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PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR SETTLEMENTS IN THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LITIGATION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF COOK COUNTY
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Part 1 General Ordinances, Chapter 2 - Administration, Article 3 - County Board, Division 2 - Rules of Organization and Procedure, Section 2-103 of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as follows:
(e) Specific Rules for Finance Subcommittee on Litigation. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office shall, for each settlement of $500,000.00 and above, submit the following:
1. Any legal conflicts of interest of any party to the suit, as well as opposing counsel, of which the State’s Attorney’s Office is aware at the time it makes its settlement recommendation;
2. The current employment status of employee stakeholders named in the proposed settlement;
3. Any significant tangible evidence (i.e., photos, videos) that the State’s Attorney’s Office believes is relevant to its recommendation; and
4. At the end of each fiscal year:
a. the State's Attorney's Office will provide an annual summary of all settlements, case dispositions and invoices approved in excess of $500,000.00 entered into during that fiscal year; and
b. the County offices whose employees are named defendants in any such cases shall report on the employment status of such employees and any resulting disciplinary actions.
Further, on or before the submittal deadline for the Subcommittee meeting at which a proposed settlement of $500,000.00 or more will be discussed, the State’s Attorney’s Office shall provide the Director of the Cook County Department of Human Rights and Ethics (“Director”) with the following information for each such settlement:
1. The identity of all counsel appearing in the case and their respective firms;
2. A copy of the complaint, with the case number;
3. The name of each party and, for individual County defendants, their employer; and
4. The Assistant State’s Attorney(s) responsible for the case.
At such Subcommittee meeting, the Director shall report to the Subcommittee any potential issues arising under the Cook County Ethics Ordinance presented by the proposed settlement based on the information provided to the Director by the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
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