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COUNTY OF H WAPI STATE OF HAWAI`I RESOLUTION NO. 185 25 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. WHEREAS, Section 6-5.5, of the Hawaii County Charter(the"Charter"), Special Counsel, provides that the County Council may approve,by two-thirds vote of its entire membership,the employment of Special Counsel, for any special matter presenting a real necessity for such employment; and WHEREAS, Section 6-5.5 of the Charter states that any such authorization for the employment of Special Counsel shall specify the compensation to be paid for services; and WHEREAS,the County of Hawai`i,Department of Human Resources, Workers' Compensation Division("County")handles numerous workers' compensation cases and due to the number and complexity of these cases, is still in need of assistance of Special Counsel; and WHEREAS, on November 22, 2022,via professional services procurement,the County executed a new contract for Special Counsel assistance with Workers' Compensation cases, with Leong Kunihiro Brooke &Kim for Three Hundred Thousand Dollars($300,000.00),with a termination date of September 30, 2025; and WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the current contract funds will be exhausted by April 30, 2025 and the County is requesting an additional One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000.00) for legal services rendered by Special Counsel; and WHEREAS, Special Counsel represents the County in its most challenging workers' compensation claims, provides claims management oversight, makes recommendations regarding settlement, negotiations,pertinent evaluations and investigation, and promotes resolution and closure; and WHEREAS,the Office of the Corporation Counsel does not have the expertise, personnel, and resources to provide the same level of legal services rendered by Special Counsel; and