County Controller Seeks Proof Over Legal Bill

Washington County Commissioners approved an expenditure to pay the law firm Eckert, Seamans $1,950 for legal services provided as a result of a Special Audit being performed by the County Controller regarding the 2024 cyber/ransomware attack on the county’s computer system. The measure was approved 2-1 with Commissioner Larry Maggi voting no. Maggi claims that the request for payment lacks transparency and is an effort to withhold information. County Controller Heather Sheatler received the invoice and in response asked Eckert Seamans to provide proof of work performed and the authorization to perform the work. Sheatler’s letter says that 7.5 hours were billed for work performed on behalf of Commissioners Nick Sherman, Electra Janis and County Administrator Daryl Price. The invoice detailed privilege research, strategy response and other conferences. Sheatler says that no engagement letter, fee agreement or retention letter appointing Eckert Semans exists pertaining to the special audit. Furthermore, the invoice does not break down work performed on behalf of the county versus work provided for Sherman, Janis and Price as individuals. Commissioner Nick Sherman says that the agreement to handle any concerns related to the cyber attack were spelled out by the insurance carrier three years ago when they appointed Eckert Seamans as special counsel. In a letter provided to Sheatler by County Solicitor Gary Sweat, he identified his office and Eckert Seamans as special counsel representing Sherman, Janis and Price in their official capacities on behalf of the county. Sheatler’s letter to Eckert Seamans requests response by September 18. Currently no response has been received. The special audit being performed is a result of the Office of Open Records citing inconsistencies and conflicting agreements surrounding the cyber attack in January of 2024 and the actions taken to regain control of the county computers. In one aspect of the audit, Sheatler points out that one of the vendors hired to aid in the recovery, DigitalMint, had several employees convicted of conspiracy for secretly feeding victim confidential information to ransomware attackers. DigitalMInt was hired to negotiate the terms and conditions to make ransom payments and release the digital keys to unlock the county computers.