City Council to Vote on Change in Legal Contract

The Hoboken City Council will vote to increase the "not to exceed amount" of a contract with law firm Okin, Hollander & DeLuca, LLP on Wednesday.

The law firm was retained to represent the city in bankruptcy proceedings with the management firm of the Hoboken University Medical Center.

Hudson Healthcare Inc. and owes the city roughly $2 million. In total, the HHI has about a $25 million debt, and 5,000 creditors.

A bankruptcy settlement between the city and HHI was approved last week, in which

Paul Hollander, one of the lawyers at the firm, attended last week's council meeting. An emergency contract of $17,500 was approved. (contracts under $17,500 don't need to be approved by the city council first). Hollander earns $540 an hour for his services to the city.

Okin, Hollander & DeLuca was hired a few days before HHI filed for bankruptcy, Hollander said last week.

The "not to exceed amount" will be $100,000, according to the resolution on Wednesday night's agenda.