Contract Review Service

The Contract Review Service is a free program that helps guard member cities against common contract liability exposures by identifying defense and indemnification language that may be problematic.

Staff looks for contract trouble areas such as:

  • Incomplete or unclear decision-making processes;
  • Unclear definitions of responsibility, liability, and identification of the party serving as employer.

Advice and recommendations on insurance coverage also are provided to help ensure contracted activities fall within the scope of LMCIT coverages.

Send us your joint powers and mutual aid agreements

Staff will review most contracts, but especially wants to review all joint powers agreements and mutual aid agreements. These kinds of agreements may contain defense and indemnity provisions that aren’t in the best interest of two LMCIT members working together.

Since the program was formed during 2007, staff has reviewed contracts that address mutual aid and joint powers agreements and service contracts for:

  • Police, fire, and other emergency services;
  • Sanitary districts;
  • Garbage removal;
  • Building inspection; and
  • Other intergovernmental agreements that range in topic from naming rights for a city building to leasing of water tower space, and from operation of a food shelf to employment contracts.

LMCIT will work directly with city attorney

LMCIT’s review does not replace the services of city attorneys. In fact, staff often works directly with city attorneys during the review process. Review can be as broad or as narrow as needed to respond to specific member concerns, and to protect members’ interests.

Please contact Chris Smith, Risk Management Attorney, by email at csmith@lmc.org or by phone at (651) 281-1269 or (800) 925-1122, the next time your city begins to draft an agreement, or during review of an existing agreement.