Matthew: Below is my response to your second question. I assume KPI means key performance indicators. Workers' Compensation in Maryland is stacked in favor of employees. As a result, performance indicators measure teamwork, commitment to the County's mission, efficiency, and adherence to deadlines. My office annually handles approximately 1,800 administrative hearings before the Workers' Compensation Commission. The Office of the County Attorney (OCA) Workers' Compensation Division handles approximately 1,600 hearings, while outside counsel retained by the County under the County Charter provides legal services for an additional 200 hearings. OCA and outside counsel handle over 100 administrative appeals per year, which are conducted as jury trials in state court. The County faces claims in excess of $60 million a year. The County is self-insured for all litigation and WC claims. I have three law firms on retainer for WC cases. Several years ago, I created a Workers' Compensation Division in my office. The Division is composed of a Division Chief, three Associate County Attorneys, and two administrative assistants. Previously, the same lawyers and staff were part of my Litigation Division, but I moved those lawyers and staff out of that division to focus solely on WC cases. OCA lawyers are evaluated on their ability to meet deadlines, including discovery deadlines on appeals (which are jury trials in the state's trial court), filing timely and effective dispositive motions, and preparing timely hearing summaries for adjusters after the completion of the administrative workers' compensation hearing (which is the first stage of Maryland workers' compensation cases). The OCA lawyers are also evaluated on their commitment to keep up to date on developments in workers' compensation statutes and case law. The ability to either develop innovative legal strategies and/or present such defenses developed by others is another measure of success. Finally, the entire WC Division is evaluated on the total monetary savings on permanent partial disability awards. The County effectively utilizes both OCA lawyers and outside counsel to enhance legal services and achieve the best outcomes for the County. The dual approach enables the County to develop complex defenses in-house that address issues unique to counties, ensuring that outside counsel is well-versed in these legal strategies. The OCA lawyers possess in-depth knowledge of county-specific policies and operations, enabling them to develop tailored defenses that are county-specific. OCA WC Division Chief supervises the work of outside counsel, ensuring the legal strategies align with the county's values and objectives. This oversight helps prevent overcharging and maintains budgetary controls. Engaging outside counsel provides access to additional resources that would otherwise not be available, ensuring that defenses are comprehensive and not limited by a finite staff. The qualities I look for in outside counsel are that they must have a commitment to high ethical standards that align with the County's values and mission. They must be cost-effective and sensitive to budgetary constraints typical of governmental entities, and they must utilize transparent billing practices. Please let me know if you have any further questions or if you would like to speak directly with the WC Division Chief. Best regards, John [cid:f7f3fcbf-d921-4ad4-b9b0-001c68053e59] ________________________________ From: Gigliotti, Matthew J via Top50 <top50@lists.imla.org> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2025 10:47 AM To: top50@lists.imla.org <top50@lists.imla.org> Subject: [Top50] Top50 benchmarking request from KCMO [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Hello list mates: I'm constantly amazed at the helpfulness of this group. Looking to benchmark two distinct concepts today: 1. Looking for code provisions (or policies) that purport to condition budget amendments to be "zero-sum." That new programs or spends must first look to offsets in existing services (or appropriations) before going to unappropriated fund balance or contingent funds. I welcome pro and con feedback as well. 1. For those of you that handle workers compensation in house, what are your KPIs for the group? If you utilize outside counsel, what do you value in terms of your relationship (how do you evaluate performance)? Thanks to you all. Best, -Matt _____________________________________________________ [cid:image001.png@01DC7001.15A95790] Matthew Gigliotti City Attorney Law Department Administration City of Kansas City, Mo. Phone: (816) 513-3153 Email: matthew.gigliotti@kcmo.org<mailto:matthew.gigliotti@kcmo.org> City Hall, 23rd Floor, Suite 2300 414 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106 KCMO.gov<https://www.kcmo.gov/> NOTICE: The information contained in this email is confidential and/or privileged and is intended only for the addressee. If you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the original and any copies. Also, e-mail is not a secure method of communication. If you do not wish to continue to use this method of communication, please advise the sender to arrange another method of communication. [https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcg/Resources/Images/250%20anniversary_1_footer.png]