The Honolulu firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon has been selected to represent Kauai County in a lawsuit filed by seed four seed companies that want to block the implementation of a new ordinance regulating pesticide use and genetically modified crops.

“We have every confidence that this firm will appropriately represent the county’s interests in this matter,” stated Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr.

“In addition, we are moving forward with securing a facilitator to get the joint fact finding group for the Environmental Public Health Impact Study underway,” the mayor added. “Having reliable, Kauai-based information from which to act will allow us to responsibly address the issues raised in Ordinance 960 and adequately protect the interests of all stakeholders in this discussion.”

County officials selected special counsel from a pre-qualified list of 17 law firms.

Earlier this month, the Kauai Council approved the request by the Office of the County Attorney to spend up to $75,000 to retain special counsel to represent the county.