Civil Division
By law, the District Attorney’s Office has the responsibility to provide legal counsel to Salt Lake County. The Civil Division of the office fulfills that responsibility, serving as a full-service law firm. It provides legal services in real and personal taxation and assessments, worker’s compensation, contracts, inter-governmental relations, land transactions, bankruptcy, condemnation, planning and zoning, human health, parks and recreation programs, libraries, streets and sidewalks, and employee relations. Civil Division attorneys also act as legal counsel for the County’s elected officials in the operations of their respective offices.
Additionally, the Civil Division represents diverse County entities in legal and administrative proceedings arising from the provision of various public services. Civil attorneys expertly defend the County against worker’s compensation and employment discrimination claims; constitutional claims coming from law enforcement, elections, and taxation and health regulations; personal injury and property damage lawsuits stemming from premises liability and automobile accidents; and contract disputes.
Risk Management
The Civil Division also houses the Risk Management Unit. Salt Lake County is a self-insured entity; the risk manager, claims adjusters, safety officers, and trainers of the unit work together to handle claims ranging from worker’s compensation to property and personal injury. This unit is responsible for analyzing loss trends and developing and implementing programs to reduce the risk of County activities to County employees and the public at large. The Risk Management Unit also administers the County’s insurance programs relating to its real and personal property.