Legal Services/Organization

Legal Services	Litigation Support
Executive Office	Probate
Dependency and Dependency Appeals	Property
General Litigation	Public Works
Government Services	Social Services
Health Services	Transportation
Labor and Employment	Workers' Compensation
Law Enforcement Services	Administrative Services Bureau

Legal Services

The Office of County Counsel serves as attorney for and provides legal advice and representation to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, County departments, and other public officers and agencies in civil matters.

The Office is comprised of an Executive Office, thirteen law divisions organized by legal practice group, a Litigation Support Division, and an Administrative Services Bureau. The services of the law divisions and their constituent legal practice groups, as well as the entire Office, are dedicated to assuring that the best legal advice and representation to the Board of Supervisors, County departments, and our other public officer and agency clients to enable them to accomplish their particular public service missions.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

The Executive Office consists of the County Counsel, a Chief Deputy County Counsel, four Senior Assistant County Counsels, one Assistant County Counsel, a Litigation Cost Manager, and a State Legislative representative.

The Executive Office advises the Board of Supervisors, its members and key staff. A significant part of this responsibility includes the County Counsel providing counsel to the Board of Supervisors at its weekly meetings.

The Executive Office also establishes office policy and coordinates the activity of the various divisions of the office. It compiles and records formal opinions, Board letters and other significant attorney-client communications originating from the law divisions.

DEPENDENCY AND DEPENDENCY APPEALS

There are two divisions that primarily practice dependency law: Dependency Division and Dependency Appeals Division.

The primary mission of the Dependency and Dependency Appeals Divisions is the litigation of dependency cases involving allegations of child abuse and neglect. The Office of the County Counsel, through these divisions, represents the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). DCFS is the agency charged with initiating petitions under Welfare and Institutions Code § 300 requesting the juvenile court to intervene in the lives of children who are alleged to be victims of child abuse.

The Dependency Division staffs twenty dependency courts, 14 DCFS regional offices, the Intake Detention Center, and the mediation courts. This division also trains both DCFS social workers and County Counsel attorneys in dependency law and related issues. This division is an integral part of DCFS’ program for social workers, and is active at the social workers' academy.

The Dependency Appeals Division handles juvenile dependency appellate matters on behalf of DCFS. This division files responsive briefs and answers to writs filed by parents and children. The appellate attorneys also review cases for possible appellate action and will file an affirmative writ in circumstances where social services believes the court’s order may place a child at risk or where appeal would not be feasible due to time considerations. This division also seeks publication of appellate opinions and works with other counties to seek de-publication of unfavorable published opinions.

GENERAL LITIGATION

The General Litigation Division handles, supervises, and monitors civil litigation involving the County of Los Angeles and its employees. It also handles bail bonds matters in criminal court. The Division's main clients include the Department of Public Works, the Internal Services Department, and the Fire Department.

The General Litigation Division attorneys litigate cases in State and Federal Courts, at both the trial and appellate levels and have appeared in the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the County. The cases handled by the Division range from dangerous condition cases against the Department of Public Works, to First Amendment cases brought by citizens or organizations. The Division also supervises and monitors County litigation handled by private law firms under contract with the County.

All of the auto liability cases against the County and its employees, as well as a variety of other cases, are assigned to a third party administrator, Carl Warren and Company, which is also supervised by the Division.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

The Government Services Division provides advice and representation to the Board of Supervisors and County departments in various areas, including property tax assessment and collection matters, election issues, recordation of documents, Brown Act, Conflict of Interest, Permissible Political Activities, Proposition "A" contracting issues and the Public Records Act.

Principal clients served by the Division include the Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Chief Administrative Office, Chief Information Office, Executive Office/ Clerk of the Board, Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk, and the Treasurer Tax Collector.

Other clients include the Assessment Appeals Board, Department of Consumer Affairs, LACERA, and ISD/ Purchasing Agent.

Government Services also provides counsel to a number of boards and commissions including the Business License Commission, Civil Service Commission, Commission for Women, Consumer Affairs Commission, Contractor Non-Responsibility and Debarment Hearing Board, Judicial Procedures Commission, and the five County Savings Plans.

Additionally, the attorneys within the Division advise all departments on Information Technology contracts.

HEALTH SERVICES

The Health Services Division represents the Departments of Health Services, Mental Health, and Animal Control, as well as the Coroner's Office and a variety of County commissions and advisory bodies. In addition, the division has recently been assigned the function of supervising the medical malpractice litigation involving the County.

The Health Services Division attorneys function as both house and litigation counsel. As house counsel, the attorneys generally draft and review a vast number of contracts, handle requests for oral and written opinions, and draft legislation and ordinances.  They function as the General Counsel for the County Hospitals. As litigation counsel, the attorneys handle a breadth of cases, from the smallest breach of contract case in state court to the largest class actions in federal court.

Because of the nature of the services provided by the represented departments, as well as the litigation that arises from these departments, the division’s attorneys are well versed in the laws related to the financing of health and mental health, including Medi-Cal and Medi-Care. Additionally, due to the expansive programs operated by each of the represented departments, the attorneys are experienced in handling legal, practical, and programmatic issues.

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT

The Labor & Employment Division provides all legal support, advice, and representation in state and federal courts regarding labor relations and personnel matters involving the County and its departments. This includes representation in specialized civil litigation such as civil service matters, employee relations, collective bargaining issues, and salary and employee benefit matters.

In addition the Labor & Employment Division litigates and supervises litigation of all employment suits brought against the County for damages including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and Fair Labor Standards Act cases.

The Labor & Employment Divisions advises all County officers and departments on employment matters arising within the respective departments. In addition, the Division is primary counsel to the Department of Human Resources, the Office of Affirmative Action Compliance, and the Chief Administrative Office, Employee Relations Division on Countywide personal and employee relations policies and issues. Support for these Departments includes the drafting and review of personnel and salary ordinances, advice regarding labor arbitrations, unfair labor practices, discrimination complaints and investigations, and other employer/employee relations matters.

The Division is also responsible for obtaining injunctions against unlawful union work actions and for obtaining restraining orders to protect County employees from workplace violence.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES

The Law Enforcement Services Division provides advice and litigation support to the Sheriff's Department, the Office of Public Safety, the District Attorney's Office, the Office of the Public Defender, the Office of the Alternate Public Defender, and the Probation Department.

Specifically, the Division handles, supervises, and monitors the civil litigation (with the exception of employment, auto liability, and certain premises liability cases) for all of these departments. It also supervises the Pitchess motions assignment, which requires the filing of oppositions to motions that seek the disclosure of confidential peace officer personnel files.

The Division attorneys litigate cases in State and Federal Courts, at both the trial and appellate levels. The cases handled and supervised by the Division range from Federal Civil Rights cases against the Sheriff's Department and the Office of Public Safety, to legal malpractice cases against the Public Defender. The Division also supervises and monitors County litigation handled by a third party administrator and private law firms under contract with the County.

The Division staffs the Sheriff's Legal Advisory Unit located at the Sheriff's headquarters in Monterey Park. This unit advises the Sheriff's Department on a wide range of issues, ranging from the Sheriff's custodial responsibilities in the County jails to the negotiation, drafting and review of a multitude of contracts with outside vendors.

In addition to handling litigation, the Division serves as in-house counsel to all of its client departments and provides legal advice to the Civil Grand Jury. The Division also advises or participates on numerous commissions and committees.

LITIGATION SUPPORT

The Litigation Support Division is responsible for assisting in the management and tracking of litigation, focusing on short and long-term strategies to ensure that the County receives quality, directed and effective representation from both in-house and outside counsel that is also cost-effective.

The functions of the Division include developing and evaluating performance criteria and standards related to litigation case management for attorneys and departmental staff, evaluating the types and number of cases that should be assigned to outside counsel and in-house counsel, evaluating the needs of individual cases and estimate potential cost impact, and working with the Chief Administrative Office and department heads to develop new and revised plans for reducing costs, such as attorneys' fees, settlements and judgments and increasing litigation efficiency.  Litigation Support also assists with the training of staff attorneys and attorneys on contract regarding litigation best practices and processes, and develops performance measures for staff attorneys and contract counsel.

The Division processes all of the government tort claims filed against the County and its departments, and works with the CAO and all departments to analyze claims and cases to identify trends and problem areas within each department.

PROBATE

The Probate Division represents the Public Administrator and the Public Guardian in probate related matters.

The Public Administrator is required by County Charter and the Probate Code to administer the estates of deceased persons who die without a will or known heirs, or when named executors or known heirs are not willing or capable of handling a probate estate. In administering a probate estate, the Public Administrator marshals the decedent's assets, pays off creditors, and distributes what is left to legatees or heirs. Often, there is a search for legatees or heirs. The probate process ensures that property is not left in uncertain status without a legal owner. The Probate Code provides for statutory fees to be payable out of the estate to an estate administrator and the administrator's attorney (our office) based on the value of the estate, as well as extraordinary fees for non-standard work performed, as approved by the court.

The Public Guardian acts as the conservator for persons who are not competent to handle their own affairs. The two fundamental kinds of conservatorships are "probate conservatorships" where a person is incapacitated due to old age, senility, or other infirmity, and "LPS conservatorships" which are due to mental illness. The Public Guardian may be appointed to make health care and other personal decisions and/or to handle the assets (estate) of a conservatee. Some conservatees have been victims of elder abuse whose assets must be recovered from the abuser. The Probate Division petitions the court for approval of compensation for services rendered, which is payable from the conservatee's estate.

Currently, the Division handles decedent estates for the Public Administrator and conservatorships for the Public Guardian. It files pleadings and litigates matters in the probate courts including, as examples, petitions for approval of appointments as personal representative or conservator, sales of real property, accountings, distributions. The Division takes over civil litigation that the decedent or conservatee may have been involved in, and often initiates new litigation relating to ownership of assets. Cases have involved the intricacies of real property law, bankruptcy, attachments, businesses, unlawful detainers, and intellectual property.

PROPERTY

The Property Division provides legal services to the Board of Supervisors, County commissions and County departments with a focus on land use planning and County property transactions. The division also provides primary advice to the Consolidated Fire Protection District and to the Community Development Commission and the County Housing Authority. The Division also includes the recently formed County Counsel Code Enforcement Team.

Principal clients served by the division include the Department of Regional Panning, the Real Estate Division of the Chief Administrative Office, the Department of Beaches and Harbors, the Internal Services Department, the Consolidated Fire Protection District, the Community Development Commission and County Housing Authority, the County Local Agency Formation Commission and the Office of Affirmative Action Compliance with respect to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The division advises the Board of Supervisors and other officers regarding the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and development of public real property as well as other matters, such as zoning and planning, environmental law issues, ADA accessibility to County facilities, some contracting matters, and the negotiation of franchises, concessions, ground leases and other revenue generating opportunities.

The division represents its clients in land use and environmental lawsuits as well as other specialized litigation involving property transactions, airport and planning matters, accessibility claims and similar matters.

PUBLIC WORKS

The Public Works Division handles a broad array of litigation, advisory and transactional matters for County departments and commissions and independent agencies. The division’s County clients include the Department of Public Works and its special purpose and assessment districts, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Chief Administrative Office Asset Management Branch, and parts of the Internal Services Department.

The division acts as the general counsel for the Southern California Regional Rail Authority ("Metrolink") and litigates eminent domain and inverse condemnation cases on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA"), both of which are independent public transportation agencies.

The Public Works Division is responsible for all litigation arising from the activities of its County client departments. The types of litigation include eminent domain and inverse condemnation, property damage allegedly caused by negligence or nuisance, and breach of contract actions arising out of construction projects. The division also handles environmental litigation under state and federal law, and challenges to assessments for localized public improvements.

The transactional and advisory assignments include advice to the Department of Public Works on the issuance of building permits and other related land development approvals, construction of buildings and infrastructure, water rights and water distribution, and the operation of landfills and solid waste management; advice to the Chief Administrative Office and various County departments on developing County property including museums and other cultural facilities; advice to the Department of Parks and Recreation on managing its concessions, the Park Preservation Act, and the use of funds assessed for park purposes by the County's regional park district; advice to the Internal Services Department concerning the operation of its power generation plants and energy regulation and purchasing; and advice to client departments concerning jurisdictional and operational authority under applicable statutes, the application of federal and state environmental laws, and a broad range of contract issues including public works construction contracts.

SOCIAL SERVICES

The Social Services Division serves as general counsel to the Los Angeles County Departments of Public Social Services, Children and Family Services, Child Support Services, Community and Senior Citizens, Military and Veterans Affairs, the County of Los Angeles Public Library, and various commissions and County-affiliated agencies including the Commission for Children and Families, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the Los Angeles County Law Library, the Los Angeles County Office of Education and the Altadena Public Library. As general counsel, the Social Services Division provides for the legal needs of these agencies by reviewing contracts, preparing legal opinions, drafting and reviewing policies, drafting and reviewing ordinances and legislation, providing general legal advice in support of the programs of each agency and by overseeing or directly handling all State and Federal litigation involving the agency including class action suits or those arising from torts or contracts.

TRANSPORTATION

The Transportation Division's only client is the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA"). The MTA is not a County agency. It is a state-created local public entity which contracts with the Los Angeles County Counsel to serve as its General Counsel. The General Counsel services for the MTA are provided primarily through Transportation Division. By ordinance, the MTA General Counsel is responsible for managing all of the legal affairs of the agency.

The MTA is unique among the nation's transportation agencies because it not only provides public transit services within a portion of the county, but it also serves as the transportation planning and funding agency for the entire county. It is the second largest bus transit agency in the United States, operating a fleet of over 2,600 buses. The MTA also operates four Metro Rail lines with over 73 miles of services, with further lines either in construction or in the advanced planning stages. It also provides most of the funding for the county's 16 other municipal bus operators, and programs funding for almost all major street and highway construction within the county. The MTA employs more than 8,500 people and has a budget of just under $3 billion. It is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors comprised of the five Los Angeles County Supervisors, the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles and three members appointed by the Mayor, and four city council members or mayors from among the 87 cities in the county.

This large multi-faceted agency generates a variety of legal issues, all of which are the responsibility of the Transportation Division. The Division manages all of the civil litigation involving the MTA and its employees. The Transportation Division staff attorneys appear in both state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, and represent the MTA in labor arbitrations. The MTA's litigation is very diverse. Actions handled by the Transportation Division have included tort claims related to bus or rail accidents, public law issues, employment and labor disputes, constitutional issues, construction claims, insurance coverage claims, False Claim Act issues, inverse condemnation, unlawful detainer, contract disputes, and Superfund cleanup environmental actions.

The Transportation Division staff also provide legal advise to the MTA Board and staff on a variety of transactional and public law issues, including contract procurements, joint developments, bid protests, the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, ethics and conflict of interest issues, equal opportunity law, workers' compensation, land use, federal and state transportation law issues, disability law affecting transportation and transit facilities, threats of violence, inter-agency contracts, construction law, and immigration law.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The Workers’ Compensation Division represents the County of Los Angeles in the defense and litigation of workers’ compensation matters brought before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board and the State appellate courts. The Division provides legal advice to the Health, Safety and Disability Benefits Division of the Chief Administrative Office on all aspects of the law related to employee injuries and workers’ compensation.

The Division’s attorneys spend a large portion of their time conducting discovery, cross-examining medical and technical experts, gathering relevant evidence and litigating cases in court. They also draft and review contracts, assist with negotiations of vendor agreements, analyze legislation and render legal opinions for the Chief Administrative Office.

The Division’s attorneys provide daily advice to County departments and a panel of third-party administrators regarding legal issues that arise out of workers’ compensation and work-related matters. The Division also supervises and monitors the activities of a large panel of contract law firms retained to represent the County on a sizeable caseload of workers’ compensation matters.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUREAU

The Administrative Services Bureau under the direction of the Administrative Deputy advises the County Counsel and the Executive Office on non-legal matters relating to the general administration of the department. The Administrative Unit formulates and implements departmental administrative policies, standards, procedures and plans; prepares special studies, surveys, reports, and official correspondence involving departmental goals; coordinates audit responses; assists in the development of departmental strategic plans and Performance Counts (performance reporting) and prepares and updates the Departments Business Continuity Plan for restoring business functions that support critical functions in the event of a widespread disaster. In addition to the Administrative Unit, the Bureau consists of four organizational components: Financial Management Branch, Human Resources Branch, Systems and Programs Branch, and the Law Library.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT BRANCH

The Financial Management Branch oversees the preparation and administration of the department’s operating budget and a separate judgments and damages budget that pays judgment, settlement and litigation costs. Financial Management is also responsible for preparing expenditure and revenue projections as well as performing all accounting transactions for the department; provides financial data to respond to the Board of Supervisors, clients and legal divisions; preparing various management reports; and developing billing rates for in-house attorneys. In addition, this branch provides office services such as the procurement and distribution of supplies, furniture and equipment; facility requests for maintenance needs; facility space planning and design; mail distribution; and reproduction services.

HUMAN RESOURCES BRANCH

The Human Resources Branch administers recruitment and selection of legal and non-legal staff, staff development, classification and compensation studies, employee relations activities and health and safety programs. Human Resources is responsible for developing departmental personnel policies and procedures, affirmative action programs and coordinating community support activities. This branch is also responsible for the department’s workers’ compensation benefits program, performance management, including performance appraisal and discipline; leave management; and security and emergency preparedness. Additionally, this branch acts as the department's liaison for payroll services and provides and supervises the department's reception desk personnel in the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.

SYSTEMS & PROGRAMS BRANCH

The Systems and Programs Branch maintains all legal services agreements and amendments; is responsible for productivity studies and reports; records management; access rights to RMIS; maintenance of RMIS tables for time and billing, expert witness, vendors and file administration and works closely with the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) and developers of RMIS to modify and update the database to meet the needs of the Department. Systems and Programs also oversees contract services for daily court filing, service of process, messenger services and offsite photocopying. This branch also has responsibility for maintaining and supporting the department's local area network, user workstations, and all automated systems that serve the office. This includes e-mail, internet access and the department's integrated information and document management systems. Additionally, the branch works closely with the Technology Committee to plan and implement future development of the department's automation and systems requirements.

LAW LIBRARY

The law librarian is responsible for maintaining a 15,000-volume collection at the office’s main library in the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, as well as two smaller libraries at the Children’s Services and Transportation divisions’ locations. The law librarian assists the legal staff in manual as well as computer-assisted research activities; monitors and alerts attorneys to new developments and information sources in their areas of practice; classifies and catalogs legal data; monitors book and on-line research usage; makes recommendations to the Law Library Committee on and supervises the acquisition of new materials and technology based research formats; and makes recommendations on and administers the law library’s annual budget.