Ethics Panel Approves Fine Against Bernson
The city Ethics Commission Monday ratified a settlement in which Councilman Hal Bernson will pay a $3,000 fine for improperly accepting an excess amount of free legal services from the law firm of City Hall lobbyist Neil Papiano.
The commission also voted to approve a stipulated settlement in which Papiano’s law firm agreed to pay $4,000 in fines for providing Bernson with legal services and contributions that exceeded the contribution limit by $4,700.
“We believe the proposed stipulation and fine are fair and appropriate,” said Luis Lavin, the head of enforcement for the panel.
During a brief discussion of the issue, Commissioner Dale Bonner questioned the law firm’s claim that it didn’t know its legal representation of Bernson in a separate ethics issue could be considered a campaign contribution.
Papiano and other members of his law firm provided legal services to Bernson in 1997 when he was fined $1,500 for improperly using his political officeholder account to buy season tickets to the Hollywood Bowl.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
