About us

The Office of the Los Angeles County Counsel was established pursuant to the County Charter and State Constitution in 1913. The County Counsel is an appointed County officer whose duties include providing legal advice and representation to the Board of Supervisors, County officers, County departments and various other public agencies in civil matters.

COUNTY COUNSEL OF LOS ANGELES

The Office of the County Counsel for the County of Los Angeles provides legal advice to the Board of Supervisors, County departments, and other County entities in the nation’s largest and most diverse County.

I am honored and privileged to serve as the seventeenth County Counsel, and I am humbled to be the first African American County Counsel since the office’s establishment in 1913.

The Office of the County Counsel is one of the largest municipal civil law offices in the country, with over 300 attorneys and more than 600 employees. We have consistently enjoyed the reputation of being among the finest public law offices. Our alumni include judges, legal scholars, and authors, as well as business and political leaders.

Our office uses both individual expertise and a cross-divisional team approach to develop strategies and solutions for our clients. We provide training and professional development opportunities for attorneys and support staff to develop a high level of skill, as well as various opportunities and challenges so the office remains a desirable long-term career choice. We are committed to keeping current with technological advancements so we can more effectively and efficiently serve our clients.

We are a culturally diverse group of talented attorneys privileged to advise our clients on a variety of matters including some of the most critical social issues of our time. As a woman of African American, Mexican American and Native American heritage, I will lead the office as we work together with the Board of Supervisors and county leaders to promote truth and justice, protect the rule of law, and create social and legal reform that considers the experiences of the diverse county residents whose lives will be most impacted by the policies and laws we create.

I encourage you to explore our website to learn more about our mission, history, and organization.

In service,

Dawyn R. Harrison

County Counsel

Mission

An invaluable
public law leader

Vision

Strategic Thinkers
Innovative Partners
Solution Builders

Values

Integrity
Teamwork
Innovation
Excellence
Responsiveness

DEI Leadership Seal Program

COUNTY COUNSEL DIVISIONS

 Organizational Chart


Administrative
Services Bureau


Affirmative Litigation &
Consumer Protection


Appeals


Board Liaison


Dependency


Executive Office


General Litigation


Government Services


Health Services


Justice & Safety


Labor & Employment


Litigation Monitoring Division


Peace Officer Records


Probate


Property


Public Works


Social Services


Technology &
Business Solutions


Transportation


Workers' Compensation

HISTORY OF THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNSEL

The Office of the Los Angeles County Counsel was established pursuant to the County Charter and State Constitution in 1913. The County Counsel is an appointed County officer whose duties include providing legal advice and representation to the Board of Supervisors, County officers, County departments and various other public agencies in civil matters.

Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation with a population exceeded by only seven states. As the population of the County has grown and as the scope of County government has expanded over the years, the Office of County Counsel has kept pace – growing from a staff of 38 attorneys in 1963 to over 330 attorneys and a support staff of over 275 today.

The Office has consistently enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest public law offices in the country. Its alumni include judges, legal scholars and authors, as well as business and political leaders. Office alumni include former California Governor, Attorney General and Assemblyman George Deukmejian, retired Signal Oil President and Chairman Forrest N. Shumway, former U.S. Secretary of the Army and State Assemblyman Louis Caldera, former Fair Political Practices Commission Chairman John H. Larson, Presiding Judge Kevin Brazile, Presiding Judge Eric Taylor, and Professor Arvo Van Alstyne, the principal author of the California Government Tort Claims Act.

Since the inception of the Office in 1913, there have been seventeen County Counsels.

2022 - Present
2022 - Present

Dawyn R. Harrison

2020 - 2022
2020 - 2022

Rodrigo A. Castro-Silva
2015 - 2020
2015 - 2020

Mary C. Wickham
2014 - 2015
2014 - 2015

Mark J. Saladino
2012 - 2014
2012 - 2014

John F. Krattli
2010 - 2012
2010 - 2012

Andrea S. Ordin
2009 - 2010
2009 - 2010

Robert Kalunian (Interim)
2004 - 2009
2004 - 2009

Raymond G. Fortner, Jr.

1998 - 2004
1998 - 2004

Lloyd W. Pellman

1983 - 1998
1983 - 1998

DeWitt W. Clinton

1973 - 1983
1973 - 1983

John H. Larson

1967 - 1973
1967 - 1973

John D. Maharg

1945 - 1967
1945 - 1967

Harold W. Kennedy

1938 - 1945
1938 - 1945

J.H. O'Connor

1926 - 1938
1926 - 1938

Everett W. Mattoon

1923 - 1926
1923 - 1926

Edward T. Bishop

1913 - 1923
1913 - 1923

A.J. Hill

COUNTY & COUNTY COUNSEL LOGO HISTORY

1887-1957

1957-2004

2004-2014

2014-2016

2016-NOW

1983-2016

2016-2024

2024-NOW

Los Angeles County is one of the original counties of California.  Los Angeles County was established in 1850.  The County seal was first redesigned by former Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, drawn by Millard Sheets, and adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 1957. It was modified by the Board of Supervisors in 2004, 2014, and again in 2016.  The Office of the County Counsel was established in 1913 and used the County seal as its logo until 1983 when the black and gold scales of justice seal was adopted.

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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 Department’s 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 three organizational components: Financial Management Branch, Human Resources Branch, and the Internal Support Services Branch.

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; providing 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.

The 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, processes incoming, outgoing and change of status notifications, assists employees with benefit information, and provides and supervises the Department’s reception desk personnel in the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.

The Internal Support Services Branch
The Internal Support Services Branch maintains all legal services agreements and amendments for the Department and is also responsible for facilities management, materials management, office space planning and management, records retention, mail room, photocopying and supply room services. In addition, this Branch also solicits and oversees various as-needed service contracts such as: daily court filing, service of process, messenger services, document storage, subpoena preparation, and offsite photocopying and duplication. The Internal Support Services Branch is also tasked with overseeing general services including telephone communication and equipment inventory control.

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The Affirmative Litigation

The Affirmative Litigation and Consumer Protection Division (ALD) works to enforce the County Code and consumer protection laws and to bring affirmative litigation on behalf of the County.  The ALD works closely with Board offices and all departments with consumer protection responsibilities to enforce laws to protect consumers from fraud, exploitation, and unscrupulous business practices.  The ALD works to support the Board’s important initiatives related to consumer protection, public health, and environmental justice.

Some of the County departments ALD is working with include the Departments of Consumer and Business Affairs, Regional Planning, Public Works, Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures, Treasurer and Tax Collector, and Public Health.  The ALD is also collaborating with local entities, state agencies, and non-profit agencies.

The ALD will bring affirmative litigation on behalf of the County is the plaintiff suing to protection the interests of the County and its residents.  A recent example of such a case is litigation against SoCalGas following the largest methane gas leak in United States history at the Aliso Canyon storage facility in Porter Ranch.  The case alleged unfair business practices and public nuisance against SoCalGas and was jointly prosecuted by the County, the Los Angeles City Attorney, and the Attorney General. Another current example is litigation against manufacturers of opioids for false advertising and downplaying the risks of addiction.

Assistant County Counsel Scott Kuhn is the Division Chief of the ALD.

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The Appeals Division

The Appeals Division handles juvenile dependency appellate matters on behalf of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The majority of the appellate attorneys’ work involves responding to briefs filed by the parents, children, de facto parents, or relatives. The division files over 600 responsive briefs and other appellate documents in the Court of Appeal each year.  The Division has the third highest number of filings in the Second District Court of Appeal.  The other two entities are the Department of Justice, which handles the criminal appeals for the government, and the California Appellate Project, which files briefs in criminal, delinquency, and dependency matters for indigent parties.

The Appeals Division provides advice to DCFS regarding its appellate options and analyzes adverse court decisions for appellate action at the client’s request.  The Division also files emergency writ petitions, when appropriate, challenging an unfavorable order which DCFS believes places a child or children at immediate risk of harm.  The appellate attorneys will try to file these writ petitions within 24 to 48 hours after a decision has been made to file an emergency writ petition.  The Division works with other counties to support requests for publication or depublication of opinions or provide amicus support for petitions for review or briefing in the California Supreme Court.  The appellate attorneys draft case summaries of published dependency opinions that are distributed to other county attorneys throughout the state.

The Appeals Division assists other divisions in the Office of the County Counsel with preparing and filing appellate briefs.  The Division has handled appeals for the Social Services, Probate, Public Works, Property, and Government Services Divisions.  The appellate attorneys also provide advice and guidance to other divisions on procedural matters and various appellate issues.  The Division also monitors outside appellate counsel on civil litigation cases that are on appeal.

Assistant County Counsel Kim Nemoy is the Division Chief of the Appeals Division.

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The Board Liaison Division

The Board Liaison Division provides advice and representation to each of the Board of Supervisors’ offices on Board initiatives and significant legal issues, including the Brown Act and the Public Records Act.  The Division also advises the Executive Office/Clerk of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and multiple entities, commissions and advisory boards including the Civil Grand Jury, Business License Commission and the Women’s and Girls Initiative.  Division attorneys handle requests for oral and written opinions, draft legislation and ordinances, and are required to be well-versed in overall County operations due to the nature of services that their clients provide.

The BLD also advises the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and other County departments on pending legislation of importance to the County.  To achieve this goal, the BLD develops and coordinates the advice, advocacy, and work to best represent the County’s interests in legislative matters.  In conjunction with the CEO’s Office, the BLD also tracks pending legislation relevant to the County in each legislative session.  The BLD’s work enables the County Counsel’s Office to swiftly respond to any inquiries, and prepare the County to take positions on relevant legislation early in the process.

The BLD also focuses on all areas related to governmental ethics and conflicts of interests.  The BLD represents the County before the State’s Fair Political Practices Commission, which interprets and enforces California’s political campaign, permissible political activities, lobbying and conflict of interest laws. Additionally, the BLD also trains and advises public officials and designated employees who must file a Form 700, Statement of Economic Interests.  The BLD also advises on issues related to California Government Code section 1090, which prohibits public officials and public employees from making public contracts in which they have a financial interest. 

Assistant County Counsel Liliana Campos is the Division Chief of the Board Liaison Division.

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The Dependency Division

The Dependency Division is the largest by size and is currently budgeted for 114 attorneys. It is divided into six sections.  Each section is supervised by a Section Head. The six sections are composed of four Trial Court Sections in Monterey Park, the Outstation Section and the North County Section (which includes three trial courts). The division handles approximately 17,000 dependency cases involving approximately 33,000 children.

The primary mission of the Dependency Division is the litigation of dependency cases involving allegations of child abuse and neglect. The Office of the County Counsel, through this division, represents the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). DCFS is the agency charged with initiating petitions under Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) section 300 requesting the juvenile court intervene in the lives of children who are alleged to be victims of child abuse. On average, DCFS files 37 new petitions each day. The Dependency Division also supports DCFS in a range of programs and initiatives targeted at improving the dependency system.

The Dependency Trial Court Sections staff 28 dependency trial courts and DCFS’ Intake and Detention Center (IDC).  IDC is the unit responsible for initiating dependency cases by filing a WIC section 300 petition. The trial courts typically handle over 20 scheduled hearings each day and over 50,000 hearings per year. There are five Section Heads and 88 attorneys assigned to the Trial Court Sections, including Lancaster.

The Outstation Section advises 22 DCFS regional offices. Attorneys assigned to this Section provide a wide range of advice related to existing and emergent dependency cases and investigations. DCFS receives approximately 200,000 hotline referrals each year. This section develops and delivers extensive social worker training programs in dependency law and related issues. The Section Heads supervise 15 attorneys assigned to the regional offices including one attorney imbedded with DCFS’ training unit.

The North County Section includes three dependency trial courts, and five DCFS regional offices: North San Fernando Valley, Van Nuys, Santa Clarita, Palmdale, and Lancaster. The trial courts are located in Lancaster. There is a Section Head and 13 attorneys assigned to the North County Section.

Assistant County Counsel Howard Haffner is the Division Chief of the Dependency Division.

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The Executive Office

The Executive Office currently consists of the County Counsel, Special Counsel, two Chief Deputy County Counsels, six Senior Assistant County Counsels, a Chief Legislative Counsel, a Litigation Cost Manager, and support staff.

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

The Executive Office also establishes office policy and coordinates the activities 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.

The Litigation Cost Manager develops and assists in the implementation of strategies designed to ensure that Los Angeles County receives cost-effective legal representation in litigated matters.  The focus of these strategies is the reduction and control of attorney fees, expert costs, and other litigation expenses.  The strategies and protocols developed by the Litigation Cost Manager, in conjunction with other members of the Office of the County Counsel, are directed toward the achievement of the most favorable litigation results at the most affordable cost.  The Litigation Cost Manager also assists in the promulgation of litigation protocols which are aimed at proper case management, thorough cost/benefit analysis and appropriate budgetary constraints.  The Litigation Cost Manager works with staff, throughout the County, to raise awareness of the exposures related to litigation and appropriate cost-cutting measures pertaining to both specific departments and Countywide concerns.  The Litigation Cost Manager assists in identifying and implementing technologies to enhance the County’s ability to capture, track, and analyze litigation costs on a Countywide basis.

The Department’s Law Library is a branch of the Executive Office. The law librarian is responsible for maintaining the collection at the Office’s main library in the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, as well as the Transportation Division’s location.  The law librarian assists the legal staff in performing research activities; provides ready reference assistance; monitors and alerts attorneys to new developments and information sources in their areas of practice; supervises the acquisition of new materials and technology-based research platforms; makes recommendations and administers the law library’s annual budget; performs library related accounting tasks as required for prompt processing and payment of library invoices; supervises the daily work of the library assistant.

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The General Litigation Division

The General Litigation Division defends, supervises, and monitors civil lawsuits filed against the County of Los Angeles and its employees, primarily in the areas of vehicle liability, State and Federal civil rights, professional negligence, intentional torts, contracts, and dangerous condition of public property, including roadway design. General Litigation Division attorneys handle cases from inception through appeal in State and Federal courts, including the California Supreme Court. They defend and enforce judgments against sureties in bail bond forfeiture proceedings conducted in the criminal courts. General Litigation Division represents all County departments, including CEO, Public Works, Sheriff, Parks and Recreation, Internal Services, and Fire. General Litigation attorneys provide litigation training, advice and counsel to all County departments in order to minimize legal exposure to the County.

General Litigation Division supervises and monitors County litigation handled by private law firms under contract with the County, through the submission and tracking of Case Evaluation Plans and Case Budgets and through the scheduling, monitoring and documenting of roundtable conferences.  General Litigation Division processes all government claims presented to the County.  Working within statutorily-mandated time lines, the General Litigation Division, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, works with the involved County Department, CEO and third party administrators to investigate and determine the appropriate response to a government claim. General Litigation Division processes all new lawsuits filed against the County and assigns them to the various Divisions within the Office of the County Counsel.

Assistant County Counsel Richard Chastang is the Chief of the General Litigation Division.

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The Government Services Division

The Government Services Division provides advice and representation to the Board of Supervisors and County departments in various areas, including Elections and Campaign Finance, Tax and other Collection matters, Community Redevelopment Laws, Property Tax Assessment issues, Public Finance, the Public Records Act, Document Recording, countywide procurement and contracting, information technology (IT), intellectual property (IP), and cable and telecommunications, other special Division assignments involve the County Budget, Reward Motions, Redistricting, the Census, and State Mandates (SB90). The Division also provides legal representation and advice to the Los Angeles Community Development Commission (“CDC”) and the Los Angeles County Housing Authority (“HA”), separate legal entities responsible for operating State and federal community development and housing programs, respectively, and the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System Joint Powers Authority (“LA-RICS”), a joint powers authority of which the County is a member agency.

Principal client departments include the Assessor, Auditor-Controller, Consumer and Business Affairs, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Treasurer Tax Collector, Internal Services Department and County Purchasing Agent, Chief Information Officer, CDC/HA, and LA-RICS, and in some matters, the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Office/Clerk of the Board. For these departments, Division attorneys provide advice as well as litigation support. Due to the nature of the services provided by these departments, the attorneys work to seamlessly integrate into the departments’ operations by collaborating with clients to apply legal principles and requirements in a manner that meets operational needs.

The Government Services Division also provides counsel to a number of boards and commissions.

Assistant County Counsel Pete Bollinger is the Division Chief of the Government Services Division.

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The Health Services Division

The Health Services Division provides legal support to the Board of Supervisors and the County’s Health Agency, which is made up of the Departments of Health Services, Public Health, and Mental Health.  The Division also provides representation to the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner and the Department of Agricultural Weights and Measures, as well as a variety of County commissions and advisory bodies. In addition, the Division oversees all environmental justice and public health litigation and all medical malpractice litigation involving County hospitals and clinics.

The Health Services Division attorneys function as legal specialists for general advice questions, as well as transactional and litigation counsel. This work requires the Division’s attorneys to draft and review hundreds of contracts annually, handle requests for oral and written opinions, guide clients on options to accomplish their goals, and draft legislation and ordinances. They also function as the General Counsel for the County Hospitals and clinics.  As litigation counsel, the attorneys handle a breadth of cases, from small breach of contract cases in State court to class actions in federal court.

Among the most significant ongoing projects in which the Division attorneys are currently involved are the procurement and implementation of an Electronic Health Record for the Department of Health Services, the implementation of Correctional Health Services in the County jail, the creation of the Whole Person Care model, the development of public health regulations for commercial cannabis activities, and environmental and social justice litigation.

The Division’s attorneys are well versed in the laws related to the financing and operation of health and mental health services, including Medi-Cal and Medicare statutory and regulatory compliance, consent and confidentiality, and HIPAA. They are also experienced in handling a wide variety of legal, practical, and programmatic issues that confront their clients.  Additionally, the Division attorneys work closely with the Public Health Department to provide legal representation to programs that protect the public’s health, such as Environmental Health, Tuberculosis and Acute Communicable Disease Control, and Emergency Preparedness and Response. 

Assistant County Counsel Ed Morrissey is the Division Chief of the Health Services Division.

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The Justice and Safety Division

The Justice and Safety Division serves as in-house counsel to the Sheriff’s Department.  The Division provides advice and litigation support to the Department, and is informally divided into four units: (1) the Legal Advisory Unit, (2) the Jail Team, (3) the Advocacy Unit, and (4) the Litigation Monitoring Division.

The Legal Advisory Unit provides a wide range of general legal advice and services to the Sheriff’s Department, including: policy development and review; analysis and assessment of proposed/newly passed legislation as it relates to Department operations; drafting and analyzing contracts; assisting with procurement issues; training development and implementation; reviewing and responding to subpoenas; supervising much of the Department’s litigation, including all law enforcement and jail condition litigation; providing discovery, trial, and deposition training to Department personnel; assistance with Public Records Act requests, and serving as the liaison to other divisions.

The Jail Team oversees custody and compliance issues in the County jails and litigation involving inmate health and conditions of jail confinement, including oversight of several settlement agreements.  It also functions as the liaison between Correctional Health Services and the Department for issues involving medical care.  The Jail Team also provides general custody-related advice, assists the Department with custody focused PRAs, advises on policy and training development, and assists with development and implementation of PREA compliance.

The Advocacy Unit supervises employment litigation, monitors and represents the Department at civil service and employee relations proceedings, oversees and conducts labor arbitrations, reviews administrative investigations and disciplinary actions, and provides legal advice regarding discipline, civil service, and employee relations issues.

The Litigation Monitoring Division supervises the most high-profile and high exposure cases involving the Sheriff’s Department, including claims of excessive force, in state and federal courts.

Assistant County Counsel Elizabeth D. Miller is the Division Chief of the Justice and Safety Division and serves as the Sheriff’s Chief Legal Advisor.

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Labor and Employment

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

In addition, the Division represents the County in, and supervises litigation of, employment lawsuits brought against the County for damages alleging wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and violation of state and federal wage and hour laws. The Division also advises on issues related to the County’s Policy of Equity.

The Division advises 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 and the Chief Executive Office, Employee Relations Division, on Countywide personnel and employee relations policies and issues. Support for these departments includes the drafting and review of personnel and salary ordinances, review, drafting and negotiations on personnel or employee relations related contracts, the provision of advice regarding labor arbitrations, unfair labor practices, discrimination complaints and investigations, drafting, review and assistance on Countywide and departmental personnel policies, 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.

Assistant County Counsel Eduardo Montelongo is the Division Chief of the Labor and Employment Division.

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Litigation Monitoring Division

The Litigation Monitoring Division provides analysis, advice, resources and assistance relating to litigation to the County Counsel, senior management and the County Counsel Divisions.  This includes monitoring and reviewing all significant litigation, identifying and evaluating new or different strategies to more favorably resolve County litigation, and developing and implementing litigation protocols to achieve the most favorable results in County litigation.

The Team routinely reviews and maintains office policies and practices that impact County litigation, and is responsible for updating the office’s Litigation Management Handbook.  The Team also collaborates with other County Counsel divisions, County Departments, and third-party partners to problem-solve and address issues unique to County litigation.

Assistant County Counsel Ruben Baeza leads the Litigation Monitoring Division.

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Peace Officer Records

The Peace Officer Records Division provides advice, counsel and litigation support to the Sheriff’s Department and the Probation Department and assists these departments in fulfilling their obligations under the California Public Records Act and the County Code.

Specifically, the Division provides advice and litigation support to these County departments regarding Senate Bill 1421, its companion law, Assembly Bill 748, and Senate Bill 16, all which amended Penal Code section 832.7 and made certain categories of previously confidential peace officer records and audio/video records of a “critical incident,” such as an officer-involved shooting, available for release to the public. The Division also advises these same departments regarding County Code section 2.170.020 which requires proactive posting of certain records on a publicly accessible website.

Division attorneys and paralegals dedicate a significant portion of their time analyzing and examining voluminous peace officer records and audio/video recordings to determine the applicable laws and what, if any, redactions are required. They also research and track legislation, including Assembly and Senate bills, that affect the release of peace officer personnel records.

Assistant County Counsel Tamara R. Burrell is the Division Chief of the Peace Officer Records Division.

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The Probate Division

The Probate Division provides advice and litigation support to the Public Administrator and the Public Guardian.  The Public Administrator administers 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 or trust matter.  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. The probate process ensures that property is not left in uncertain status without a legal owner.  The Public Guardian acts as the conservator for persons who are not competent to handle their own affairs, where a person is incapacitated due to mental illness, or old age, senility, or other infirmity.  The Public Guardian may be appointed to make health care and other personal decisions and/or to handle the assets (estate) of a conservatee.

The Division handles decedent estates for the Public Administrator and conservatorships for the Public Guardian.  The Division 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, and 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.

Assistant County Counsel Laura Quiñonez is the Division Chief of the Probate Division.

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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 and property management. The Division also provides primary advice to the Consolidated Fire Protection District, the Department of Public Works on land development, the Chief Executive Office on environmental contamination matters, and with respect to the County’s cultural institutions.

Principal clients served by the Division include the Department of Regional Planning, the Real Estate Division of the Chief Executive Office, the Department of Beaches and Harbors, the Consolidated Fire Protection District, the Land Development Division of the Department of Public Works, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the County Public Library, the Department of Arts and Culture (formerly the Los Angeles County Arts Commission), the Natural History Museum, the John Anson Ford Theatres, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, a joint powers authority of which the County is a member agency.

The Division advises the Board of Supervisors and other officers regarding the acquisition, disposition, leasing, management, and development of public real property as well as other matters, such as zoning and planning, environmental law issues, hazardous materials issues, Americans with Disabilities Act-related structural accessibility issues, and contracting matters, such as the negotiation of concessions, ground leases, and other revenue-generating opportunities.  The Division also represents the County in related litigation and advises boards and commissions on the Brown Act.

Assistant County Counsel Starr Coleman is the Division Chief of the Property Division.

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Public Works

The Division provides advice to the Department of Public Works on construction projects, storm water quality, water rights and distribution, solid waste management, traffic and road matters, and franchise agreements; advice to the Chief Executive Office on developing County property and emergency/disaster management; advice to the Departments of Internal Services, Parks and Recreation, and Health, Sheriff, and the Community Development Commission, on construction projects; and advice to various client departments on environmental and contracting issues.

The Division handles litigation that is largely co-extensive with its areas of advice, including eminent domain, inverse condemnation, property damage, nuisance, construction and construction defect, breach of contract, and environmental litigation under State and federal statutes.

The Division also litigates eminent domain and inverse condemnation cases on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, an independent public transportation agency, and acts as general counsel to the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission, an independent commission charged with reviewing and approving local government changes of organization and reorganization.

Assistant County Counsel Michael Simon is the Division Chief of the Public Works Division.

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Social Services

The Social Services Division serves as general counsel to various County departments, commissions and advisory bodies. The Division’s principal clients include the County departments of Children and Family Services, Child Support Services, Public Social Services, and Workforce Development, Aging & Community Services. The Division also advises the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the Chief Executive Office regarding data sharing projects.

In addition, the Division provides legal services to the following commissions and County-affiliated agencies:

Commission for Children and Families, Commission for Public Social Services, Inter-agency Council on Child Abuse & Neglect, Children’s Special Investigations Unit, Los Angeles County Office of Child Care, Child Care Planning Committee, Policy Roundtable for Child Care, Los Angeles County Interagency Homeless Council, Homeless Prevention Initiative, Child Support Advisory Board, Domestic Violence Council, Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults, Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council, Human Relations Commission, Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board, Native American Indian Commission, Education Coordinating Council, Los Angeles County Office of Education, Los Angeles County Law Library and Altadena Library District.

As general counsel, the Division provides legal advice in support of the programs of each entity. Division staff advise on a wide range of social services issues and are responsible for preparing legal opinions, reviewing contracts, and drafting and reviewing County ordinances, legislation and agency policies.

The Division’s attorneys handle and supervise civil litigation in State and federal court arising out of its client departments. They also provide advice on administrative hearing matters, including State administrative hearings regarding appeals of funding decisions.

The Warrant Section of the Division handles issues relating to emergency response investigations and its attorneys are available to provide advice seven days a week, 24 hours a day. They assist with over 400 removal orders, school interview orders, remedial medical care orders, and investigative search warrants each month. Additionally, they conduct periodic warrant-related trainings.

Assistant County Counsel Katherine Bowser is the Division Chief of the Social Services Division.

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Technology And Business Solutions

Technology and Business Solutions is responsible for the overall management of Information Technology (IT) Operations and Business Solutions Management (BSM). Ensure mission critical IT and BSM production systems are maintained and available to the 17 legal divisions within County Counsel, Executive Office, Administrative Services, various Los Angeles County client departments, and the courts. Provide consultation and specialized technical expertise, evaluate and recommend existing and future systems to integrate with systems managed by various county departments and outside entities.

Information Technology Operation
Information Technology (IT) operations provides the day-to-day support, maintenance, and services in the area of IT Service Desk, Datacenter Services, Security Compliance, Application and Web Development. These responsibilities includes the department’s integrated information, financial and document management systems and data exchanges with other county departments and public entities. Additionally, IT operations is also responsible for the implementation of administrative, operational, and technical safeguards and countermeasures to protect the confidentiality, integrity, security and availability of information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification or destruction. This includes managing risk, incident response, disaster recovery and establishing security policies and safeguards.

Business Solutions Management
Business Solutions Management (BSM) is responsible for Project Management and System Architecture relating to IT operations, Executive Office, Administrative, and legal divisions within the department as well as various entities requiring technical consultation. This includes services such as feasibility studies, defining project scope, conducting business analysis, requirements gathering and documentation, manage IT projects, and technical projects within the departmental strategic plan. BSM is also responsible for conducting technical research, evaluate and recommend business solutions, manage system and network architecture designs and standards, and oversee implementations of new and efficient technology solutions consistent with the Department’s long-range legal and business needs.

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The Transportation Division

The Transportation Division represents the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”). The MTA is not a County department or commission; rather, it is a local public agency created by the California legislature. MTA 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 other 87 cities in the County. In 1993, the MTA Board appointed County Counsel as the agency’s General Counsel. By MTA ordinance, the General Counsel is responsible for managing all of the legal affairs of the agency. In this capacity, the Transportation Division provides the day-to-day legal services for MTA, and is located in the MTA headquarters building adjacent to the historic MTA-owned Union Station.

Transportation Division attorneys work closely with the MTA Board, executive management, and staff to assist MTA in carrying out its broad range of duties in its various roles as planner and funding agency for transportation projects in Los Angeles County as well as builder and operator of rail and bus services for the county.

Transportation Division attorneys provide a wide range of legal advice to the MTA Board, management, and staff. Practice areas include: the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, ethics and conflict of interest, contracts, procurements, bid protests, real estate, joint developments, public-private partnership projects, land use, CEQA/NEPA, finance and securities law, employment law, workers’ compensation, federal and state transportation law issues, inter-agency agreements, construction law, immigration law, and disability law affecting transportation, transit facilities, and employment.

In addition to providing legal advice and transactional services, Transportation Division attorneys handle most of MTA’s litigation either directly or by supervising outside counsel. The litigation is primarily in defense of MTA and includes a wide variety of matters such as challenges to environmental documents for major transit infrastructure projects, challenges to ballot measure language proposed by MTA, construction contractor claims for additional compensation, employment discrimination and disability claims, and personal injury and property damage claims arising out of MTA’s bus and rail system. Transportation Division attorneys also represent MTA management in labor negotiations and arbitrations.

Assistant County Counsel Charles Safer is the Division Chief of the Transportation Division.

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Workers' Compensation Division

The Workers’ Compensation Division represents the County in the defense, litigation and resolution of workers’ compensation matters brought before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board and the State appellate courts. The Division is also active in legal issues of State-wide importance, representing the County’s interests as Amicus Curiae.

The Division’s attorneys devote a large portion of their time conducting discovery, cross-examining applicants, medical and technical experts, gathering relevant medical and lay evidence and litigating cases in court. They also review contracts, assist with negotiations of vendor agreements, analyze legislation and render legal opinions for the Chief Executive Office and other County departments on issues related to Workers’ Compensation.

The Division’s attorneys regularly advise County Return to Work managers, Risk Management Managers and a panel of third-party administrators regarding legal issues arising out of workers’ compensation matters. The Division also drafts the contracts for, supervises and monitors the activities of a large panel of contract law firms retained to represent the County on a significant caseload of workers’ compensation matters.

Assistant County Counsel Carolyn McQueen is the Division Chief of the Workers’ Compensation Division.

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