Meetings
 
Agenda Item
Docket No. 12-1004
 
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RE:
Advisory opinion regarding whether Roedel, Parsons, Koch, Blache, Balhoff & McCollister may represent Louis Dreyfus Commodities LLC at a time when Louis Dreyfus has a contract with the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission and a shareholder and attorney with Roedel Parsons serves on the Port Commission.
Facts:
Roedel, Parsons, Koch, Blache, Balhoff & McCollister ("Roedel Parsons") has been engaged to represent and/or assist Louis Dreyfus Commodities LLC ("Louis Dreyfus"). Louis Dreyfus has a multi-year lease with the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission to operate a grain elevator at the Port.

Timothy Hardy is Vice President of the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission. Mr. Hardy is also a member and shareholder of Roedel Parsons. Mr. Hardy is not the managing partner, exercises no control over the law firm and has an ownership interest of less than 25%. Further, Mr. Hardy will not serve as the attorney on any matters regarding Louis Dreyfus. In addition, no attorney of Roedel Parson will represent Louis Dreyfus in any matter involving or before the Greater Baton Rouge Port.

Law:
La. R.S. 42:1112B(3) states that no public servant shall participate in a transaction involving the governmental entity in which, to his actual knowledge, any person of which he is an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee has a substantial economic interest.

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 or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of such person, that has or is seeking to have a contractual, business or financial relationship with the public servant's agency.

La. R.S. 42:1111E(1) provides that no public servant, and no legal entity of which such public servant is an officer, director, trustee, partner, or employee, or in which such public servant has a substantial economic interest, shall receive or agree to receive any thing of economic value for assisting a person in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction, with the agency of such public servant.

Recommendations:
Adopt proposed advisory opinion.

Assigned Attorney: Tracy Barker
 
 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description:
2012-1004- Advisory Opinion Request
2012-1004 Draft Opinion