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3 <br /> 3 <br /> i <br /> I <br /> Hawaii County Council-25 November 3, 2015 <br /> MS. DAVID: That's what I was wondering, because if you're hiring a very <br /> specialized law firm, and the number of cases that I see on this list, some of them <br /> are very old, it would be great. And if that's the goal to close these cases, then I <br /> would definitely support this,just to get you folks some help and back on your <br /> feet. Okay, mahalo. <br /> MS. KAMAKA: Thank you. <br /> CHR. KANUHA: Thank you, Ms. David. Ms. Wille. <br /> MS. WILLS: How many vacancies are there right now in your department? <br /> MS. STEBBINS: Including the position that Nora held, three. <br /> M.S. WILLE: Three. And we've got a certain number of cases, but you're saying <br /> as more cases get added,it will continue. I mean it seems like this—at first I <br /> thought,well is this a temporary situation to get us through this backlog, or are we <br /> switching and we want to have an outside counsel handle it? And it seems like <br /> it's really a decision, it's not just a temporary arrangement. <br /> MS. STEBBINS: I can't speak for years—no, at this point,the intent is to go <br /> back to having outside counsel provide this service,which is what we had for <br /> years and years. And frankly, we had an opportunity to bring Nora.in-house when <br /> she retired and closed her practice, and she worked for the County for maybe two <br /> years. <br /> MS. WILLS: And, why isn't that better? I mean if, let's just say we can hire <br /> another attorney that's specialized, that whatever it is, $125,000, whatever it is <br /> with benefits, $150,000. <br /> MS. KAMAKA: It's a thousand times better to have them on staff. The chance <br /> of that happening—we were very fortunate that Nora was retiring at the time she <br /> was retiring. They were closing their firm, and so we were very fortunate to have <br /> that happen, and if we had that opportunity again, that would be the best route. <br /> MS. WILLE: It is? <br /> MS. KAMAKA: Absolutely. <br /> MS. WILLE: Okay, and why aren't we pursuing that while we temporarily <br /> have--and do this farming out temporary? You just don't—I mean there—are <br /> attorneys that hard to come by? <br /> MS. KAMAKA: Work comp attorneys are very hard to come by. <br /> Page 72 <br />