SUBJECT
title
Approve and authorize payment of invoice from the Maldonado Law Firm, P.A., for Appellate Code Enforcement Special Magistrate services rendered in connection with the Kiki Leasing appeal (one-time payment of $750.00)
body
DESCRIPTION
On June 20, 2023, the Board approved an Appellate Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Agreement with the Maldonado Law Firm, P.A. (the "Law Firm"), for the purpose of appointing David Maldonado, Esquire, to hear and issue rulings on appeals to code enforcement cases that have been decided by the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate.
Section 3 of the Agreement provides that the County shall compensate the Law Firm at the rate of $100 per hour for actual time spent at hearings, and additionally, shall pay the Law Firm $100 per hour for actual time spent by the Appellate Special Magistrate for tasks completed outside of hearings, with a cap of 3 hours per case for time spent outside of hearings. Tasks spent outside of hearings would include such items as reviewing the record of the previous special magistrate hearing, preparing orders, and ruling on motions filed in the matter. Based on the 3-hour cap, the maximum amount of compensation paid under the Agreement for time spent outside of hearings on any particular case is $300.
As evidenced by the attached invoice, from October 9, 2023 through February 5, 2024, the Law Firm provided appellate special magistrate services for tasks completed outside of hearings related to the appeal of Kiki Leasing, which appeal hearing was held on October 18, 2023. Due to the extensive facts, extraordinary circumstances, and legal complexities of the case, the Law Firm exceeded the 3-hour cap provided for in the Agreement and issued an invoice for services rendered in the total amount of $1,173.33. The invoice and attached time sheet details the 9+ hours of service provided outside of the October 18th hearing, and includes a discount of $423.33 from the initial $1,173.33 fee.
The Bo...
Click here for full text