City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: NOVEMBER 18, 2025 FROM: CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: ADD THE LAW OFFICES OF WILLIAM R. PRICE TO THE CITY’S APPROVED PANEL OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND APPROVE A THREE-YEAR LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE LAW OFFICES OF WILLIAM R. PRICE ISSUE:
To consider approval of a three-year legal services agreement with the Law Offices of William R. Price.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Add the Law Offices of William R. Price to the panel of approved attorneys for the City; Approve a three-year legal services agreement with the Law Offices of William R. Price; and Authorize the City Attorney or designee to execute the legal services agreement with the Law Offices of William R. Price.
DISCUSSION:
City Charter section 702, “Eligibility, powers and duties of City Attorney,” provides, in part, that “the City Council shall have control of all legal business and proceedings and may employ other attorneys to take charge of any litigation or matter or to assist the City Attorney therein.” The Law Offices of William R. Price is based in San Diego. Principal attorney William Price specializes in civil litigation defense, employment law, and civil rights. Mr. Price represents public and private sector clients throughout California and has extensive experience representing state and local agencies. Mr. Price has successfully tried cases in state and federal courts for more than 25 years in the areas of personal injury, breach of contract, wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, harassment, disability accommodation, whistleblower, unfair competition, wrongful death, excessive force, and civil rights claims. Mr. Price served as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of California from 2007-2019. He was the top trial attorney for both the Employment and Tort Sections of the San Diego Office, and regularly represented the Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, CalTrans, CalFire, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State Parks, Health Care Services, and other agencies. He led the successful defense of Section 1983 claims against the Department of Justice and former Attorneys General Brown and Harris. Mr. Price won every trial and appeal during his tenure and received the statewide 2018 Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Client Representation following two major trial wins in law enforcement civil rights cases.
Mr. Price was on the City’s Approved Panel of Outside Counsel before the City Attorney’s Office issued an RFP in 2023, but his legal services agreement expired in 2024. The City Attorney’s Office would like to add Mr. Price back to the Approved Panel of Outside Counsel and to execute a Legal Services Agreement so that he may be retained on an as needed basis for complex cases or cases involving conflicts of interest.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. The City Attorney’s Office will seek all necessary approvals for legal work performed by the Law Offices of William R. Price.
Prepared by: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney 2