Chair moves to hire outside counsel for social-media MDL; motion approved

Anderson County returned to open session and immediately took action on potential litigation.

The chair said the next item was "potential action concerning litigation" and moved "to employ and engage Henry Johnson Vaughn, PSC HJV, and Porter Banks at Baldwin and Sean, p l l c to represent it in the connection with all the claims with the reference to social media, multi district litigation pending in the Northern District Of California at Oakland, as well as any state court coordinated proceeding, pending in California." The chair made the motion to retain those outside law firms for the matter.

Scott Brown, a committee member, seconded the motion. A roll-call vote was taken and recorded as yes votes from Brown, Carmichael, Collins, Fintres and Sargent. The motion to retain outside counsel was approved by the recorded roll call.

After completing the vote, Scott Brown moved to adjourn; Steve Carmichael seconded. The board took a roll-call vote that recorded affirmative responses and the chair announced the meeting was out of session.

Why it matters: Hiring outside counsel to represent the county in multidistrict litigation over social media claims assigns legal responsibility for county defense and may have budgetary and procedural implications. The motion and vote indicate the board authorized immediate legal representation for both federal MDL proceedings and any coordinated state-court actions in California. The county did not specify estimated costs, fee agreements, or whether an expenditure resolution was required.

The meeting adjourned following the votes.