Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Professional Services Contract
Purpose: To provide legal services concerning Litigation Defense Counsel Matters
Entity Name: Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC
Entity Address: 570 Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson, Blvd., Suite 1201, Newark, New Jersey 07102
Contract Amount: Not to exceed $300,000.00
Funding Source: 2026 Budget/Law Department - NW011, Department 040, Division 0401, Account 71260, Budget 2026
Contract Period: January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor (X) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
(X) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP (X) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
body
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”) is involved in ongoing Legal Matters and therefore has a need to acquire Legal Services; and
WHEREAS, Legal Services are Professional Services, exempt from the requirement for public bidding, pursuant to the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i); and
WHEREAS, the City’s Corporation Counsel of the caused to be published in Star Ledger, on the City of Newark’s website, a Notice of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Litigation Defense Counsel Services; and
WHEREAS, Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC, submitted a proposal and it was found, based upon price and other factors, to be in the best interest of the City of Newark to accept the proposal for the purpose of providing Legal Services concerning Litigation Defense Counsel Services; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark wishes to enter into a contract Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC, to provide Legal Services concerning Litigation Defense Counsel Services, in an amount not to exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($300,000.00), for a period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which shall cover existing matters currently being handled Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC, and new matters that may arise during the contract term; and
WHEREAS, the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.) requires that notice of the award of contracts for “Professional Services” without competitive bidding must be published in a local newspaper; and
WHEREAS, this contract is for an amount over $53,000.00 and is being awarded as a Fair and Open contract pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5 and is in compliance with the State Pay-to-Play and the City’s Pay-to-Play Ordinance; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel, are authorized on behalf of the City of Newark to execute a contract with Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC, 570 Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson, Blvd., Suite 1201, Newark, New Jersey 07102 to provide Legal Services concerning Litigation Defense Matters, for an amount not to exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($300,000.00), for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, which shall cover existing matters currently being handled by Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC, and new matters that may arise during the contract term.
2. This Contract is being awarded pursuant to the Fair and Open procedures of the State Pay-to-Play Law (N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5) and pursuant to the provisions of the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i) and is in compliance with the City’s Ordinance on Pay-to-Play.
3. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.5(a), a Temporary Budget, attached hereto is a partial Certification of Funds issued by the Chief Financial Officer, which states that funds in the amount of Thirty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($30,000.00), line NW011, Department 040, Division 0401, Account 71260, Budget 2026 are available in the aforementioned Law Department Budget, for the purpose set forth hereinabove. The Certification of Funds shall be filed along with this Resolution in the Office of the City Clerk.
4. A copy of the executed Agreement herein authorized shall be filed in the Office of the City Clerk by the Corporation Counsel and same shall be made available for public inspection.
5. This Contract between the City and Firm, is hereby ratified from January 1, 2026 to the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution.
6. A notice of this action shall be published in the newspaper authorized by law to publish a legal advertisement and as required by law within ten (10) days of the adoption of this Resolution.
STATEMENT
This Resolution ratifies and authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel, to enter into a contract for Services for Litigation Defense Matters with Lite DePalma Greenberg & Afanador, LLC, for a total amount not to exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($300,000.00), for the period of January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.