HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0297.000 2024-2026 - 1;17 FH,...,.
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C.Kimo Alameda,Ph.D. Diane Nakagawa
Mayor •i Director
William V.Brilhante Jr. ...;:•: *:�*�`:
Malia A.Kekai
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Managing Director � ,_ Deputy Director
County of Hawaii
Finance Department
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2103 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720
(808)961-8234 • Fax(808)961-8569
May 2, 2025
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Dr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Council Chair and —+
Members of the Hawai`i County Council
Hawai`i County Council •c_
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 f'-
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Re: Resolution Authorizing the Continued Employment of Special Counsel
Enclosed is a resolution authorizing the continued employment of Leong Kunihiro Brooke&
Kim as Special Counsel to represent the County of Hawai`i Department of Human Resources,
Workers' Compensation Division. The County's Department of Human Resources receives
numerous workers' compensation claims, and the Office of the Corporation Counsel does not
have the expertise and personnel resources to provide the same level of legal services rendered
by Special Counsel.
If there are any questions,please do not hesitate to call J Yoshimoto of the Office of the
Corporation Counsel at 961-8251.
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Diane Nakagawa
Director of Finance
Enc.
c: Corp Counsel
HR
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Comm. N . cil
Ref. To:
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider _ 8 2025
ef. Loire
Form#: B-52
7/18/91
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
DEPARTMENT: Office of the Corporartion Counsel DATE: 4/30/25
STAFF CONTACT: J Yoshimoto PHONE: 808-961-8251
A. REQUEST:
The Office of the Corporation Counsel requests the placement of the attached draft resolution on the
May 20, 2025 Finance Committee agenda. The attached draft resolution will impart authority to the Office of
the Corporation Counsel to continue the currently existing contract for special counsel with Leong Kunihiro
Brooke& Kim, and increase the budget for legal services by an additional $120,000.
B. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION (USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NEEDED):
The County's Department of Human Resoures processes numerous workers' compensation claims. The
Office of the Corporation Counsel does not have the expertise, personnel and requisite resources to provide
the technical level of legal services that Special Counsel affords. The firm of Leong Kunihiro Brooke& Kim
("Special Counsel") has been retained by the County since 2015 and provides comprehensive legal
representation in workers' compensation cases, including:
-Investigation of injury claims related to serious medical conditions where the County's exposure may be
significant(stress, cardiac conditions, neurologic conditions, and employee deaths resulting from work-
related injury;
-All matters heard before the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board;
-Investigation and filing fraud complaiints, including representation at Department of Labor hearings
pertaining to fraud;
-Depositions of parties as a component of the investigation process;
-Claims handling for the most complex cases including multiple dates of injury and/or claims that have been
open for significant periods of time, to bring the claim to closure/resolution;
-Preparation of settlement agreements;
-Preparation and filing of court pleadings and making court appearances as necessary;
-Providing general advice and consultation to the County in relation to claims handling.
Corporation Counsel requests that Council grant the authority for continued employement of Leong Kunihiro
Brooke & Kim as Special Counsel and authorize an additional $120,000 to cover the anticipated costs under
this contract through September 30, 2025.
Date:2025.04.30
SIGNED: 15:24:11 -10'00'
DATE: 04-30-25
Department Head