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Wayne County committee approves multiple legal‑services contract amendments for pending and appealed cases
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Summary
The committee approved retroactive and additional funding amendments to outside counsel agreements for three pending matters — Regina Parks v. County of Wayne; Crystal Perry (appeal pending); and Wayne County v. Straight Trucking — citing post‑discovery and post‑trial work including an expected appeal and facilitation on damages.
Wayne County’s Government Operations Committee on March 2026 approved several amendments to existing outside legal services agreements to cover ongoing post‑discovery and post‑trial work.
Assistant corporation counsel Claire Mason Lee briefed commissioners that amendment #2 to the two‑year agreement with Dickinson Wright in Regina Parks v. County of Wayne and Sheriff Raphael Washington adds funds for post‑discovery activity; Dickinson partner Aaron Burrell said discovery has closed and the additional money reflects charges incurred after billing questions were raised. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about why the item was labeled "retroactive," and county staff explained that the invoice/billing situation made the funding effectively retroactive once payment questions were raised.
A separate amendment (amendment 4) to Dickinson Wright was presented in the Crystal Perry matter. Lee said the county prevailed at a September 2025 trial, plaintiffs’ requests for reconsideration were denied, and plaintiffs have filed or are pursuing an appeal; the amendment adds coverage for post‑trial work, including the appeal.
On Wayne County v. Straight Trucking, assistant corporation counsel Jim Jernigan described retaining Bloom Sluggett as co‑counsel because the case involved motor‑carrier law and multiple out‑of‑state defendants; the county obtained partial summary disposition on fault and will enter facilitation on damages in June. Commissioners approved an amendment adding funds and extending time.
Each item was moved and approved by voice/tablet vote; the clerk recorded "Motion carried" for each motion. Commissioners asked for procedural clarifications about retroactivity and were told staff would provide any requested documents prior to the full commission meeting.
