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HomeMy WebLinkAboutContracts & Agreements_28-2022COLANTUONO H I G H S M I T H WHATLEY, PC MICHAEL G. COLANTUONO I (530) 432 7359 I MCOLANTUONO@CHWLAW US Our File No. 30044-0003 August 20, 2021 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL Daniel J McHugh, City Attorney City of Redlands P 0 Box 3005 Redlands, California 92373 Re Representation of the City of Redlands re July 2 Claim of Steve Rogers re Use of Solid Waste Rate Proceeds for Street Maintenance Dear Dan. As you asked, I write to propose the terms under which we agree to represent the City of Redlands ("you" or "City") regarding this claim and the litigation likely to arise from it. This will be our sole project for you, if we can assist you on other matters, please let me know Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC and all of its professionals are very pleased to have the opportunity to represent you in this matter This letter sets forth the basis upon which our firm will provide legal services to you and bill you for services and costs. The firm maintains a conflict of interest index which lists all clients of our firm and matters in which we represent them. We will not represent any party with an interest that may be adverse to an indexed person without first determining if a professional conflict of interest would arise We propose to index the following with respect to this matter• Client -Affiliated Parties. City of Redlands Adverse Parties Steve Rogers 790 E COLORADO BOULEVARD, SUITE 850, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91101-2109 I (213) 542-5700 GRASS VALLEY I PASADENA I SACRAMENTO I SOLANA BEACH I SONOMA 264177.2 Daniel J McHugh, City Attorney City of Redlands August 20, 2021 Page 2 Please let me know if any of these names are incorrect or if there are other parties with an interest in this matter that we should list such as, for example, any other parties the City expects to challenge its solid waste rates. Unless we hear from you to the contrary, we will assume that the above listing is accurate and complete. We have reviewed our files and our conflicts index and have no other client relationships which would interfere with our ability to represent you in this matter As you know, we have represented the City in the past. As we have discussed, the nature of the matter makes it impossible for us to precisely estimate the fees you may incur You will receive monthly statements informing you of the fees and costs incurred during the prior month. We will, of course, do our best to represent you efficiently and without undue expense. Please make payments payable to Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC directly to our Grass Valley office at: Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 420 Sierra College Drive, Suite 140 Grass Valley, CA 95945-5091 Our federal employer identification number is 75-3031545 I will have primary responsibility for your representation, and the firm will use other attorneys and legal assistants in the best exercise of our professional judgment. If you have questions, concerns or criticisms at any time, please contact me at once. Naturally, we expect you to keep us reasonably informed of all significant developments regarding this representation. We review all statements before they are issued to ensure the amount charged is appropriate. The statement for fees is simply the product of the hours worked multiplied by the hourly rates for the attorneys and legal assistants who did the work. Our hourly rates are based upon the experience, reputation and ability of the lawyer or legal assistant performing the services, and for 2021 range between $220 and $525 per hour for attorneys' time, and between $125 and $170 for the time of paralegals and legal assistants. As a courtesy to you, however, we agree to cap our rates at $375 per 264177.2 Daniel J McHugh, City Attorney City of Redlands August 20, 2021 Page 3 hour for this case Our rate structure in general and the rates of particular lawyers may be increased from time to time, and are usually adjusted as of the beginning of each calendar year However, we will not lift the $375 per hour cap without first consulting with you about our need to do so It may be necessary to bill you for items such as, but not limited to, authorized travel, long distance telephone calls, filing fees, photocopying, computerized legal research outside the scope of our Westlaw contract and the like. These items are separately itemized on our statement as "disbursements." These amounts will be billed in addition to our fees. We will send you monthly statements, and expect payment within 15 days of the billing date If payment is not received within 30 days of the billing date, we reserve the right to charge interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of 1% per month and to terminate our representation. We rarely have disputes with clients over our fees Nevertheless, you should be aware that you are entitled to require that any fee dispute be resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the arbitration rules for legal fee disputes of the County Bar Association in any county in which we maintain an office. We agree that all disputes between us regarding the services rendered or fees charged not resolved via County Bar fee arbitration will be submitted to binding arbitration in Claremont to be conducted by ADR Services, Inc. in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules YOU SHOULD REVIEW THIS PARAGRAPH CAREFULLY AND, IF YOU WISH, SEEK INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING IT, AS YOU AND WE ARE AGREEING TO FOREGO SIGNIFICANT RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE BETWEEN US, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL You have the right to terminate our representation at any time. We have the same right, subject to an obligation to give you reasonable notice to arrange alternative representation. In either circumstance, you agree to secure new counsel to represent you as quickly as possible and to cooperate fully in the substitution of the new counsel as counsel of record Notwithstanding the termination of our representation, you will remain obligated to pay to us all fees and costs incurred previously 264177.2 Daniel J McHugh, City Attorney City of Redlands August 20, 2021 Page 4 You agree that we may, in our discretion, maintain all or part of your client file in electronic format. The firm may store part or all of your documents using secure cloud storage services. If so, the firm will apply all reasonable methods to maintain the confidentiality of your files, just as it does for your non -digital information. Your data will be password protected and encrypted using currently available technology Clients requiring information from their files may obtain that information only by written request to us. You also agree that following termination of our attorney -client relationship, we will not be required to maintain your client file for more than two years. If you ask us to deliver your file to you, you agree that delivery of an electronic version, together with any materials that cannot be saved electronically, satisfies our obligation to release all your client papers and property to you. Two years after termination of our relationship, and after reasonable notice, you agree that we will be free to destroy your client file, including all electronic records. We may also discharge our obligation to maintain your file before two years expire by mailing a copy to you at your address last known to us. You agree that "reasonable notice" means our mailing a notice of our intent to destroy your client file to you at that address. I apologize for the formality of this letter, but we are required by California law to provide this information to you in writing We are also required to inform you that we currently maintain professional liability insurance coverage Please review the foregoing and, if it meets with your approval, execute it and return it to me If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at the direct -dial number above Thank you for the opportunity to represent you! Very truly yours, 1 MGC:mgc 264177.2 Daniel J McHugh, City Attorney City of Redlands August 20, 2021 Page 5 On behalf of the City of Redlands, I agree to retain Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC to provide legal services as set forth above Date .4h-eiL, 7 , 2022. Signature By. Paul T. Barich Title Mayor Attest e Donaldson, City Clerk 264177 2