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Advisory opinion regarding whether Patrick Morrow may be appointed to serve on the St. Landry Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 while he and his law firm, Morrow, Morrow, Ryan and Basset, represent the hospital in a class action lawsuit. |
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In October 2011, Wayne Gilmore, a member of St. Landry Parish Hospital Service District No. 2, passed away. The Hospital Service District seeks to appoint Patrick Morrow to the vacancy.
Mr. Morrow is an attorney and partner with Morrow, Morrow, Ryan and Basset. He owns 25% of the firm. Mr. Morrow and his firm currently represent a group of hospitals, including St. Landry Hospital Service District d/b/a Opelousas General Hospital in several class action lawsuits. One class action is against CLECO. Another class action against group purchasers. Mr. Morrow is the attorney from Morrow and Morrow that handles this matter. Mr. Morrow's firm has two separate contracts with St. Landry Parish Hospital Service District d/b/a Opelousas General Hospital in connection with its representation of the service district in these class actions. The Service District reserves the right to discharge Morrow, Morrow, Basset and Ryan at any time for any reason. Further, the Service District has the right to approve, oppose or comment upon any proposed settlement of the matter. In addition, the Service District agreed to certain "duties [as] class representative." With the exception of these class action lawsuits, neither Mr. Morrow nor his firm has any other dealings with St. Landry Parish Hospital Service District. The firm's representation of the service district has been on-going for many years.
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Item will be updated on Wednesday.
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La. R.S. 42:1113B prohibits an appointed member of a board or commission, his immediate family member, or a legal entity in which they have a substantial economic interest, from entering into or being in any way interested in a transaction that is under the supervision or jurisdiction of the board or commission.
La. R.S. 42:1111C(2)(d) prohibits a public servant and a legal entity in which the public servant exercises control or owns an interest from receiving any thing of economic value for services rendered to or for any person during his public service unless such services are neither performed for nor compensated by any person from whom such public servant would be prohibited by Section 1115(A)(1) or (B) from receiving a gift.
La. R.S. 42:1115A(1) prohibits a public servant from soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, any thing of economic value as a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, if such public servant knows or reasonably should know that such person has or is seeking to have a contractual, business or financial relationship with the public servant's agency.
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Adopt proposed advisory opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Tracy Barker |
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