County reports roughly $27,000 in legal costs; attorneys move to dismiss and seek sanctions

County staff provided an update on repeated litigation brought against the Board of Supervisors and summarized the county's legal costs. Mr. Webb reported that plaintiffs in a recent case were ordered to file an amended complaint by Dec. 10, 2024; instead the plaintiffs moved to dismiss on Dec. 2, and the county filed its own motion to dismiss with prejudice and simultaneously moved for sanctions against Mr. Janssen. Webb said the county also sought sanctions and asked for fee awards under Virginia Code § 8.01‑271.1 but noted that statute allows recovery only in the particular case being defended and does not provide a mechanism to recover fees from prior cases.

Webb reviewed several prior matters and itemized costs recorded in the board packet: multiple cases listed with individual attorney-fee entries of $2,500, one case costing about $2,490, another with $15,000 in fees and sanctions, and other small entries; staff totaled the amounts presented in the packet to approximately $25,323.62 and said adding current billing and staff time could put the county’s direct outlays over $27,000 to date. County staff and board members cautioned that indirect costs (staff time, attorney itemized bills, potential insurance-premium increases) could raise the longer-term financial impact; one supervisor estimated premiums could increase substantially if claims continue.

Webb said the county will need to set a hearing on the motion for sanctions and will notify the board about timing and whether the hearing will be in person or by Webex. No final judicial ruling on sanctions was recorded in the meeting.