Madison Heights council authorizes hiring special counsel for AFFF product-liability case
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Summary
Council voted to add litigation over aqueous film‑forming foam (AFFF) to tonight’s agenda and authorized retention of outside counsel to represent the city in the product‑liability matter; the city attorney recommended two firms and authorized the city manager to execute documents.
Madison Heights City Council voted to retain special legal counsel to represent the city in litigation related to aqueous film‑forming foam, after adding the item to tonight’s agenda. The motion to hire outside counsel passed by voice vote.
The city attorney told council that "section 3.14f of the charter provides that upon recommendation of the city attorney, city council may retain special legal counsel to handle any matter that the city has an interest in." He recommended hiring Mike Stagg of the Stagg Louisa law firm (New Orleans) as general counsel and Gary Klein of Cummings, Maclaurie, Davis (Livonia) as local counsel, and asked the council to authorize the city manager to execute necessary documents to effectuate the retention. "Authorize city manager to execute the necessary documents to effectuate the same," the city attorney stated.
Councilor Robach moved to approve the recommendation and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair announced the motion carried.
No vote tallies by name were recorded in the meeting record; the council’s roll call earlier confirmed eight members present.
The authorization directs the city manager to finalize contracts with the recommended firms and begins legal representation in the AFFF product‑liability matter. The minutes show the matter was added to the agenda as item 9 under reports and that the council approved the retention at the same meeting.
