Laserfiche WebLink
441, <br /> COUNTY OF HAWAII 1=% r • STATE OF HAWAII <br /> RESOLUTION NO. 522 22 <br /> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF LEONG <br /> KUNIHIRO BROOKE&KIM,AS SPECIAL COUNSEL TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY <br /> OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES,WORKERS' <br /> COMPENSATION DIVISION. <br /> WHEREAS, Section 6-5.5, of the Hawai`i County Charter(the "Charter"), Special <br /> Counsel,provides that the County Council, may approve by two-thirds vote of its entire <br /> membership the employment of Special Counsel, for any special matter presenting a real <br /> necessity for such employment; and <br /> WHEREAS, Section 6-5.5 of the Charter states that any such authorization for the <br /> employment of Special Counsel shall specify the compensation to be paid for services; and <br /> WHEREAS,the County of Hawai`i, Department of Human Resources, Workers' <br /> Compensation Division("County")handles numerous workers' compensation cases and due to <br /> the number of cases, is still in need of assistance of a Special Counsel; and <br /> WHEREAS, on November 3, 2015, the County Council approved the hiring of Leong, <br /> Kunihiro, Benton, & Brooke as Special Counsel to represent the County for a sum not to exceed <br /> Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00); and <br /> WHEREAS, on February 19, 2020,the County Council approved an additional Fifty <br /> Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for legal services rendered by Special Counsel; and <br /> WHEREAS, on September 16, 2020, the County Council approved an additional Two <br /> Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00); and <br /> WHEREAS, on April 6, 2022, the County Council approved an additional Sixty <br /> Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00); and <br /> WHEREAS, Special Counsel represents the County in its most challenging workers' <br /> compensation claims, provides claims management oversight, makes recommendations <br /> regarding settlement, negotiations,pertinent evaluations and investigation, and promotes <br /> resolution and closure; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Office of the Corporation Counsel does not have the expertise, <br /> personnel, and resources to provide the same level of legal services rendered by Special Counsel; <br /> and <br />