HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0150.016 2012-2014 Office of the Corporation Counsel
"We are the Answer"
COUNTY CLERX
COUNTY OF HAWAI'Z
RECEIVED Comm. No. I SO. I(O
Time f:30 M B Ref. To: ri FL
Date Ref. Date_
Departmental Budget Review
Fiscal Year 2013-2014
Thursday, April 11, 2013
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 2
The Office of the Corporation
Counsel provides answers to the
County's challenges with
professionalism and integrity by
ordinary people achieving
extraordinary results... . .
"We are the Answer. . . . ."
"We are the Hyoid
Bone• • • • • • • •
Pronounce it like "Altoid" the mint!
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Hyold Bone
• The Hyoid Bone sits in your throat and gives
support to the base of your tongue.
• The Hyoid Bone - gives us the ability to speak,
and helps us to swallow and in the movement
of the tongue.
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April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14
The ability speak
s eak
• We are the County's voice in court !
• We provide legal understanding and support
so proper decisions can be made.
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 7
The Hyold Bone
• The Hyoid Bone plays an important role - it
gives us the ability to speak, and helps us to
swallow and in the movement of the tongue.
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April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 8
We help y ou swallow
• When the County pays claims, or settles
lawsuits, we explain why
AND
• We follow up and make sure it doesn't
happen again.
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April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 9
The Hyoid Bone
• The term hyoid is a derivative of the word
hyoeides, which in Greek means shaped like
the letter U .
Ityasd bon. a Mom
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 10
We are the "U"
• We are sometimes called "Department Head U"
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 11
We are the "U"
Notable alumni
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Judge Harry Freitas
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 12
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We are the "U"
Notable alumni
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Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd
April 11. 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14
We are the "U"
Notable alumni
Brandon Gonzalez
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 14
We are the "U"
Notable alumni
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Gerald Takase
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 15
We are the "U"
Protective Lawyering
• An ideological commitment to expend
resources up front to recognize and avoid
unreasonable risk, which results in the
avoidance of greater loss.
• It involves providing non-traditional legal
services to clients to assist them in achieving
their objectives.
We are the "U"
Protective Lawyering
• Early intervention — identifying legal
challenges and opportunities.
• Giving legal advice is only HALF of the
formula for success.....
the other half is listening to that advice.
We are the "U"
• We trained 831 County officers and
employees in 20 different legal subject areas.
WE THANK "U"!
The Hyold Bone
• The Hyoid Bone is unique in that it is the only
bone in the body that is not connected to any
other bone, except by ligaments.
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Hyoid bone
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April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 19
We are independent
• We represent the COUNTY OF HAWAII, and
NOT any particular department, official, or
employee.
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 20
Performance measures
• What we did (and what we will do in the
future)
• How we budget in our office to achieve our
objectives and remain accountable to the
public and our clients
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April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 21
Counseling and Drafting
• For fiscal year 2011-2012, we received :
— 1,255 requests to review and approve documents
— 162 requests to draft documents (contracts,
deeds, leases, etc.)
— 364 requests for legal opinions
— 765 other requests for assistance •
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April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 22
Litigation
• For fiscal year 2011-2012:
— Monetary demand on the County: $2.6 Million
— Settlements paid: $390,000
— Settlements paid
• 2011: $410,068
• 2010: $479,035.63
• 2009: $405,500.00
• 2008: $4,276,261.00 (33D
• 2007: $541,934.98 g -
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14 23
Increase in the cost of litigation
• On average, litigation expenses rise at a rate
of 9% per year nationally.
• A recent estimate by Deloitte & Touche found
that total litigation costs in the United States
was approximately 3% of GNP.
•
A
What does the average case cost us
when we are sued ?
• Depositions - $5,000 - $ 10,000
• Expert witnesses - $ 10,000
• Discovery costs - $5,000 - $ 10,000
TOTAL: $20,000 - $30,000 if it settles.
What does it cost us to sue?
County of Hawai ' i v. UNIDEV
• $40,000 expenses to date (excluding
travel expenses)
• We are trying to recover $ 1.5 million
What does it cost us to sue?
County of Hawaii v. Oceanside 1250
• $149,055.50 expenses to date
• What did we get?
- $12.5 million in cash
— $20 million in secured assets
— Closure for our community
How much money do we have to
work with ?
• $253, 140 for the fiscal year
Enough said
What equipment do we need ?
• "Ail I need is a good computer and a staff
to steer it by••• •
John Masefield's "Sea Fever" (1913)
What equipment do we need ?
• cost of an average computer: $ 1,200
How much is budgeted for our
computers?
• $200 for the fiscal year
Enough said
The bottom line
We appreciate the administration and
Council supporting our budget and
programs, in light of rising litigation
costs and other expenses.
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The bottom line
But we need your help...
1. We cannot be cut any more
2. We need to make good
investments
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We are...the Office of the
Corporation Counsel, and we are
honored to serve you!
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14
Thank y ou for allowing our office
to serve you !
If you have any questions, please call us at (808)
961 -8251, or email us at Lashida@co.hawaii.hi. us
April 11, 2013 Department Budget Review FY2013-14