In re Braud

Full title: IN THE MATTER OF STEPHEN C. BRAUD

Court: STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

Date published: Oct 28, 2013

NO. 2013 CW 0972 (La. Ct. App. Oct. 28, 2013)

Opinion

NO. 2013 CW 0972

10-28-2013

IN THE MATTER OF STEPHEN C. BRAUD

In Re: Stephen C. Braud, applying for supervisory writs, La. Ethics Adjudicatory Board, No. 2012-15123.

BEFORE: PARRO, WELCH AND DRAKE, JJ.

WRIT GRANTED. An action against Mr. Braud for alleged violation of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics must be commenced within four years of the date on which the alleged violations occurred. La. R.S. 42:1163. An action is commenced by the filing of a formal charge with the Ethics Adjudicatory Board. In this case, the alleged violations occurred, at the latest, in June of 2008 and thus, to be timely, the formal charges had to be filed on or before June of 2012. The evidence shows that the Board of Ethics filed formal charges with the Ethics Adjudicatory Board on September 14, 2012. Any claims which the Board of Ethics may have had against Mr. Braud are clearly prescribed. See Board of Ethics In the Matter of Jennifer Sneed, 2012-1849 (La. App. 1^st Cir. 10/7/13). Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the Ethics Adjudicatory Board and dismiss the Ethics Board's action against Mr. Braud with prejudice.

EGD

RHP

JEW

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT _____________

DEPUTY CLERK OF COURT

FOR THE COURT