Civil Division

PCAO Division

Civil Division

The Civil Division of the Pima County Attorney’s Office is the in-house law firm for Pima County and provides legal advice and representation to its elected officials and departments. Through its efforts every year, the Civil Division helps develop policy to protect public health, safety, and the rights of Pima County residents, advises County leaders and departments on issues that improve quality of life, and saves the taxpayers of Pima County millions of dollars through its efforts. The Civil Division also has some statutorily defined civil law enforcement responsibilities such as open meeting law enforcement, campaign finance enforcement, and removing someone who is unlawfully holding office
Division template 3

The Civil Division is legally prohibited from providing legal advice or representation to members of the public.  Members of the public looking for legal advice or representation can contact the Pima County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service.  The Civil Division operates several units described below that benefit the public either directly or indirectly.

Business & Transactions Unit

The Business & Transactions Unit provides legal counsel for County operations, procurement, public finance, and major business transactions. The Unit provides legal counsel, representation, and training to affiliated special taxing districts and key County departments, including Community & Workforce Development, Economic Development, Grants Management & Innovation, Procurement, Real Property Services, Regional Wastewater Reclamation, and Transportation. Attorneys advise County departments on legal issues involving budget law, conflicts of interest, construction, contracting, federal funding, governance, open meeting law, procurement, public finance, public records, wastewater utility operations, and other matters affecting County services. Attorneys review approximately 1,000 County contracts annually, supporting procurement, technology, infrastructure, grant administration, real estate, economic development, and construction initiatives through legally sound agreements and business transactions. Contract types include construction contracts, economic development agreements, grants and subrecipient agreements, intergovernmental agreements, procurement contracts, real estate transactions, and software and technology agreements. The Unit also represents the County in litigation involving business transactions, including construction disputes, contract disputes, and Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department sewer line damage claims. Attorneys also advise on County debt issuances, major capital projects, ordinances, and resolutions.

Bobby Yu, Supervising Attorney

Elections Team And Tax Unit

The Elections unit provides legal advice to the Department of Elections, the County Recorder and the County School Superintendent regarding compliance with federal and state election laws, defends election challenges, and enforces campaign finance laws. Attorneys in the Unit also provide legal advice and representation to the County Recorder and County School Superintendent regarding their other statutory duties, and provide legal advice and representation to the Justice Courts/Justices of the Peace. 

The Tax Unit provides legal advice and representation for the Assessor, Treasurer, and Pima County in property tax appeals and related lawsuits. Much of the Unit’s efforts are focused on defending property tax appeals and the Treasurer’s interests in collecting real and personal property taxes in bankruptcies, forfeitures, eminent domain, and probate cases, as well as the Treasurer’s interest in tax lien foreclosure and excess proceeds cases.

Dan Jurkowitz, Supervising Attorney

Land Use & Environmental Unit

The Land Use & Environmental Unit provides legal counsel for County land use, environmental protection, water resources, and regulatory programs. The Unit provides legal counsel, representation, and training to key County departments, including Development Services, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Health Department, and the Regional Flood Control District. Attorneys advise County departments on legal issues involving code enforcement, environmental regulation, flood control, land use planning, water resources, zoning, and other matters affecting County regulatory programs. The Unit represents the County in administrative proceedings and state and federal litigation involving code enforcement, construction matters, eminent domain, environmental claims, land use disputes, and water rights. Attorneys also defend environmental liability claims and represent the County in major water rights litigation, including the Gila River Adjudication.

Bobby Yu, Supervising Attorney

Employment Unit, Public Records Request Unit, And Public Safety Support Unit

This unit provides legal advice to County elected officials and departments regarding compliance with federal and state employment laws as well as County policies, defends the County in federal and state court in employment related litigation, and defends charges before federal and state administrative enforcement agencies. Attorneys in the Unit also defend County elected officials and departments before the County’s Merit System Commission and Law Enforcement Merit System Council and enforce state employment authorization laws. The Public Records unit handles all public records requests made of the Pima County Attorney’s Office. The Unit annually reviews thousands of documents, photographs, and audio and video files for redaction and promptly provides records to requesters in compliance with Arizona’s public records laws. Public Safety provides legal advice and representation to the Sheriff’s Department and Constables as well as pursuing civil forfeitures on behalf of law enforcement agencies.

Dan Jurkowitz, Supervising Attorney

Health Law Unit

Civil Deputy County Attorneys in the Health Law Unit provide legal advice and support to the Pima County Health Department, the Department of Behavioral Health, Pima Animal Care Center, the Office of the Medical Examiner, and the Office of Emergency Management. They also represent these clients in court cases involving such matters as the isolation and quarantine of individuals with infectious diseases, the forfeiture of dangerous and neglected animals, and the protection of health records. Civil Deputy CAs in this unit also participate in revisions to health-related sections of the County Code. The Health Law Unit also pursues court orders for the involuntary mental health treatment of people whose untreated mental illness is likely to cause severe harm to themselves or pose a danger to others.

Sabrina Fladness, Supervising Attorney

Tort Unit

This unit defends Pima County, its elected officials, and employees against a variety of personal injury and civil rights claims both in federal and state courts. Attorneys in this Unit also provide legal advice regarding liability issues.

Rebecca O'Brien, Supervising Attorney

Request Info

How To Request Information From PCAO

Unless making a request in-person, individuals requesting to review records or to obtain copies of records should complete a Public Records Request form and must pay for copies. Please be as specific as possible in your request to ensure accuracy in the production of the records. Find full instructions for requesting records and request forms by clicking.
Request Info

PCAO Division

Our Dedication to Open Government

The Pima County Attorney’s Office supports Arizona’s Public Records Law, sometimes referred to as the Sunshine on Government law. All records and other matters in the office of any public agency or official in the State are to be open during office hours for inspection by any person. The County Attorney responds promptly to all requests for records maintained by her Office and provides legal advice and representation to the various other county departments, officials, boards, and committees to assist them in doing so as well.

If you wish to view or obtain a copy of a record maintained by the Pima County Attorney’s Office, please complete the Public Records Request Form here.

Resources

Forms & More

Division Contact

Samuel E. Brown

Chief Civil Deputy

  • (520) 724-5600
  • Sam.brown@Pcao.pima.gov
  • If you are a reporter looking to gather general information for a story, on a deadline or for background, email media@pcao.pima.gov or call Shawndrea Thomas (520) 724-5738