Board unanimously selects firm
GILROY
Trustees awarded the school district’s educational legal services to the firm of Garcia Calderon Ruiz, LLP of San Diego, at the Dec. 6 school board meeting.
After interviewing five firms, out of an original pool of nine, trustees narrowed the candidates down to two firms, Lozano Smith and Garcia Calderon Ruiz. Trustees Jaime Rosso and Denise Apuzzo conducted reference checks for both firms.
They presented the information they collected at the Dec. 6 board meeting and the seven trustees unanimously selected Garcia Calderon Ruiz.
Rosso contacted the chancellor for the San Jose Evergreen Community College District, Rosa Perez, as a reference for Garcia Calderon Ruiz. Perez rated them highly and gave them a five out of five rating on proficiency in special education issues.
However, Apuzzo pointed to the Garcia Calderon Ruiz’s “massive overbilling in the Sweetwater case” as a major concern. As the general counsel for the Sweetwater Union High School District in Chula Vista, Garcia Calderon Ruiz charged the district more than $1 million in legal fees in one year.
The district reported that it spent 77 percent more on legal fees to the firm than in the past fiscal year.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in July 2006 that the newspaper received invoices documenting the district’s legal bills, but the description of the services rendered were redacted by order of the district’s general counsel, Garcia Calderon Ruiz, and that no details were offered by the firm.
Apuzzo expressed her alarm for the “outrageous costs” the firm charged the Sweetwater district. On the other hand, her review of Lozano Smith’s references turned up no billing issues.
The firm has served the Morgan Hill Unified School District for 16 years.
“Lozano Smith is a whole lot cheaper, comparing apples to apples,” Trustee Tom Bundros said. “I’m leaning strongly toward Lozano Smith.”
Superintendent Deborah Flores will negotiate a contract with Garcia Calderon Ruiz.
