ORDINANCE NO. 230409

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Sponsor: Director of the Law Department

Authorizing the City Attorney to negotiate and execute a specialized Legal Services Contract with a joint team, consisting of the law firms Williams Dirks Dameron LLC and the Hardwick Law Firm, LLC, a City certified MBE, for the provision of legal services related to the failure of Hyundai and KIA to include anti-theft technology in certain models of their vehicles; and waiving the contract solicitation and award provisions.

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WHEREAS, Hyundai and KIA have failed to include anti-theft technology in certain models of their vehicles; and

WHEREAS, certain Hyundai and KIA vehicles do not have immobilizers, which stop the vehicles from starting if the driver does not have the right key; and

WHEREAS, the Hyundai and KIA vehicle thefts have focused on vehicles with steel keys and turn-to-start ignition systems; and

WHEREAS, the lack of immobilizers has made the Hyundai and KIA vehicles easier to steal and the City less safe; and

WHEREAS, the City needs specialized outside Counsel to investigate and work with City personnel to determine the costs that City has incurred as a result of the companies' failure to include the anti-theft technology in its vehicles, and if appropriate bring an action against manufacturers and distributors of Hyundai and KIA; and

WHEREAS, Williams Dirks Dameron LLC and the Hardwick Law Firm, LLC, a City certified MBE (collectively, the "Firm"), specialize in representing public entities in both class action suits and complex litigation; and

WHEREAS, Williams Dirks Dameron LLC is currently representing the City in the In re National Opioids Litigation, 17-ND-2804, and City of Kansas City, Missouri v. Jimenez, 2016-CV00829 (the firearms litigation); and

WHEREAS, for the last eight months, the Firm has been studying and monitoring Hyundai's and KIA's failure to include anti-theft technology in certa...

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