The University of Hawaii has retained a second downtown law firm in the wake of the Stevie Wonder concert debacle, the school confirmed Thursday.
Honolulu attorney Robert S. Katz and his firm, Torkildson Katz Moore Hetherington & Harris, have been hired to assist in preparation for Monday’s state Senate hearing, UH said.
Katz specializes in employment law and has more than 40 years of experience, according to the firm’s website.
The firm will be paid a maximum of $25,000, according to an agreement for services released by UH.
The Cades Schutte firm was hired July 12, two days after the announced cancellation of the ill-fated concert, and produced the 57-page "factfinders" report last month. Cades Schutte is to receive a maximum of $50,000, according to an agreement requested by the Star-Advertiser under the state’s open-records law.
UH spokeswoman Lynne Waters said the school "retained Torkildson Katz for a scope of services including: assisting the university in the investigation of the concert aftermath; helping the university respond to the substantial Senate committee information requests and preparing for the briefing; and preparing and advising on responses to public and media inquiries."
Waters said UH "hired outside counsel because of the potential conflict of interest involving one or more members of the Office of General Counsel."
Both UH General Counsel Darolyn Lendio and Associate General Counsel Ryan Akamine are mentioned in the factfinders’ report.
The state Senate Special Committee on Accountability has asked five UH figures, including Board of Regents Chairman Eric Martinson and school President M.R.C. Greenwood, to appear at Monday’s hearing regarding the bogus Stevie Wonder concert and other operations. Cades Schutte representatives have also been asked to appear. A follow-up hearing is tentatively set for Oct. 2.
In July, UH officials canceled the announced Aug. 18 Wonder concert, which was supposed to be a benefit for UH athletics.
They revealed that $200,000 of UH money was missing after being wired to a Florida company as a deposit to secure the concert. UH officials have said they apparently were victims of fraud.
Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL
UH Cades Schutte Contract
