Explanation
BACKGROUND: The case of Clifford v. Keckley, et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-119, United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, was filed on January 14, 2019, and was settled as authorized by Ord. 2892-2019, passed on November 18, 2019. This lawsuit named five individual Columbus Police Officers and the City of Columbus. Due to a potential conflict of interest, it was necessary for the City Attorney’s office to retain outside counsel to represent the individual officers. The City Attorney’s office entered into a special legal counsel contract with Crabbe, Brown & James LLP on March 18, 2019. That contract has been amended once previously for $50,000 pursuant to Ord. 1810-2019, passed July 15, 2019. This second amendment is necessary to allow for payment of the final outstanding invoices on this contract.
FISCAL IMPACT: This contract modification will be funded by the Department of Public Safety. The amount of this contract modification is $60,000.00.
COMPANY: Crabbe, Brown & James LLP, Vendor No.: 004294, FID: 31-0787394
500 S Front St, Ste 1200, Columbus, OH 43215
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to modify a contract for special legal counsel with Crabbe, Brown & James LLP; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds within Public Safety's General Fund Budget; to authorize an expenditure of up to $60,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($60,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City Attorney had a need for special legal services with regard to the case of Clifford v. Keckley, et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-119, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney and Crabbe, Brown & James LLP entered into a contract for special legal counsel on March 18, 2019 to provide said special legal services to the City Attorney and the Department of Public Safety with regard to that litigation; and
WHEREAS, this contract was first modified pursuant to Ordinance No. 1810-2019, passed on July 15, 2019; and
WHEREAS, this second modification is necessary in order to pay the final outstanding invoices on this contract; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer funds between Divisions within Public Safety's General Fund Budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney's Office and Department of Public Safety in that it is necessary to authorize the City Attorney to modify the contract with Crabbe, Brown & James LLP immediately in order to facilitate final payment of this contract; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney is hereby authorized to modify the contract with Crabbe, Brown & James LLP for special legal counsel to provide special legal services to the City Attorney and the Department of Public Safety with regard to the case of Clifford v. Keckley, et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-119, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $60,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 General Fund, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of up to $60,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized in the General Fund 1000, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto which are hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and immediately after its passage and signature by the Mayor, or within 10 days thereafter if the Mayor neither signs nor vetoes the same.