: Kathleen Garber, Attorney at Law, Vendor No.: 033533, 8012 Golfview Court, Columbus, OH 43235
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to modify an existing contract for special prosecution with Kathleen Garber, Attorney at Law, for probable cause determination and potential prosecution of matters pertaining to alleged criminal wrongdoing by City Division of Police employees associated with the police response to the George Floyd protests in amount not to exceed $80,000.00; to authorize the transfer of $50,000.00; to authorize the expenditure of up to $50,000.00 from the General Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Attorney’s Office faces an ongoing conflict of interest pertaining to the need to conduct probable cause...
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