FY 2012 Operating Budget and FY 2013-2017 Financial ... - Septa

Legal
EXPENSES
Amounts in Thousands (‘000)
Net Material
Labor & Services Total
Corporate $ 474 $ 5,536 $ 6,010
Commerce and Regulatory 326 - 326
Litigation 3,207 2,299 5,506
TOTAL $ 4,007 $ 7,835 $ 11,842
CORPORATE DEPARTMENT
Principal Responsibilities
Lawyers within the Corporate Department, as well as those within the Commerce and
Regulatory Department, counsel and advise management on matters that have legal
implications, assist other departments in drafting documents that have legal-related
elements, and work with outside attorneys in the litigation of business and employment
cases. Generally, the Corporate Department represents SEPTA in legal matters involving
procurements, utilities, employment/labor, construction, technology contracts, real estate and
right-to-know requests.
COMMERCE AND REGULATORY DEPARTMENT
Principal Responsibilities
The lawyers in the Commerce and Regulatory Department represent SEPTA’s interests in
compliance with environmental law and other governmental oversight and regulatory laws,
relationships with other railroads and transit entities, insurance and risk management
support, capital project support, real estate matters, and legal technology such as e-
discovery, case management, etc. The Department also provides administrative and
technology support for the functioning of the Legal Division, such as budgeting, information
management, expense tracking and processing, employee assistance, etc.
LITIGATION DEPARTMENT
Principal Responsibilities
Lawyers in the Litigation Department are responsible for the legal representation of SEPTA
(with in-house and outside attorneys) in the defense of and prosecution of civil actions, with
the majority of cases involving personal injury and property damage. Some lawyers handle
cases, with damages estimated to be under $50K, that are adjudicated in the City of
Philadelphia Mandatory Arbitration division. Other lawyers are responsible handling “major
cases”, which are those estimated as $50K and over.
SEPTA Fiscal Year 2012 Operating Budget 122