City's top DWP lawyer retires, takes new post.

THE deputy city attorney who served as general counsel for the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power is retiring.

Richard Helgeson, a 33-year veteran of the city attorney's office, had supervised the legal counsel for the DWP for the last year after a stint as general counsel at the Port of Los Angeles.

Contracting procedures at the airport, water and power and port departments, the city's three revenue-generating divisions, have been under recent scrutiny by city, county and federal investigators.

Investigators are looking at DWP's $3 million-per-year contract with public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard Inc. Last month, the department's acting general manager, Frank Salas, who oversaw the contract, resigned. Enrique Martinez, chief operating officer and assistant general manager of power, replaced Salas.

Helgeson said the timing of his departure and the flare-up over the Fleishman-Hillard contract was "purely coincidental."

"This was something I decided on way back in June," he said. "Fleishman-Hillard has always been an issue. It was an issue when I came here in 2002. But it really did not in any way influence my decision. This is purely a practical decision that comes because I'm 60 years old and my family has been urging me to do this for a while."

Helgeson acknowledges "it's a little unfortunate it comes at a time when the Fleishman-Hillard matter seems to be taking a lot of precedence in the media. Actually, I'd like to stay around to help the department get through this."

Helgeson, who lives in South Pasadena, has taken a post at the Southern California Public Power Authority, formed by the California Legislature to finance the acquisition of generation and transmission resources for 10 municipal utility members, including the DWP, and an irrigation district.

The office, Helgeson said, "is five minutes from home and my 15-year-old daughter's school. I work long hours here and really don't see my family as much as I should."

Richard Brown, assistant city attorney under Helgeson, will take over DWP responsibilities when Helgeson departs on Aug 16.

Helgeson held the post since August 2002, after serving as general counsel of the city's Harbor Department for about three years. The year prior, he was a city attorney representative for the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority. From 1992 to 1998, he was the assistant city attorney in charge of contracts at the DWP.

...Through the Tulips

But how did the oleanders look'?

Billionaire Ron Burkle may be liable for the injuries of a Beverly Hills police officer who provided security during a 1999 party for thenGov. Gray Davis and Mexican President Vicente Fox, according to a recent appellate court ruling.

Burkle, managing partner of Yucaipa Cos., hosted the event at his five-acre estate, Green Acres, once part of a 20-acre compound owned by late silent film star Harold Lloyd. Just before the party got started, according to court papers, Officer Kristopher Cannon had to make room for a crowd of arriving security officials.

Standing on a crushed granite jogging path that circles the estate, he stepped up on the walkway's brick edge, leaned backwards, moved his left foot back and fell down a hill that had been hidden by oleander shrubs.

"He fell, thinking it was just simple ground cover rather than a four-foot drop off," said Cannon's lawyer, John Torjesen, of Los Angeles firm John C. Torjesen & Associates PC.

Cannon required surgery after suffering a broken ankle, nerve damage to his leg and a back injury in the fall, Torjesen said. He received workers' compensation but those benefits "don't cover what it takes to pay the mortgage" since Cannon, who is restricted from lifting and sitting too long, lost his job with the Police Department.

Cannon sued Burkle for unspecified damages caused by negligence and premises liability. In January 2003, a Los Angeles Superior Q Court judge threw out the case.

In the recent opinion, which reversed the ruling and sends the case back to L.A. Superior Court for trial, 2nd Appellate District Associate Justice Laurie Zelon said a jury must decide whether Burkle should be held liable.

Stacie MacDonald, a partner at Bragg & Kuluva representing Burkle, did not return calls.

Moving Around

Daniel Grigsby, outside counsel to the Lakers, is joining Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro LLP's sports industry practice. Grigsby, formerly a partner at Arnold & Porter LLP, joins practice chairman Mark Rosenthal, who represents the Dodgers, Anaheim Angels and the National Hockey League ...

Andrew Demetriou, former coordinator of the L.A. business practice group at Jones Day has joined Fulbright & Jaworski LLP as a partner.

Staff reporter Amanda Bronstad can be reached at [phone], ext. 225, or at [e-mail].