REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 4, 2025
FROM
LAURA FEINGOLD, County Counsel
SUBJECT
Title
Authorization to Increase Purchase Order with Miller Barondess, LLP for Specialized Legal Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Authorize the Purchasing Agent to increase Purchase Order No. 4100422046 with Miller Barondess, LLP by $300,000 from $200,000 to a not-to-exceed amount of $500,000, to continue specialized legal services in connection with the federal court action titled William Richards, et al. v. County of San Bernardino, et al. (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Laura Feingold, County Counsel, 387-5455)
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COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Sufficient appropriation has been included in the 2025-26 Risk Management budget (7310004096) and will be included in future recommended budgets, as necessary.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The recommended purchase order increase will allow the County to continue using Miller Barondess, LLP to represent the County in the lawsuit titled, William Richards, et al. v. County of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court case number 5:18-cv-01121, to challenge a jury verdict and court rulings with post-trial motions and potentially an appellate challenge.
On July 16, 2025, the Purchasing Department approved Purchase Order No. (PO) 4100422046 in the amount of $200,000 to retain Miller Barondess LLP to provide specialized legal services. PO 4100422046 has been fully expended. Outside counsel projects costs for this matter will be approximately $300,000 through the end of the fiscal year 2025-26.
Pursuant to Title 1, division 2, Chapter 19, section 12.1908 of the County Code and County Policy 11-04, County Counsel is authoriz...
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