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RESOLUTION AWARDING ADDITIONAL LEGAL FEE AUTHORIZATION TO ALOIA LAW FIRM LLC TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES IN THE MATTER OF RAMONE WILSON V. LOUIS FORST, ET AL., DOCKET NO. ESX-L-866-17, PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5, ET SEQ. AND RFQ-25-042
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WHEREAS, the County of Passaic (“County”) is a body politic and corporate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:18-1 and vested with all rights contained therein; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic (“Board”) is vested with managing the property, finances, and affairs of the County; and
WHEREAS, the Passaic County Police Academy is a named defendant in Ramone Wilson v. Louis Forst, et al., Docket No. ESX-L-866-1817, a Superior Court matter requiring the services of outside legal counsel; and
WHEREAS, the Passaic County Police Academy has been represented in this case by outside counsel since June 27, 2017, when the Board passed Resolution No. R20170517, retaining Aloia Law Firm LLC to provide outside legal services in the Wilson matter, for an amount not to exceed seventeen thousand five hundred dollars ($17,500.00); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5, et seq., on October 15, 2024, the Passaic County Purchasing Agent issued RFQ-25-042, Outside Legal Counsel (“RFQ-25-042”), seeking qualified law firms to provide outside legal services to the County in calendar year 2025; and
WHEREAS, on December 10, 2024, the Board passed Resolution No. R-24-1092, qualifying a pool of outside legal counsel for calendar year 2025 to be hired on an as-needed basis and as recommended by the Passaic County Counsel, which included Aloia Law Firm LLC; and
WHEREAS, the Passaic County Counsel is recommending an additional legal fee authorization to Aloia Law Firm LCC, in an amount not to exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) for its representation of the Passaic County Police Academy in the Wilson matter, including, but not limited to, filing an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Superior Court; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:32-60-1, et seq., Aloia Law Firm LLC executed the Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities in Russia or Belarus Certification, attached hereto and made part of this Resolution, certifying the law firm is not involved in prohibited activities in Russia and Belarus, and the County confirmed Aloia Law Firm LLC is not identified on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list created by the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in Account No. T-19-56-850-000-801, or any other account that may be deemed appropriate by the Chief Financial Officer or his designee, and the availability of funds has been contingently certified by the Chief Financial Officer subject to sufficient funds being appropriated by the Board in the 2025 and/or subsequent County budget(s), which is attached hereto and made part of this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, this matter was discussed at the July 2, 2025 Administration and Finance Committee meeting, and is being recommended to the Board for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i), the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic approves an additional legal fee authorization to Aloia Law Firm LLC for its representation of the Passaic County Police Academy in Ramone Wilson v. Louis Forst, et al., Docket No. ESX-L-866-17, in an amount not to exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00).
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Board shall print, in the official newspaper, a brief notice stating the nature, duration, service, and amount of the contract awarded to Aloia Law Firm LLC and maintain a copy of this Resolution on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk to the Board.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Board, County Counsel, and Director of the Board are authorized to take any action necessary to carry out the purpose of this Resolution.
NB July 15, 2025