April 2, 2024
City Attorney's Office
DATE: April 2, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Dave Aleshire, City Attorney
Shannon Moore, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Subject:
Legal Services Agreement with Manning & Kass, Ellrod,
Ramirez & Trester, LLP
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This contract will be for a total amount not to exceed $75,000 with term ending June 30, 2025. This agreement
is charged to the Risk Management General Liability
Fund 50182316-400554.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
Legal Services Agreements and amendments have been
approved as noted in the initial agreement and
amendments. The City Council approved: the original
contract on March 2, 2021 for $ 45,000, and the first
amendment on May 17, 2022 for $75,000.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
A legal services agreement with Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez & Trester, LLP is needed to ensure that the City has the appropriate legal representation relating to police tort litigation.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a new legal services agreement with Manning
& Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez & Trester LLP for a total amount not to exceed $75,000 for a term beginning July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025 – City Attorney’s Office (Dave Aleshire 510-620-6509).
AGENDA
REPORT
April 2, 2024
DISCUSSION:
Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez & Trester, LLP defends the City of Richmond in police tort litigation cases. The City Attorney’s Office wants to continue contracting with Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez & Trester, LLP, who are seasoned police tort litigators.
The City Attorney’s Office is requesting a new legal services agreement with Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez & Trester, LLP to continue to provide legal advice and representation as they have the experience and expertise necessary to continue to represent the City in pending and future police tort litigation matters.
Due to an administrative error, the council approved contract amendment 1 with Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez & Trester, LLP, but the contract amendment was not routed for signatures. As such, the contract, although approved by Council to extend the term to June 30, 2023 and for $75,000 for a total not to exceed $120,000, expired on June 30, 2022. Therefore, the City Attorney’s Office is requesting that the City enter into a new contract with Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez & Trester, LLP for a total contract amount of $75,000 for a contract term beginning July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Legal Services Agreement with Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez & Trester, LLP