Fletcher Van Gilder LLP has extensive experience in representing local governments, as well as private persons and businesses that go before them. Tim Manges has 19 years of service representing cities and towns, including his term as the in-house city attorney for the City of Fort Wayne from 2000 to 2007. Andrew Simmons has represented the City of New Haven for more than 10 years.
Services to local governments
From large cities to small towns, our attorneys have provided counsel on the many and various rights and responsibilities of municipalities. We have acted as City Attorney or town attorney, and have advised councils, boards and commissions. We have also provided legal advice and services on a case-by-case basis. Our work has covered a broad range of subjects:
- Representation in state or federal court, including appeals
- Civil rights defense
- Personal injury defense
- Contract disputes
- Employment disputes
- Advising on employment and labor issues
- Drafting and reviewing contracts
- Drafting and reviewing ordinances
- Code enforcement
- Advising on land use and zoning
- Serving as administrative hearing officers
- Ensuring compliance with Open Door laws
- Ensuring compliance with Public Records Access laws
- Annexations
Services to private individuals and businesses
For private individuals, businesses or associations, except where there is a preexisting attorney-client relationship with the government entity, we are available to provide services on a case-by-case basis in all areas of municipal law, or to act as general counsel for businesses dealing with local governmental entities.
- Representation of businesses and individuals in court against a governmental entity
- Representation of businesses and individuals in administrative hearings
- Eminent domain and inverse condemnation cases
- Personal injury
- Contract disputes
- Violations of civil rights cases, including police misconduct
- Appeals in state and federal courts
- Representation of businesses and individuals in administrative hearings
- Before planning and zoning commissions
- Before city and town councils
- In code enforcement hearings
- Contract negotiation, drafting and reviewing
- Preparation and prosecution of public records requests
- Complaints to public agencies regarding code enforcement problems on non-client properties
