Title
Approve and authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer to sign Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Jeffrey Gobell for legal representation of indigent defendants in juvenile criminal cases, modifying insurance provisions.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Approve and authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer to sign Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Jeffrey Gobell for legal representation of indigent defendants in juvenile criminal cases, modifying insurance provisions.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On July 25, 2017, the Board of Supervisors approved a Professional Services Agreement with attorney Jeffrey Gobell for legal representation of indigent defendants in adult and juvenile criminal cases, working through the Monterey County Alternate Defender's Office. On July 17, 2018, the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to the Gobell Professional Services Agreement, extending the agreement through June 30, 2019.
Amendment No. 2 to this agreement is now before the Board for its consideration. Attorney Gobell has met the insurance requirements imposed by his Professional Services Agreement, with the exception of providing endorsements to his general commercial liability and his automobile insurance policies, naming the County as an additional insured. Attorney Gobell has provided the County with proof of general commercial liability and automobile insurance coverage in the required amount; his insurers, however, will not provide the endorsements in question. Proposed Amendment No. 2 deletes the endorsement requirements.
Monterey County has a constitutional obligation to provide legal representation for indigent persons accused of criminal violations in which the Monterey County Public Defender has declared a conflict of interest. Attorney Gobell's services are needed to fulfill this constitutional obligation. Conversely, the risk posed to the County by proceeding with the Agr...
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