Agenda

Return

C.108

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Mary Ann Mason, County Counsel
Date:	July 12, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract for Specialized Professional Services

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 07/12/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Janice L. Amenta, Deputy County Counsel, (925) 655-2200
cc:	Janice L. Amenta, Deputy County Counsel

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: July 12, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

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.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Under the proposed contract, the County will engage Sher Edling to provide professional services in support of the County's claims for relief in connection with damages sustained by the County as a result of actual or threatened contamination related to PCBs and/or other contaminants.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the County does not engage Sher Edling, the County will not benefit from the firm's expertise in environmental matters as the County addresses PCB and other chemical contamination issues.