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Essex County authorizes outside counsel retainers and additional litigation fees; Tariq Branch case in discovery
Summary
The board approved multiple resolutions retaining outside counsel for workers' compensation and civil litigation matters, including fee increases for appellate and discovery work. County counsel said the Tariq Branch case remains in discovery and unlikely to close this year absent settlement.
The Essex County Board of County Commissioners approved a series of legal retention and fee‑increase resolutions covering workers' compensation, disciplinary appeals and ongoing civil litigation.
County counsel's office said the workers' compensation retentions (resolutions 13–15) are for the same firms and rates used previously and cover the period 01/01/2025 through 12/31/2025. Jerome Saint John, representing the office of county counsel, said an amendment for Chiesa Shahinian and Giantomasi reflects additional appellate work in disciplinary matters.
On the Tariq Branch case, Saint John said the matter is "well into discovery." When Commissioner Parlavec asked whether the 2019 docket was close to trial, Saint John replied, "We're now well into discovery," and added it is unlikely to be over this year absent settlement because "the county and the plaintiff are very, very, very far apart."
Other resolutions increased fees for various employment and civil matters; staff described depositions and appellate work that prompted the adjustments. The legal retentions and fee amendments passed as part of the consent agenda.
