County Agrees to Pay More to Legal Firm

Prompted by higher-than-expected caseloads, Ventura County supervisors on Tuesday agreed to pay an additional $70,000 to a legal services firm that represents the poor when the public defender’s office has a conflict.

But the additional payment to Ventura-based Conflict Defense Associates was less than the firm had sought.

The firm had asked for an additional $90,000 to cover its deficit for the current fiscal year. But county officials concluded that $70,000 would be enough to bridge the gap, and recommended the smaller figure to the board.

Supervisors voted unanimously for the increase. Supervisor Susan Lacey was absent.

Conflict Defense Associates has exceeded its $1.3-million annual budget for at least the last two years, blaming an increased workload stemming from the “three strikes” law and other unforeseen developments.

County officials had voted earlier this year to increase the budget by $550,000.

Supervisor Frank Schillo said after the board’s vote that the time has come to draw up a new contract for defending indigent people.

“This is just not working the way it should,” he said.