HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0717.007 2004-2006 Lincoln S.T. Ashida
~ Corporation Counsel
Harry Kim
Mayor
Gerald Takase
;r,.: Assistant Corporation
't 'o:'M~'M~ Counsel
COUNTY OF HAWAII
OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL
101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325 Hilo, Hawaii 96720-0262 • (608) 961-8251 • Fax (806) 961-8622
March 21, 2006
Honorable Virginia Isbell and Members of the
Hawaii County Council Committee on Finance
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni St.
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chair Isbell and Members of the Finance Committee:
RE: Operating and Capital Budgets and Program Review
Office of the Corporation Counsel (March 30, 2006 -Day Two)
This letter responds to the questions posed in the March 16, 2006,
memorandum from the Office of the County Clerk to the Hawaii County Council
Committee on Finance, and is intended to aid the Committee in evaluating and
reviewing the Corporation Counsel's proposed budget for fiscal year 2006-2007.
1. What are the major lawsuits against the County, and how much in
damages are being sought?
Enclosed are letters dated September 1, 2005, and March 14, 2006, to the
County of Hawai'i's auditors, detailing the present cases involving our County.
The letters are not public documents, as the information contained therein
constitute significant attorney work product by our office, and were prepared for
the sole purpose of complying with the County's Charter-mandated audit
requirement. We humbly ask they be guarded as privileged and confidential.
As you know, the number of cases involving our County and the claimed
or threatened damages may not be a true indication of the County's actual legal
(and financial) exposure. Our Litigation Division has been very vigilant and
successful in relieving the County of significant liability and financial exposure by
having claims and lawsuits dismissed by the court, or settling cases for far less
than the original demand or the anticipated cost of defending the lawsuit.
2. What vacant positions will not be filled in FY071
None. The vast majority of our positions are filled, and have been filled for
Comm. No. ~ 7•
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider Ref. To: presee~sd
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Honorable Virginia Isbell and Members of the
Hawaii County Council Committee on Finance
March 21, 2006
Page 2
some time. We are presently working to fill a vacant Legal Clerk I and Legal
Clerk III position at our Family Support Division offices. These positions were
recently vacated due to an in-office promotion, and the departure of one of our
legal clerks to private practice in Kona.
Our receptionist position (Clerk III) at our offices at the Hilo Lagoon Centre
should be filled within the next two weeks.
Thank you for allowing our office to provide the Committee with this
information. If you have any questions concerning this or any matter, please feel
free to contact me in advance of our budget review.
I look forward to seeing you all at our meeting on March 30, 2006.
Very truly yours,
LINCOLN S. T. ASHIDA
Corporation Counsel
Encls.
c: Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor (w/ encls.)
Honorable William T. Takaba, Finance Director (w/ encls.)
S: BudgeVFY 2006-07/Letter to Finance Committee 3-21-06/LSAmr