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Hawaii County Council-25 November 3, 2015 <br /> lot of medical information that has to be processed by the attorney, and the <br /> attorney's and medical doctors on both sides. That's the way it works. But, I'm <br /> pretty comfortable with the amount, $350,000. Charmaine, did we ever have our <br /> own attorneys, too to do workman's comp cases before? <br /> MS. KAMAKA: But we had Nora. Way in the past,we had Corporation <br /> Counsel, <br /> MR. PALEKA: We had our own,yeah? <br /> MS. KAMAKA: And, it came over the years,we decided we need someone who <br /> specialized in work camp, because the attorneys at Corp Counsel were spread <br /> thin, and it wasn't their specialty. And the best way—I explained it in the past to <br /> Counsel,is if you had cancer, you could go to a GP (General Practitioner),but <br /> you'd be better off going to an oncologist. And that's the principle,basically. It's <br /> a special field, and so to ask the attorneys at Corp Counsel,who don't specialize <br /> in that field, although they try to represent well, it's not their specialty. So, along <br /> the way—well firstly,we decided to hire outside Counsel, and then we were <br /> fortunate enough to obtain the set-vices of Nora as a County employee. <br /> MR. PALEKA: Well—and I can understand that reasoning, but the law is pretty <br /> clear, the 386 workman's comp. I mean it's pretty cut and dry. Once you're <br /> ratable—in terms of the decision finding, or arguing a decision, I can see, trying <br /> to get the best attorney representation. I'll yield at this time. Thanks Charmaine. <br /> MS. KAMAKA: You're welcome. <br /> CHR. KANUHA: Thank you, Mr. Paleka. On the first round, any other <br /> discussion? Ms. David. <br /> MS. DAVID: Aloha Charmaine and Molly. I'm looking at the list of open cases, <br /> and I've noticed that there's some that are very old, like `92, and I was just <br /> wondering, I know cases can drag on, are these—is this firm pretty much hired to <br /> complete all these pending cases as much as possible? <br /> MS. KAMAKA: Yes. <br /> MS. DAVID: So they will be charged in addressing these cases? So, as new <br /> cases come in, will you have you own staff to take them if they're not specialized <br /> cases? <br /> MS. KAMAKA: If they need legal expertise, they'll be referred to that firm, <br /> along with the claims on that list. The expectation is that many of those claims <br /> will be brought to closure. <br /> Page 71 <br />