Cochise County supervisors approve hiring outside counsel in Daniels v. Morgan

At a special meeting Thursday, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors voted to retain outside counsel to represent the county and its officers in litigation.

Supervisor Gomez moved to "retain Michelle Molinaro" to represent the county in the case of Mark Daniels versus David Morgan, pending in Cochise County Superior Court. The chair seconded the motion. There was no further discussion, and the board voted in favor; the motion "carries two-zero-one not voting," the chair said. The chair also instructed staff to "do the paperwork and get her on retainer."

The board held the matter in executive session under Arizona law on executive sessions (cited in the meeting as ARS 38-431.03). For the record, the meeting included a roll call noting Gomez and Antinori present via Microsoft Teams and Crosby absent. During the executive session the transcript records several county officials and staff being named for the record, including County Administrator Sharon Gelman; Deputy County Attorney Dylan Hendel; Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney Jonathan Pinkney; County Attorney Laurie Zuko; Sheriff Mark Downell; and Clerk of the Board Laura Lowangan.

The transcript does not specify the terms of the retainer, including fee arrangements or limits on authority; the only formal action recorded in the public portion of the meeting was the vote to retain outside counsel. The board adjourned after confirming upcoming scheduling for a work session on Tuesday the 12th.

The litigation was identified in the meeting as "Mark Daniels versus David Morgan, currently pending in Cochise County Superior Court."