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Saratoga County Board authorizes new outside counsel in two federal lawsuits, budgets $100,000 per case
Summary
The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors voted March 18 to terminate its prior outside firm and retain Romer, Wallens, Gold & Minow LLP as defense counsel in two separate federal cases, authorizing up to $100,000 per matter and amending the 2026 county budget accordingly.
The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors voted March 18 to substitute outside counsel in two pending federal lawsuits and to amend the county budget to cover retainers of up to $100,000 per case.
The board added and approved Resolution 91 authorizing termination of Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, PC and retention of Romer, Wallens, Gold & Minow LLP as defense counsel in Beardsley et al v. County of Saratoga, a civil action pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. The resolution authorizes a retainer not to exceed $100,000 and directs the chair to execute the retainer and any necessary substitutions of counsel; the county attorney will review the form and content of agreements.
The board also added and approved Resolution 92, which would terminate Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, PC and retain the same substitute firm to defend the county in Mahan et al v. County of Saratoga, a separate federal case in which plaintiffs assert claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Resolution 92 likewise authorizes a retainer not to exceed $100,000 and a corresponding amendment to the 2026 budget to increase attorney-fee expenses and decrease the fund balance by $100,000.
Both resolutions were added to the agenda at the county attorney’s request, read into the record, and approved by roll-call vote. The chair instructed that the chair of the board is authorized to execute the retainer agreements and any necessary stipulations or substitutions of counsel. The chair also noted that the county attorney will approve final contract language.
No details about the underlying allegations in either case were introduced or debated during the public meeting beyond the filings and case captions read into the record. The board’s action was procedural: it changed legal representation and set aside budget authority to pay for substitute counsel services.
The board returned to regular session after an executive session earlier in the meeting; the chair reported that no action was taken during that executive session.
Next steps: staff will finalize retainer documents for the chair’s signature, subject to the county attorney’s review.
