Humboldt County Board authorizes legal defense in two lawsuits; one vote splits 3-2

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on reconvening after closed session reported no action on two agenda items and authorized County Counsel to defend the county in two pending lawsuits.

A county staff member told the board, "There was no reportable action taken with regard to item C1 and C3." The staff member then reported the board "voted unanimously to authorize the Humboldt County Counsel's office to defend the County of Humboldt in the case of Donna Volpi versus County of Humboldt, Humboldt County Superior Court case number CV2502532."

The same staff member said the board also authorized defense in a second case, All Points Outdoor Inc. v. County of Humboldt (Humboldt County Superior Court case number CV2601022). That authorization passed on a 3-2 vote; the staff member said, "the board voted 3-2 with Supervisors Bone and Bushnell voting no to authorize the County Counsel's office to defend the County in the case of All Points Outdoor Inc. versus County of Humboldt, case number CV2601022." The report did not list how individual supervisors voted in the unanimous matter beyond the tally for the split vote.

The board had announced before recessing that it would meet in closed session under California Government Code sections 54954.5 and 54957 to consider a public-employee appointment for the Aviation Director, under section 54956.9(d)(1) to discuss existing litigation including the two cases named above, and under section 54956.9(d)(4) to consider initiation of litigation in one potential case. The staff report confirmed no reportable action on two items and recorded the two authorizations for legal defense.

After the report, Chair Wilson closed the meeting. No public commenters were recorded during the public-comment period, and staff estimated the closed session would last roughly three-and-a-half to four hours before reconvening.