Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Does the County Counsel give legal advice to members of the public?

No. The County Counsel, by statute, is the lawyer for the Board of Supervisors, elected and appointed department officials, and County employees in their official capacity of County government. The County Counsel may not give legal advice to members of the public.

2. I have suffered personal injury or property damage, which I believe was caused by the County or one of its employees. How do I go about collecting for my damages?

The process of collecting damages from the County is started by filing a claim with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, located at

825 Fifth St.
Room 111
Eureka, California 95501.

The law governing claims against the public entities is complex and has short deadlines. You may need to seek the services of an attorney for your own protection. In any event, you should present your claim without delay. For additional information, please refer to Government Code Section 910.

3. Can I serve a lawsuit against the County by serving the County Counsel?

No. Service of process on the County may only be accomplished by serving the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, whose office is located at Humboldt County Courthouse

825 Fifth St.

Room 111

Eureka, California 95501

4. How can I view County records?

County records are maintained by individual departments. Additional information can be found on the Public Records page.

5. Can I speak with the Interim County Counsel, Scott Miles, as his name is listed at the top of the paperwork I received?

No. Scott A. Miles is the Interim County Counsel and his name appears on all documents filed by anyone within the office. The person most familiar with your case is usually the person who signed the document. That person’s name appears beneath Mr. Miles' name at the top of the document, and beneath the signature itself. If you believe you must speak with someone regarding your matter, that is the person to whom you should speak with first.

6. I would like a copy of the Humboldt County Code. Can I get it from the County Counsel’s Office?

No. The County Code is available on the County’s website at:  https://humboldt.county.codes/

Copies of ordinances are available for a fee at the Humboldt County Clerk of the Board, 825 Fifth Street, Room 111, Eureka, CA.