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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGR-7864 - FOUR-STAR INVESTIGATIONS, LLC. - INVESTIGATIVE SERVICESDocusign Envelope ID:464E3C9A-B260-475F-SFFC-2CE 16889C91 A AGR-7864 ImtaI INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT This CONSULTING AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into on this 11TH day of September 2025, by and between the City of Orange, hereinafter referred to as "CONTRACTOR," and Four-Star Investigations LLC, hereinafter referred to as "CONSULTANT." This Agreement is for services to be rendered by CONSULTANT in connection with an administrative investigation of allegations of potential employee misconduct, as described in Exhibit "A" (SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION) to this Agreement. 1. Services to be Performed The CONSULTANT'S role is to gather facts and make factual findings, and shall not draw legal conclusions nor render recommendations regarding potential employment actions resulting from the investigation. The CONTRACTOR may use the CONSULTANT'S findings to assess legal merits of the findings, and to determine an appropriate course of action. Lee Debrabander will conduct the investigation on behalf of the CONTRACTOR and provide the services set forth in Exhibit A, Scope of Services. Exhibit B shall contain the Schedule of Fees. CONSULTANT may be requested to provide the CONTRACTOR with a Certificate of Insurance with an endorsement naming the CONTRACTOR as additional insured, if requested, at cost to CONTRACTOR. CONSULTANT is only responsible for acts of omission, errors, or negligence on its part. It shall not be responsible for similar acts, omissions, errors or negligence by the CONTRACTOR. The CONTRACTOR and CONSULTANT agree that the CONSULTANT shall not provide any information to the news media or third-party regarding any investigation the CONSULTANT conducts on behalf of the CONTRACTOR. This does not include the necessity to provide information under legal compulsion during any administrative hearing or civil proceeding that may occur. CONSULTANT is not an employee of the CONTRACTOR and is not entitled to any benefits afforded to employees of the CONTACTOR. Consultant also is not covered by the CONTRACTOR'S Workers Compensation Benefits provisions. CONSULTANT is not required to maintain Worker's Compensation insurance under Labor Code 3700 and will provide a signed declaration to that effect if requested by the CONTRACTOR. 2. Effective Date of Agreement This contract shall become effective upon the above-mentioned date and continue in full force and effect until terminated by either party with thirty (30) days' notice. Docusign Envelope ID:464E3G9A-B26D-475F-8FFG-2GE16889G91A Page 2 of 5 3. Contract Price and Payment The CONTRACTOR will pay CONSULTANT compensation for the services rendered, as set forth in the following Fee Schedule, more fully described in Exhibit B, attached. a. Fee Schedule: The Schedule of Fees as described above is valid for the full term of this Agreement. b. Procedures & Practices for Billing Invoices: PROJECT COMMUNICATION AND SHIPPING EXPENSES: Any charges for long-distance telephone, photocopying, blueprints, express and regular shipping, and postage shall be itemized. Such charges shall be billed at actual cost without any markups. TRAVEL AND RELATED EXPENSES: Any charges for meals, travel, and lodging, as required by the CONTRACTOR, will be invoiced at actual cost without markups. SUBCONTRACTS: Subcontractor charges such as transcriptions will be invoiced at actual cost. 4. Warranty CONSULTANT warrants that the services will be performed in a professional manner in accordance with generally accepted investigative practices and procedures. CONSULTANT MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. 5. Force Majeure Each party shall not be liable to the other for failure to perform its obligations hereunder if and to the extent that such failure to perform is caused by or results from causes beyond their respective control. 6. Confidentiality Unless required by law, or agreed to by counsel in the aforementioned litigation, CONSULTANT shall not disclose the substance of any report, estimate or recommendation, the nature, results, opinions, or conclusions that CONSULTANT gives to the CONTRACTOR in connection with the services provided for in this Agreement; and, CONSULTANT agrees to treat all data, documents, reports, plans, and other information relating to the services as confidential. The services under this Agreement are deemed confidential, privileged and protected by attorney-client privilege, the attorney work product privilege, and any protections afforded by law to the CONTRACTOR'S work product. Docusign Envelope ID:464E3C9A-B26D-475F-8FFC-2CE16889C91A Page 3 of 5 7. Mediation If any dispute arises out of or relates to this contract, or the breach thereof, and if said dispute cannot be settled through direct discussions, the parties agree to first endeavor to settle the dispute in an amicable manner by mediation before having recourse to a judicial forum. No written or oral representation made during the course of any mediation shall be deemed a party admission. 8. Governing Law This Contract and the legal relations of the parties shall be governed by the laws of the State of California applicable to agreements negotiated, executed, delivered, and fully performed in such state. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this CONSULTING AGREEMENT to be executed on the day and year first set forth above. Signed by: By: kitb,. 66Aitx Keith Kilmer, Owner, Four-Star Investigations LLC 8703228BABC0494... CITY OF ORANGE, a municipal corporation Signed by: jarta 1. hid t,tn,lor'aun,L Jarg F `i cienbrand, City Manager ATTEST: e—DocuSigned by: ColitinAl am acteg4rPian, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: DocuSigned by: atnalie XaGurian V Senior Assistant City Attorney Docusign Envelope ID:464E3C9A-B26D-475F-8FFC-2CE16889C91A Page 4 of 5 EXHIBIT "A" SCOPE OF SERVICES A Scope of Services shall be included in this exhibit of the Consulting Agreement after consultation with the CONTRACTOR. No addition or modification to the Scope of Services shall be made without written authorization by CONTRACTOR. SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION The CONSULTANT will assess the credibility of all witnesses. The CONSULTANT will submit a written report. The report will provide an executive summary of the findings, the methodology used during the investigation, a discussion of the evidence obtained, how credibility issues were resolved, and detailed findings. The findings are limited to the points set forth above, in the section entitled "Scope of Investigation." The CONSULTANT shall not reach any legal conclusions, or speculate regarding the legal significance of any claim or defense, or make recommendations for discipline. The CONTRACTOR and its legal counsel are solely responsible for providing the legal analysis and advice necessary to respond to the investigative report. Docusign Envelope ID:464E3C9A-B26D-475F-8FFC-2CE16889C91A Page 5 of 5 EXHIBIT "B" FEES FOR SERVICES The fee for CONSULTANT'S service is 1)$225.00 per hour, billed in one-quarter increments, portal to portal; 2) mileage at the current IRS business rate; 3) assignments that require travel and extended stay require prior approval of the CONTRACTOR; 4) professional services provided by a third-party vendor (transcriber, technical consultant) provided at actual cost with prior approval of CONTRACTOR. The CONSULTANT will generally send monthly invoices for services performed and costs incurred to the CONTRACTOR. Such invoices are due and payable within 30 days of receipt. In the event the CONSULTANT is required to provide testimony at any post-investigation hearing, deposition, or trial, the fee is $295.00 per hour (four hours minimum), plus expenses. The CONTRACTOR shall be invoiced on thirty-day basis for all post-investigation services provided by the CONSULTANT. Total compensation shall not exceed $30,000. CONTACT: Keith L. Kilmer Four-Star Investigations, LLC Kilmer Investigative Services 400 N. Tustin Ave. #375 Santa Ana, CA 92705 562) 481-5651 CA BAR#13486