Specifications include, but are not limited to: 5.1 Counsel shall promptly furnish copies of all pleadings, discovery requests and responses, disclosure statements, medical reports, investigative reports, appellate briefs, and all significant correspondence to the County Attorney. 5.2 Deposition requests and retention of consultants or experts must be reviewed and pre-authorized by the County Attorney. Deposition summaries will not be paid for. Counsel will instead provide the County Attorney with a not more than two page report of the highlights of the deposition and a disc containing the entire transcript. 5.3 Unless waived in writing as to a small matter, as soon after receipt of a lawsuit as is practical, Counsel shall furnish the County Attorney with a written evaluation of the merits of the case, an assessment of the exposure to County and a legal budget. Thereafter, Counsel shall provide semi-annual status reports by the 15th day of January and July of each year in which the representation continues, as well as a special report of all events that significantly affect the merits of the lawsuit or the exposure of the County. Counsel shall attend meetings to discuss the lawsuit’s status at the time and place as requested by the County Attorney. 5.4 Unless waived in writing as to a small matter, all offers of compromise shall be promptly transmitted to the County Attorney together with Counsel’s recommendation. The County Attorney’s office will be responsible for obtaining authority to respond to settlement proposals, and scheduling of any matter before the Pinal County Board of Supervisors. 5.5 Unless waived in writing as to a small matter, as soon as discovery has been completed and in any event no later than three months prior to the date set for trial, Counsel shall discuss with the County Attorney the status of the lawsuit with any recommendations as to settlement. Counsel shall, at all other times, discuss with the County Attorney the advisability of attempting to settle a lawsuit when it is in the best interest of the County to attempt settlement. 5.6 All requests received from the Arizona Auditor General relating to an assessment of liability and damages exposure in any matter which has been referred to Counsel shall be forwarded to the County Attorney for response. Counsel shall cooperate with the County Attorney, in responding to the Auditor General as efficiently as possible in order to minimize the cost to the County. 5.7 Counsel agrees to act as co-counsel with the County Attorney on those cases where the County Attorney’s Office determines that it is advisable to do so.
