RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Counsel, or designee, to execute, on behalf of Contra Costa County, a contract for specialized professional services with Sher Edling LLP.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The firm is being engaged on a contingency fee basis. The amount due for specialized professional services will depend on whether any litigation that may be undertaken by the County results in a recovery, as well as the size and structure of the recovery. Any settlement between the County and a defendant to any litigation brought by the County would be subject to Board approval.
BACKGROUND:
The County has the potential to recover damages caused by contamination from Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), a group of manufactured chemicals that have been determined to have harmful and carcinogenic effects on fish, wildlife and humans. Sher Edling LLP specializes in representing states, cities, public agencies and businesses in environmental cases. The firm's emphasis is holding polluters accountable for the damage they cause.
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