On December 5, 2023, the Board authorized the County to join San Joaquin, Solano, and Contra Costa Counties, the Central Delta Water Agency, and Local Agencies of the North Delta (LAND) as co-petitioners in CEQA litigation challenging the Department of Water Resources’ Delta Conveyance Project - County of San Joaquin, et al. v. Department of Water Resources, et al. County of San Joaquin, et al. v. Department of Water Resources, et al. (Sacramento Co. Super. Ct. Case No. 24WM000010). This staff report requests authority for the County Counsel, or designee, to execute three legal services agreements in connection with that litigation.
The Freeman Firm, Soluri Meserve, and the Law Office of Roger B. Moore will represent the co-petitioners in the litigation. The agencies will enter into a legal services contract with each firm, and each contract provides that the firm will charge each agency other than LAND a proportional share of the fees and costs billed by the firm. The firms will charge the following hourly rates: partners, $350-375; associates and contract attorneys, $250-$325; paralegals, $125; and law clerks $50. An exhibit to each contract identifies attorneys and staff assigned to this matter. The exhibit can be replaced by the County Counsel, or designee, when there are staffing changes.
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