Police Practices Defense Counsel Services & Insurance Coverage Defense Counsel Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting Qualification Statements from highly experienced and qualified legal firms for Police Practices Defense Counsel Services and Insurance Coverage Defense Counsel Services. The core project involves establishing a pool of attorneys to provide litigation and defense counsel for police officers facing lawsuits arising from their employment duties, including Tort Claims Act, CEPA, LAD, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 actions, as well as contract matters and challenges to government actions. Additionally, the City seeks expertise in insurance coverage defense, encompassing negotiation of insurance contract terms, advising on City rights and obligations under policies, representing the City in claims, presenting claims, negotiating recoveries, and pursuing claims through declaratory judgment action litigation, mediation, arbitration, or other adversarial proceedings. Both roles require a close working relationship with the City's Law Department, handling all aspects of litigation from pleadings to trials, and potentially providing other specialized legal services on an as-needed basis, coordinated through the City's Third Party Insurance Administrator. Prospective contractors must demonstrate robust professional, financial, and administrative capabilities, including a proven record of extensive litigation experience in Federal court, Superior court, Appellate, and Workers’ Compensation. Required compliance includes N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq. (Affirmative Action), N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 (Business Registration of Public Contractors), and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 (Disclosure of Ownership). Qualification statements must include an executive summary, an executed Letter of Qualification and Letter of Intent, and detailed information on the respondent's business organization, principals, years in business, current management, any professional malpractice judgments or bankruptcy proceedings within specified periods, and confirmation of appropriate federal and state licenses. Furthermore, submissions must outline overall experience, provide references (including municipal clients from the last three years), present resumes of key employees and assigned attorneys, articulate an understanding of the City’s needs, and disclose immediate relatives who are City employees or elected officials. Malpractice insurance coverage limits are also a mandatory submission requirement. Qualification statements must be received by the City's Office of Procurement no later than 12:00 P.M. on Friday, December 13, 2019. Submissions are to be mailed or hand-delivered to Lisa Jackson, Office of Procurement, East Orange City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Submissions sent via facsimile or email will not be accepted. Importantly, a separate qualification statement must be submitted for each legal service applied for. There is no mention of bid security or performance bonds. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 is required for each physical RFQ packet picked up on-site, payable to the City of East Orange, to cover printing and administrative expenses. Successful respondents will be approved by resolution of the East Orange City Council and compensated at an hourly rate of $125.00 for both police practices and insurance coverage defense counsel services.