HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 185 Draft 02 2024-2026COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
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RESOLUTION NO.
STATE OF HAWAII
185 25
(DRAFT 2)
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 Hawaii, 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, on June 5, 2024, the County Council approved an additional Three
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) for legal services rendered by Special Counsel; 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
WHEREAS, there is a real necessity for Special Counsel to continue representing the
County in its most challenging work; and
WHEREAS, Special Counsel services to the County have increased significantly over
the last year and a half due to increased claims, complex injuries, and intense effort to resolve
older pending claims; and
WHEREAS,there is an additional One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars
($120,000.00) allocated for legal services to be rendered by Special Counsel; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I that
1. Pursuant to County Charter, Section 6-5.5, Special Counsel,the County Council
authorizes the continued retention of Special Counsel to represent the County; and
2. The funds for the Special Counsel shall not exceed Seven Hundred Twenty
Thousand Dollars ($720,000.00).
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Office of the Mayor, the Department of Finance,the Office of the Corporation
Counsel and the Department of Human Resources.
Dated at Kona , Hawai`i,this 18th day of June , 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
SIR
C I M ER, COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawaii GALIMBA X
HUSTACE X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by INABA X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KAGIWADA X
County of Hawaii on June 18, 2025
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
ATTEST: KIMBALL X
ONISHI X
VILLEGAS X
9 0 0 0
Reference: C-297.2/Council
85
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSO &PRESIDING OF CER RESOLUTION NO. I
(DRAFT 2)
2