Opinion ID: 2609783
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Unfair Advantage

Text: During oral argument of this case there was some discussion to the effect that Lucchesi, despite his full disclosure to UNLV and the State Public Works Board, might have secured some kind of unfair advantage over other architects in being selected for the job. Such an idea is contrary to the express findings of the Commission, but, nonetheless, the answer to the unfair-advantage question, if there is such a question, is simply that the design competition was plainly advisory only and nonbinding. Winning the contest was not an advantage at all because winning the contest was not a condition of getting the job. The Public Works Board was entitled to consider, and properly should have considered, Lucchesi's long-time association with the project in making its decision to hire Lucchesi. I note that neither the Ethics Commission nor the district court considered any supposed unfair advantage to Lucchesi as a factor in the Public Works Board's decision to hire Lucchesi. Lucchesi did nothing legally or morally wrong by entering the contest; and, certainly, his contract with the State may not properly be cancelled on the basis of his having accepted the State's invitation to enter the contest. The Ethics Commission rested its findings, conclusions and opinion on what I see as the legally impossible violation of NRS 281.481(3). The reviewing district court simply and properly held that since Lucchesi was not legally disqualified from contracting with the State, he should be permitted to go ahead with the job. [7] I agree. Because of the political overtones that surround this case, I find myself having some real qualms about this court's rejecting the judgment of the trial court and wresting this contract from the hands of an honest and straightforward professional architect to whom the State Public Works Board has lawfully awarded a commission to do the architectural work for the new Architecture Building at UNLV. I see no reason to interfere with the trial court's judgment in this case. I can understand that the new Ethics Commission might be anxious to get some exercise, but it should not be allowed to do so at the expense of Lucchesi and his associates. Lucchesi did nothing morally wrong and nothing legally wrong. He is the victim of an erroneous legal opinion issued by a lay board. The trial court properly decided that Lucchesi's contract with the State was legally binding, and there is no reason in the world why this court should set that judgment aside.