Opinion ID: 1098120
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Breazeale, Sachse, & Wilson, L.L.P. v. Louisiana Board of Ethics

Text: On March 14, 2000, Breazeale, Sachse, & Wilson, L.L.P. (Breazeale, Sachse) sought an advisory opinion from the Louisiana Board of Ethics. The substance of that request was as follows: Breazeale, Sachse, & Wilson, L.L.P. (BS&W) represents the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) on a number of legal matters pursuant to employment by the Louisiana Attorney General's office. We request an Advisory Opinion as to whether Murphy J. Foster, III (Foster) would be in violation of Section 1113A of the Code of Governmental Ethics if Foster, as a partner of BS & W, received any financial benefit in the form of compensation that might be derived from BS & W's representation of LCTCS. Breazeale, Sachse further acknowledged to the Board that Foster was a member of the Governor's immediate family within the meaning of La. R.S. 42:1113(A) [2] and that his ownership interest in the firm was less than 25%. On April 17, 2000, the Board responded with Advisory Opinion 2000-216 containing three principal conclusions. First, the Board concluded that nothing in La. R.S. 42:1113(A) would prevent Breazeale, Sachse from providing legal services to or otherwise representing the interests of LCTCS, provided the provision of such services is by partners and members of Breazeale, Sachse other than Mr. Murphy J. Foster, III. Second, the Board found that the Code of Ethics would not prohibit Foster from receiving his normal distribution of the profits from Breazeale, Sachse, even when some of those profits would be derived from the firm's representation of LCTCS. Finally, the Board concluded that La. R.S. 42:1113(A) prohibited Foster from personally rendering legal services to LCTCS because such services would constitute a prohibited transaction. On May 30, 2000, Breazeale, Sachse applied for a supervisory writ to the First Circuit Court of Appeal. On June 16, 2000, the First Circuit denied the writ reasoning that: Murphy Foster, III, is an individual and as an individual he is prohibited by law from entering into a transaction with executive branch agencies because he is an immediate family member of the Governor. It is of no moment that he may be acting in his capacity as an agent of his law firm pursuant to a contract between his law firm and those agencies. He, as an individual, is an immediate family member of the governor and therefore, cannot perform the work. Breazeale, Sachse, & Wilson, L.L.P. v. Louisiana Board of Ethics, 00-1179 (La. App. 1 Cir. 6/16/00) (denying the writ). We granted the writ of Breazeale, Sachse. Breazeale, Sachse, & Wilson, L.L.P. v. Louisiana Board of Ethics, 00-1956 (La.9/15/00), 767 So.2d 699.