Title
Recognizing Portia Hampton Flowers’ career with the City of Saint Paul and thanking her for her service.
Body
WHEREAS, Portia attended the University of Iowa College of Law and graduated in 1990; and
WHEREAS, Portia began her legal career with the Office of the Attorney General where she handled personal injury lawsuits against the State of Minnesota and eminent domain land acquisitions on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Transportation for almost 9 years; and
WHEREAS, Portia then spent time “inside” as a litigation manager and claims officer for the Minnesota Department of Corrections where she coordinated and directed employee and inmate litigation related to correctional facility staff and policies; and
WHEREAS, Portia joined the Saint Paul City Attorney’s Office in July of 2002 and has served as the Civil Litigation Deputy and then the Chief Deputy for over 15 years; and
WHEREAS, in her time with the City Portia has defended the City of St. Paul and its Mayors, City Council Members, and employees from a wide variety of civil lawsuits including discrimination claims, employment disputes, personal injury and wrongful death claims, police misconduct claims, contract disputes, alleged zoning violations and challenges to the constitutionality of City ordinances in both state and federal courts; and
WHEREAS, Portia has guided her team through difficult challenges including a raft of assessment disputes, the “garbage wars,” the 2008 Republican National Convention, the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd, subsequent civil unrest in the Twin Cities, and a cyber emergency; and
WHEREAS, Portia has led by example with her hard work and dedication, and mentored and collaborated with staff and attorneys ranging from the brand-new to the highly-seasoned, each of whom benefited from the wisdom gained through her decades of experience; and
WHEREAS, Portia’s team fondly remembers her sharing her love of Vernors Ginger Ale on special occasions; and...
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