The State Bar of California has recently filed disciplinary charges against William Funderburk, a former Los Angeles city official, in connection with an alleged quid pro quo deal involving a city contract. Funderburk, who served as the vice president of the L.A. Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners, is accused of approving a $30-million contract while simultaneously soliciting and receiving free legal work from the attorney who was awarded the contract.
According to State Bar prosecutors, Funderburk lied about accepting the free legal work, which was valued at over $30,000, during an interview with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2020. Additionally, he is alleged to have illegally solicited a political contribution. Funderburk is the first former city official to be charged by the State Bar in relation to a significant scandal involving corrupt attorneys and illicit payments at the DWP and city attorney’s office.
The charges against Funderburk include acts involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, and corruption, and if convicted, he could face disbarment, suspension of his law license, or probation. Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona of the State Bar emphasized that Funderburk had an ethical and legal obligation to avoid actions that could be influenced by conflicts of interest or gifts received.
Funderburk’s attorney, Jan Handzlik, maintains his client’s innocence and expressed confidence that Funderburk will be exonerated once the full story is known. Handzlik argued that Funderburk had not received any free legal work from Paul Paradis, the attorney involved in the alleged quid pro quo deal.
State Bar prosecutors claim that Funderburk voted in favor of awarding a cybersecurity contract to Paradis’ company, Aventador, after exchanging text messages and requesting legal services from Paradis. They allege that Funderburk expressed his appreciation to Paradis before the vote, stating, “You take care of me, I take care of you.” Paradis and his law firm allegedly provided Funderburk with 36.5 hours of free legal work worth $31,477.50.
Paradis, who pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge unrelated to his dealings with Funderburk, played a central role in the DWP scandal. He secretly drafted a class-action lawsuit against the city while working for the city attorney’s office, aiming to settle all legal claims related to billing errors quickly.
During an interview with federal prosecutors in 2020, Funderburk allegedly failed to disclose the legal work performed by Paradis or the meals Paradis had purchased for him. He also did not reveal that he directed a campaign contribution from Paradis to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Funderburk’s attorney argued that the city ethics rule prohibiting solicitation of contributions from individuals with matters before their commission did not apply to federal candidates.
In a separate case related to the DWP scandal, the State Bar has proposed a 30-day license suspension for Richard Tom, a city attorney involved in litigation stemming from the utility’s billing disaster. Bar prosecutors allege that Tom made false and misleading statements in a court declaration and during his deposition.
3 Responses
As a blog commenter, my personal goal related to this topic is to see justice served and accountability upheld. It is disheartening to hear about alleged corruption and quid pro quo deals in public offices. My hope is that the State Bar of California thoroughly investigates the charges against William Funderburk and takes appropriate disciplinary action if he is found guilty.
Furthermore, I believe it is crucial for the legal system to send a strong message that such unethical behavior will not be tolerated. This case should serve
1. Stay informed: Keep up to date with news and developments related to the case. This will help you understand the context and details of the alleged quid pro quo deal involving William Funderburk and the city contract.
2. Follow the legal process: Familiarize yourself with the disciplinary charges filed by the State Bar of California against Funderburk. Monitor the progress of the case, including any hearings or court dates. This will give you a better understanding of the legal proceedings and
Did you know that according to a study conducted by the Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions, approximately 20% of lawyers in the United States have faced disciplinary charges at some point in their careers? This statistic highlights the importance of maintaining ethical standards within the legal profession and the need for accountability when it comes to professional conduct.