Explanation
BACKGROUND: The cases of Gutknecht Construction Co. v. City of Columbus, Case No. 21 CV-002381 and Gutknecht Construction Co. v. City of Columbus, Case No. 21 CV-002382, pending in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, were filed on April 15, 2021, and named the City of Columbus, through its Departments of Finance & Management and Recreation & Parks, respectively, as defendant. Subsequently, both cases were consolidated into Mr. Excavator v. Gutknecht, et. al, Case No, 21 CV-1568. Due to the specialized and complex nature of the construction litigation, it was necessary for the City Attorney’s office to retain outside counsel to represent the City. The City Attorney’s office entered into special legal counsel contracts with Porter Wright Morris &Arthur LLP on May 5, 2021. It is now necessary to modify the contracts in order to continue to provide the statutorily required representation.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $300,000.00 with Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP Funding to provide special legal counsel services. The related contract modifications will come from each department. The maximum amount of the contract modification for each contract is $150,000.00. The total amount for each of the contracts, as modified, is $200,000.00.
COMPANY: Porter Wright Morris &Arthur LLP, Vendor No.: 006060, FID: 31-4373657, 41 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to modify an existing contract for special legal counsel services with Porter Wright Morris &Arthur LLP, for the cases of Gutknecht Construction Co. v. City of Columbus, Case No. 21 CV-002381 and Gutknecht Construction Co. v. City of Columbus, Case No. 21 CV-002382, pending in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas as consolidated into Mr. Excavator v. Gutknecht, et. al, Case No, 21 CV-1568; to authorize the transfer of $150,000.00 from the General Fund to the Recreation and Parks Operating Fund: to authorize the exp...
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