More on Lusk President’s Baldwin Job

James Johnson, president of Newport Beach home builder Lusk Co., has been hired as chief executive officer of Baldwin Co., another Newport Beach builder, to lead it out of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Does that mean Johnson no longer is Lusk’s president? Or will he run both at the same time?

The answer probably doesn’t matter to more than a handful of people, but the obfuscation that goes into not answering provides an interesting look at one corporate mind-set.

After fielding repeated unanswered requests for an interview, Johnson’s assistant at Lusk said he “doesn’t talk to the press.” Well then, she was asked, could she comment on his status. Nope, she couldn’t. Wasn’t permitted to, she said.

Could anyone else at the company tackle the question?

No, only Mr. Johnson, she said.

And what to do if Johnson doesn’t answer media inquiries and no one else at the company can speak about his situation?

Well, she said, she could leave a message for Mr. Johnson.

Other knowledgeable parties say that the deal Johnson cut enables him to keep his Lusk job while taking on the Baldwin duties. The only caveat is that Lusk cannot do any deals with Baldwin.

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John O’Dell covers major Orange County corporations, manufacturing and economic issues for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5831 and at john.odell@latimes.com