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Appointing Jardine, Logan & O’Brien, P.L.L.P., as Special Counsel for purposes of providing legal advice, counsel, and representation in civil lawsuits involving the City.
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WHEREAS, Section 5.02 of the Charter of the City of Saint Paul provides that in any case of special or unusual circumstances, the City Council, upon the request of the City Attorney may appoint special counsel to assist in providing for the legal business of the City; and
WHEREAS, due to a temporary staffing shortage within the Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office, the City Attorney’s Office lacks sufficient legal staff to provide the City of Saint Paul with timely representation necessary for the effective defense of civil lawsuits asserted against the City; and
WHEREAS, the City is a named defendant in several civil lawsuits involving assessment appeals, civil rights, personal injury, wrongful death, land use and other claims; and
WHEREAS, the provision of legal advice, counsel and representation in civil lawsuits involving municipal liability in assessment appeals, civil rights, personal injury, wrongful death, and land use claims requires very specialized and technical expertise for which the law firm of Jardine, Logan & O’Brien, P.L.L.P., is uniquely qualified in terms of expertise, experience, and skill; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney seeks City Council approval for the appointment of the law firm of Jardine, Logan & O’Brien, P.L.L.P., to serve as special counsel for the purpose of providing advice, counsel, and representation to the City of Saint Paul in these areas.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that upon request having been made by the City Attorney pursuant to Charter § 5.02, there being special circumstances requiring the services of outside legal counsel to provide legal services to the City, the law firm Jardine, Logan & O’Brien, P.L.L.P., is hereby appointed special counsel for said purposes and for the compensation specified in the Legal Services Agreement between the City of Saint Paul and said firm, effective June 5, 2024; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the compensation to be paid for the services of said special counsel shall be in accordance with the City Attorney Fee Policy established for the appointments of all such special counsel now and in the future, and the total fees to be paid to said special counsel shall be in accord with such policy, shall be reasonable and will not exceed $240 per hour, and shall take into account the factors listed in Rule 1.5 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.