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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-247 CCRadoption: Member Debra Hilstrom introduced the following resolution and moved its RESOLUTION NO. 96 -247 RESOLUTION APPROVING ALLOCATION OF DAMAGES AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT THEREOF BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota (City) as follows: Section 1. Background. 1.1. The City of Brooklyn Center (hereinafter referred to as the "City is a defendant in the cases of Starks v. Minneapolis Police Recruitment System, et al.; Hennepin County District Court File No. EM93 -219, and Fields v. Minnesota Police Recruitment System, et District Court File No. EM93 -218. 1.2. The Court has concluded in said actions that the defendants violated Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 363, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, in the administration of the Minnesota Police Recruitment System (MPRS) testing process for entry level police officers employment screening and that defendants are obligated to pay certain damages and penalties. 1.3. In its order dated November 6, 1995, the Court determined that the defendant cities are obligated to pay $156,688 in damages for lost wages and emotional distress. 1.4. The Court has also determined that the MPRS, a joint powers organization of which the City is a member, or was a member at the time the actions were commenced, is obligated to pay each of the two plaintiffs punitive damages in the amount of $8,500. 1.5. By order dated November 7, 1996, the court determined that the defendant cities are obligated to pay $412,737.08 in costs and attorneys fees. 1.6. The Court also determined that the unlawful discrimination by the defendants can reasonably be remedied in part by paying a statutory penalty in the amount of $300,000 to the State of Minnesota, or in lieu of such penalty meeting a reasonable minority rate hiring commitment and complying with other remedial provisions of the order. In the event the cities comply with the hiring commitment, and other remedial provisions specified in the order, it may be that the payment of a statutory requirement may not be required. 1 1 1 RESOLUTION NO. 96 -247 1.7. The MPRS has proposed that the payment of monetary damages to the plaintiffs described above in paragraph 1.3, punitive damages described above in paragraph 1.4 and plaintiffs' costs, disbursements and attorneys' fees be allocated among the parties on the following basis: 20% of such costs would be divided equally among the 36 city defendants. 80% of such damages would be divided pro rata on the basis of the population served by the cities police departments as of the time the actions were commenced in January of 1993. Such population would be determined on the basis of Metropolitan Council estimates for cities in the metropolitan area. For communities outside of the metropolitan area, the population would be determined by the State Demographer's estimates. For communities with service contracts under which police service is provided to other municipalities, the populations of such other municipalities would be included in the computation of population served. of damages. Section 2. Finding. 2.1. It is in the best interest of the City to reach mutual agreement on the allocation 2.2. The allocation proposed by the MPRS is found to be fair and reasonable, and consent thereto is in the best interest of the City. Section 3. Approvals and Authorizations. 3.1. The allocation for payment of damages, penalties, costs, disbursements, and attorneys' fees described above is hereby approved. 3.2. The City consents and agrees to payment of its share of such damages, penalties, costs, disbursements, and attorneys' fees in accordance with the allocation formula described above. 3.3. The City Manager and Mayor are authorized and directed to make payment for the City's share of final judgment of such expenses in accordance with the agreed upon allocation. 3.4. This resolution does not amend any previous agreement among the defendant cities for allocation of defense costs and defendants' attorneys fees; and nothing herein shall be deemed to be an agreement as to allocation of any statutory penalties which may be awarded in the future. 3.5. This resolution constitutes only an agreement between and among all cities which are defendants in the above referenced actions which consent and agree to the allocation formula described above by adoption of substantially similar resolutions. Nothing herein shall be deemed an admission of responsibility or a liability in any action for contribution by any city which has not consented to such allocation or a waiver by the City of any rights, claims, demands, or causes of action for contribution by the City against any city which has not agreed to such allocation. 1 1 RESOLUTION NO. 96 -247 December 16, 1996, 4-8/-se-# Date Mayo ATTEST: NiZ 6 City Clerk The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Charles Nichols and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Myrna Kragness, Kathleen Carmody, Debra Hilstrom, and Charles Nichols; and the following voted against the same: none, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.