Title
A Resolution Of The Hollywood, Florida, Community Redevelopment Agency, Authorizing The Payment Of Attorneys' Fees To Grayrobinson, P.A. For Legal Services In The Icon Office Building Property Litigation In An Additional Amount Not To Exceed $50,000.00, Bringing The Total Amount Authorized For FY2018 To $150,000.00.
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the Resolution.
Explanation:
GrayRobinson, P.A. ("the Law Firm") is defending the CRA against claims of environmental contamination on the proposed ICON Office Building property, which was conveyed by the City to a developer. These claims are now the subject of litigation known as Berman Development Group, LLC, et al. v. City of Hollywood et al. Although the parties are close to an agreement that would settle this litigation, they have not yet finalized that agreement.
Section 38.40(C)(2) of the Code of Ordinances exempts from the competitive bid and competitive proposal requirements of the Purchasing Ordinance contracts for professional services. In December 2017, the CRA Board adopted Resolution No. RCRA-2017-55, which authorized the payment of attorneys' fees to the Law Firm in the ICON litigation in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00. In view of the considerable amount of legal services being rendered by the Law Firm in the ICON litigation, the CRA General Counsel recommends that the CRA Board approve attorneys' fees in an additional amount not to exceed $50,000.00, bringing the total amount authorized for FY2018 to $150,000.00.
The City of Hollywood is named as a co-defendant in the ICON litigation and has agreed to share equally in the attorneys' fees paid to the Law Firm for that case. It is expected that on the same day on which the CRA Board is adopting this resolution, the City Commission is adopting a similar resolution approving attorneys' fees for FY 2018, for legal services in the ICON litigation and other litigation handled by the Law Firm, in an additional amount not to exceed $7...
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