Vanderburgh County 82-2

Jurisdictions: City of Evansville, County of Vanderburgh, Legal Aid Society of Evansville, Inc.

Topic: Legal aid services

Date: No dates given

Purpose: To create the Joint Department of Legal Services and to establish a legal aid fund in order to provide free legal aid services to residents of the County who have little or no income. (P. 1)

Function: Support functions, Legal services

Type: Collaboration

Organization: Multiple-party agreement. Governed by Board of Directors of the Society. Multiple supply: City and County are supplying money and office space to a third party (the Society) and, in return, both communities are served by the department.

Duration: 3 years. Automatically renewed for periods of 3 years unless one of the parties gives the others written notice of intent to terminate 1 year before the current term expires. (P. 1)

Staffing and supplying: Space in the City-County Administration Building is provided for the Department and Society at no charge (specific rooms are mentioned). (p. 2)

Financing: Separate fund is created within the budget of County. Fund comprised of monies allocated to department by United Way. Auditor disburses, accounts for funds. Funds not to be co-mingled with any other funds. Society may engage in fund raising. (P. 3) Budget: There will be two. One shall reflect the Untied Way allocation. Remainder of budget shared 50% by each party. Society shall submit monthly budget to United Way and receive monthly allocation from same. Annual budget submitted to City and County by June 1 of previous year for approval. Budget then determined jointly by all 3 parties. (Pp. 4-5)

Administration: New department is considered a department of the County. (P. 1) Those persons currently employed to give legal aid will be retained as employees of the County. Such persons will receive the same benefits as other County employees. Society's Board of Directors consists of 12 members, each serving 3 year terms. Composition of board is spelled out on p. 2. There is mention that Society is not-for-profit and is not a governmental entity. (P. 2) Society is granted complete control over running of department. Departmental budget is subject to City and County approval. (P. 3) Society required to forward case reports, financial statement, and an annual audit to various involved parties (listed individually). (P. 5)

Property: Purchased property jointly owned in percentages that each party contributed to the Society's budget at time of purchase. In the event of termination, property is distributed according to these percentages. Appropriate means of distribution: One party buys another's share; public or private sale. If property is transferred upon termination, it must be appraised by 3 disinterested appraisers appointed by County Court. (Pp. 5-6)

Liability: Society must maintain malpractice insurance covering staff attorneys, and errors and omissions insurance covering its employees and directors. Must maintain general liability insurance naming the City and County as additional insureds, as well as a blanket bond. City and County protected from claims arising from the provision of legal services. Society protected against claims arising from the payment of compensation and benefits to employees. (Pp. 3-4) Any judgment not covered by insurance paid 50% by City and 50% by County. (P. 5)