LAKEPORT >> A 90-day termination notice was given to Lake Legal Defense Services during a special meeting held by the Lake County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
The company provides court-appointed legal representation for the county by subcontracting local attorneys.
Steven Carter, president of LLDS, is unable to run the corporation because of a medical condition, Lake County Administration Officer Matt Perry explained.
The administrative office received a document Tuesday morning authorizing Angela Carter, Steven”s wife, to run to the company.
“It”s pretty much all encompassing,” Perry said.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said he had concerns regarding Steven Carter”s competency when he signed the document, which can potentially result in a lawsuit.
“I don”t have faith in that document, I don”t think it truly empowers her,” Farrington said. “I don”t want to find ourselves erring on the side of risk.”
Another option was immediate termination of the contract, which would not have left the court with no public defenders.
“I think today”s question is ”Which is the bigger risk?”” District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing said. “Do we throw out the contract and throw everything into chaos, or have 90 days to sort everything out.”
Farrington asked if the contract could be terminated and either contracts with individual attorneys, or a new contract with Angela Carter, signed.
“It would require immediate and complete cooperation with all parties,” County Counsel Anita Grant said.
“Within these 90 days ? we have 90 days or less to renegotiate a contract,” District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock pointed out.
Options for new contract will be brought to the BOS for consideration.
“I think there are options within options that we need to look at,” District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said.
Farrington also had concerns regarding transparency of the contract with Lake Legal Defense Services.
“As gatekeepers of tax dollars, we have no idea how that money is being spent,” Farrington said. “There is no window for taxpayers.”
Brown and Comstock said they understood Farrington”s concerns, but don”t share them.
“To me this is no different that when we contract with someone on a $7 million road job, they don”t tell us how much they pay their employees,” Brown said.
Additionally, Rushing said she would like the new contract not to be determinant on one person and should include a succession plan, to avoid a similar situation in the future.
The 90-day termination notice was approved with a 3-1 vote, with Farrington dissenting. District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith was absent from the meeting.
“No matter what we do, six months down the road we can still have this conversation and do another 90-day termination,” Brown said.
“This allows for the court”s business to continue,” Comstock said.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
