Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legal Affairs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Crawford County board authorizes conditional retention of private counsel for pending litigation
Summary
After reviewing an engagement letter for a flat fee, the board authorized Chair Craig Dozark to sign an engagement letter to retain private counsel on a pending case after staff confirm billing and expense details (deposition transcript costs, travel expenses and termination terms).
The Crawford County Board of Supervisors reviewed an engagement letter from a private attorney offering to represent the county in pending litigation for a flat fee of $7,500. County staff advised clarifying the agreement’s billing details and which costs — for example court reporter transcripts, travel, and other litigation expenses — are included in the flat fee or billed separately.
Colin, advising the board, explained the engagement described a flat fee for representation but that some items commonly arise in litigation that can generate additional costs, such as deposition transcripts and travel. “It is indicated in his engagement letter. That is the total representation,” Colin said, but he recommended clarification about whether transcripts and other expenses would be extra and how termination would be billed.
Action taken: The board voted to authorize Chair Craig Dozark to sign the engagement after county staff seek clarity from the attorney on which costs are included and what, if any, additional expenses would be billed to the county. The board instructed staff to confirm that transcripts, travel and other common litigation expenses were clearly defined before final execution.
Why it matters: The board is exercising oversight of county legal exposure and costs. County staff earlier sought IAP representation; staff reported IAP had accepted the matter but had not yet assigned counsel and did not guarantee representation in single‑county suits without broader participation. The board therefore pursued a local private engagement with oversight conditions to avoid being without counsel while clarifying exposure to additional expenses.
Next steps: County staff will follow up with the proposed attorney to clarify whether the $7,500 flat fee covers transcripts, travel or other costs and will report back to the board if further action is needed. If needed, the board retains the right to terminate the engagement per contract terms and to seek alternate counsel.
