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2008-1150
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Last modified
7/12/2021 3:47:56 PM
Creation date
4/20/2010 12:01:41 PM
Metadata
2008-1150
Fields
Template:
Opinion Item
Opinion Type
Advisory Opinion
Docket Number
2008-1150
Requesting Party
Taylor Porter
Parties Involved
Taylor Porter Law Firm
Agency at Issue
Louisiana State University
Our Lady of the Lake Hospital
Decision Date
2/3/2009
Law
1111
Caption
No violation of the Ethics Code if a law firm (Taylor Porter) represented LSU in connection with a contract with Our Lady of the Lake with the firm serving as special counsel for both LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.
Ethics Subject Matters
Prohibited Transactions
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• determine the meaning of "governmental function." In Commission on Ethics for Public <br /> Employees v I T Corporation, 423 So.2d 695 (1st Cir., 1982) and In re George Dyer and Fire <br /> Apparatus Specialist Inc ., 677 So 2d 1075, 95 2297 (La. App. 1 Cir. 6/28/96), the two private <br /> contracting entities were held to be "public employees" by virtue of their contracts with <br /> governmental entities. <br /> In the IT Corporation (IT) case, it had entered into a contract with the La. Department of <br /> Natural Resources (DNR) to conduct a feasibility study for a regional hazardous waste disposal <br /> facility, including recommending a particular site location for the facility. In discussing whether <br /> IT was "engaged in the performance of a governmental function, the IT court had to first <br /> determine what is a "governmental function." To make that determination, the court looked to <br /> the statutory law to determine whether the work related to the suitability and the location of a <br /> waste disposal site was assigned by state law as a "governmental function." The court cited Act <br /> 334 of 1978 (See now La. R. S. 30:2172 et seq) which provided, "it is in the public interest and <br /> within the police powers of the state, to establish a framework for the regulation, monitoring, and <br /> control of the generators, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of such hazardous <br /> waste..." Obviously, the Legislature had vested DNR the responsibility for the performance of <br /> all such functions. Thus, the court concluded that in performing a feasibility study to determine <br /> the feasibility and the siting of a waste disposal facility, IT was "engaged in the performance of a <br /> state function." In the instant matter, the Board must undertake a similar analysis. <br /> The court held that a conflict existed between IT, as a public employee through its <br /> • contract with DNR, and as a private corporation. As a public employee, it had the duty of <br /> securing feasible waste disposal sites at the most reasonable costs. As a private corporation, its <br /> private interest was to make a private gain based on its own work, the result of its contractual <br /> efforts. Thus, IT was serving two masters. <br /> The Board concludes that the IT opinion clearly supports the Board's decision. <br /> Neither is In Re George Dyer and Fire Apparatus Specialist, Inc ., 667 So.2d. 1075 (La <br /> App. 1 Cir. 1982), a precedent for finding that Taylor Porter would be a "public employee". <br /> Dyer was the Assistant Fire Chief of TDVFD, a quasi-public entity that had a contract with the <br /> Third Fire District, a governmental body, to be the sole provider of fire protection for the district. <br /> At the same time, Dyer owned a controlling interest in Fire Apparatus Specialties, Inc. ("FAS"), <br /> a private corporation. FAS regularly sold new fire trucks and equipment to and repaired old fire <br /> trucks and equipment for the TDVFD. <br /> The court noted that "the central issue (was) whether the Third District Volunteer Fire <br /> Department ("TDVFD") is engaged in the performance of a governmental function so as to <br /> subject its members application of the Code." 667 So.2d. 1075, p. 5. With very little <br /> discussion, the appellate court quickly affirmed the ruling of the Commission on Ethics for <br /> Public Employees that Dyer, as a member of TDVFD, was engaged in the performance of a <br /> "governmental function"by providing the sole fire protection for the public. <br /> • Thus, Dyer had a conflict between his private interest in selling truck and equipment to <br />
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