HomeMy WebLinkAboutContracts & Agreements_128a-2009_CCv0001.pdf LAW OFFICES OF
CURTIS L. COLEMAN
EMAIL catem9milawCesithlink.not HOWARD HUGHES CENTER TELEPHONE 53101 348-8186
www,curtiecolornamiew.com 6601 CENTER DRIVE WEST, SUITE SOO FACSIMILE (310) 861-14e4
LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA 900AS
August 7, 2009
City of Redlands
35 Cajon Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Attention: Dan McHugh, City Attorney
Re: Engagement and Fee Agreement Letter
Dear Mr. McHugh:
This letter is to welcome the City of Redlands
("Redlands") as a client of mine and to set forth in writing
the basis on which services will be rendered and fees and
expenses will be charged. I apologize in advance for the tone
of this letter, but the contents are largely dictated by
State Bar requirements. I am pleased to be representing
Redlands in connection with compliance issues related to the
operation of a landfill gas fired reciprocating engine
located at the City' s wastewater treatment plant. I will work
with you to provide all legal services reasonably required to
represent you in these matters.
I will strive to keep you informed of significant
developments in the matter and to be available to answer your
inquiries. In turn, it is important to my effective
representation that you keep me informed of developments in
this matter of which you become aware, inform me promptly of
any change in your address or telephone number, and be
available to provide information to me regarding issues that
arise in this representation.
I have checked for conflicts of interest and have
verified that I have none.
It is my philosophy to provide superior legal services
at a reasonable cost . I will be the attorney responsible for
your legal work. No other persons associated with my offices
will work on this matter without your prior approval.
My hourly rate for this representation will be $300 . 00
and I maintain careful records of the time spent on your
Dan McHugh, Esq.
August 7, 2009
Page 2
matter. This rate will not be changed without prior
notification to you. I bill my time in increments of 6
minutes. The time spent and the hourly rate will be the
factors that determine the amounts billed for my services. I
plan to send one bill monthly for services rendered to your
offices at the above address. If this is not acceptable,
please notify me immediately so we can determine the best way
to handle the billings.
It is my policy to recover expenses from clients, while
keeping the cost of such expenses to a minimum. Therefore, in
addition to my fees for legal services, I reserve the right
to charge separately for certain reasonable costs and expense
disbursements as follows: messenger, courier, attorney
service, and Federal Express charges (if necessary) ; costs of
required travel outside the South Coast Air Basin (coach if
by air, $0 . 55 per mile if by automobile, actual costs if by
other ground transport) ; photocopying (actual costs, not to
exceed $0.25 per page) ; non-attorney staff overtime when
required by the client or the matter' s timing; computer
research facilities (with the prior approval of the client) ;
word processing done by outside services for which I am
charged (with the prior approval of the client) ; court
reporters; and other costs and expenses incurred on your
behalf. Large disbursement billings from sources outside my
firm (e.g. consultants and investigators) may be forwarded by
me to you for direct payment. Of course, no such sources of
large disbursements (including word processing, messenger,
courier, and computer research services) would be generated
without your prior approval.
My billing statements will be rendered on a monthly
basis. They will identify the person who performed the work
(generally, myself) , a description of the task or tasks
performed arnd the number of hours spent on those tasks (on a
daily basis) , the fees charged for the performance of those
tasks, and an itemization of out-of-pocket expenses. My
statements are due and payable upon receipt and are
considered delinquent if not paid within 30 days . I reserve
the right, after appropriate notice, to assess a charge on
delinquent statements at the rate of twelve percent per
annum.
If you should have any questions or disputes concerning
any amounts billed to you, please feel free to contact me
immediately. If I cannot resolve the problem to your
Dan McHugh, Esq.
August 7, 2009
Page 3
satisfaction, you have the right to seek arbitration of the
dispute through the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Z reserve the right to withdraw from representation as
permitted or required by the applicable statutes or rules
regarding professional responsibilities of attorneys. Among
the facts constituting grounds for withdrawal are breach of
the agreements in this letter as to expenses or fees, refusal
to cooperate with me or to follow my advice with respect to a
material matter or any other fact or circumstance that would
render my continuing representation of you unethical or
unlawful.
Please acknowledge your receipt of, and agreement with
the terms contained in, this letter by returning a signed
copy to me at your earliest convenience. Thank you for
choosing me to assist you.
Ver { truly ,y urs,
y
Curtis L. Coleman
ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED
City of Redlands
B y:
i HARRISON, MAYOR