HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 306 Draft 01 2024-2026A 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 Charter of the County of Hawai‘i (hereinafter the “Charter”), Special Counsel, provides that the Council may, by two-thirds vote of its entire membership,
authorize 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 further states that any such authorization for the employment of Special Counsel shall specify the compensation to be paid for services; and
WHEREAS, the County Department of Human Resources, Workers’ Compensation Division (hereinafter the “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 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, the County is in the process of the evaluation and selection of Special Counsel for Workers’ Compensation cases via professional services procurement and needs additional time
to complete this process; and
WHEREAS, the County desires to extend the contract with Leong Kunihiro Brooke & Kim for an additional period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days after September 30, 2025; 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 past two years due to increased claims, complex injuries, and intense effort to resolve older pending
claims; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that, in accordance with Section 6-5.5 of the Charter, this body hereby authorizes the continued employment of Leong Kunihiro Brooke
& Kim as Special Counsel to represent the County in workers’ compensation cases for a period of time not to exceed December 29, 2025.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable C. Kimo Alameda, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; Diane T. Nakagawa, Director of
Finance; Renee N. C. Schoen, Corporation Counsel; and Sommer J. Tokihiro, Director of Human Resources.
Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___.
INTRODUCED BY:
_______________________________________
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I