ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: November 19, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney
DATE: November 6, 2025
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. 2023-157 with Clifford & Brown (adding $750,000 not to exceed $1,100,000) to provide outside legal services in the matter of Edgar Quincy Sloan v. City of Bakersfield.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the amendment to the Agreement.
BACKGROUND:
On January 7, 2021, the City entered into Departmental Agreement No. CA21 -002 with Clifford & Brown in an amount not to exceed $40,000 for legal representation in Edgar Quincy Sloan v. City of Bakersfield.
On June 28, 2023, the Department Agreement was amended to add $60,000 for a total not to exceed amount of $100,000 and became known as Agreement No. 2023-157.
On April 24, 2024, Agreement No. 2023 -157 was amended to add $100,000 for a total not to exceed amount of $200,000.
This case is being handled outside the cap at a reduced hourly rate since it is a personnel matter. Trial began September 8, 2025, and concluded October 28, 2025. The trial ended with a verdict in Plaintiff’s favor.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City Attorney’s Office requests that we amend the contract to add additional compensation of $750,000 to compensate outside counsel for thei r trial preparation, the past two months in trial, and to cover post-trial motions and a potential appeal not to exceed amount of $1,100,000. There are sufficient funds in the CAO budget for this amendment.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:
Amended Agreement