Civil Commitment Representation Professional Service Solicitation

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Contractor is expected to use the court’s required electronic applications. The contract fee shall be a monthly retainer fee. 

• Panel:
  • Retainer fee from Feb. 1 - Dec. 31 2024: $3,290 per month.
  • Retainer fee from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2025: $3,373 per month.
  • Retainer fee from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2026: $3,458 per month.
  • Retainer fee from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2027: $3,545 per month.
  • Retainer fee from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2028: $3,634 per month.
• Substitute:
  • No automatic retainer fee. Any retainer fee must be agreed upon by the commitment panel that the substitute will receive the monthly retainer fee in place of the panel member. Notification and documentation to Ramsey County is required.

All Contractors (Panel and Substitute) shall be additionally compensated when representing proposed patients in petitions to commit a person as a Sexual Psychopathic Personality, Sexually Dangerous Person, or as a Mentally Ill and Dangerous person, as defined in Minn. Stat. Ch. 253B and Ch. 253D at a rate of $75 per hour not to exceed $7,500 initial amount per case and $1,000 every year thereafter, without prior written approval of the Court, to be billed monthly.

All Contractors (Panel and Substitute) shall be additionally compensated for Rule 20 cases for hours outside of court hearings at the rate of $75 per hour for up three hours per case, to be billed monthly.

Contractor will serve six two-week rotations per year, the schedule for which will be developed in the fall of the preceding year. Contractor shall personally attend hearings and Mental Status Exams during each two-week rotation, as well as any subsequent hearings for a client that take place after the two-week rotation. Substitution of another attorney from the defense panel may be allowed. When the need for substitution arises, substitutions in rotation schedule shall be made by the Contractor and confirmed in writing with the respective attorney agreeing to an exchange, and the Court.

Additional court appearances

In addition to the six two-week rotations each year, Contractor is required to handle client's recommitment hearings, petitions for treatment with either neuroleptic medications or electroconvulsive therapy, requests for review, requests for discharge, and all other matters related to assigned cases. Substitution of another attorney from the defense panel may be allowed.

Duration of assignment

Generally, the attorney client relationship will continue until the client is no longer under court order. In some instances, however, the relationship may continue as long as the attorney provides services pursuant to this Agreement, or any extension, renewal, amendment, or successor agreement.

Contractor shall meet, in person, with each client prior to each hearing and Mental Status Exams, regardless of the location of such hearing or exam. This may require traveling to the hospital where each client is being held.

Related case duties

Contractor will receive copies of statutorily required reports regarding their clients that require court review. Contractor must be available to discuss the content of these reports with their clients.

Communication expectation

Contractor is expected to respond in a timely manner to phone calls from clients, case managers, the County Attorney's office, and any other person interested in a case. Contractor is required to maintain regular contact with their clients and assigned case managers. Contractor is expected to receive and send all communication via email, sign up and use the court's electronic file and serve (EFS) system, and be able to document their time electronically.

Caseload

Typically, Contractor may represent between 70 to 90 clients at any time.