IN THE MATTER OF LAWRENCE KING
COIB Case No. 98-508
December 13, 2001
SUMMARY: In COIB v. Lawrence King, COIB Case No. 98-508 (2001), the Board fined a Deputy
Chief Engineer for Roadway Bridges at the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) $1,000 for asking
several DOT contractors to place advertisements in a fundraising journal the proceeds of which would
help financially support the hockey club on which his sons play. Eight of the DOT contractors that Mr.
King solicited purchased ad space for a total contribution of about $975. As a DOT employee, Mr. King
worked on matters relating to these contractors and supervised DOT employees who worked with these
contractors. Mr. King stated: “I made an error in judgment by seeking and obtaining donations from
contractors whose profits I could affect in my City job. I represent that there was no quid pro quo for
the donations.”
STIPULATION AND DISPOSITION
Respondent Lawrence King states the following:
1. I am Deputy Chief Engineer for Roadway Bridges/Administrative Engineer, Managerial Level III, at
the New York City Department of Transportation ("DOT") and, therefore, I am a public servant within
the meaning of Charter Section 2604(b).
2. In or after June 1998, I mailed flyers to twelve DOT contractors and asked them to place
advertisements in a 1999 fundraising journal for a hockey club located in New York. My sons play ice
hockey for a pee wee hockey team affiliated with the hockey club, and money raised by the journal
would help financially support the pee wee hockey club on which my sons play.
3. Eight of the twelve DOT contractors that I solicited purchased advertisement space in the journal for
amounts ranging between $25 and $300, for a total of approximately $975.
4. As a DOT employee, I worked on matters relating to the DOT contractors whom I solicited for
donations to my sons' pee wee hockey team and supervised DOT employees who worked on matters
relating to these contractors. I made an error in judgment by seeking and obtaining donations from
contractors whose profits I could affect in my City job. I represent that there was no quid pro quo for the
donations.
5. I acknowledge that my conduct in soliciting donations from DOT contractors with whom I had
business dealings, for the benefit of my sons, violated New York City Charter §§ 2604(b)(2) and (b)(3),
which provide:
“No public servant shall engage in any business, transaction or private employment, or have any
financial or other private interest, direct or indirect, which is in conflict with the proper discharge of his
or her official duties. [2604(b)(2)]”
“No public servant shall use or attempt to use his or her position as a public servant to obtain any
financial gain, contract, license, privilege or other private or personal advantage, direct or indirect, for
the public servant or any person or firm associated with the public servant. [2604(b)(3)]”
I acknowledge that the Charter also provides that my sons are "associated" with me. (Charter §
2601(5).)
9. In recognition of the foregoing, I agree to pay a fine of $1,000.00 (One Thousand Dollars) to the New
York City Conflicts of Interest Board upon signature of this Disposition.
10. I agree that this statement is a public and final resolution of the charges against me. Furthermore, I
agree to provide a copy of this Disposition to any City agency where I might apply for employment
upon the request of such agency or in response to any inquiry calling for such information, and, in any
event, prior to accepting employment with the City. I understand that copies of this Disposition, as well
as a letter of reprimand from my DOT supervisor, will be permanently incorporated into my personnel
file.
11. This agreement constitutes a waiver by me of any rights to commence any judicial or administrative
proceeding or appeal before any court of competent jurisdiction, administrative tribunal, political
subdivision, or office of the City or the State of New York or the United States, and to contest the
lawfulness, authority, jurisdiction, or power of the Conflicts of Interest Board in imposing the penalty
which is embodied in this agreement.
12. Any material misstatement of the facts of this matter, including of the Disposition, by Respondent
or by his attorney or agent, shall, at the discretion of the Board, be deemed a waiver of confidentiality of
this matter.
13. I confirm that I have entered into this agreement knowingly and intentionally without coercion or
duress, and after having been advised of my right to be represented by an attorney or another person of
my choice, that I accept all terms and conditions contained herein without reliance on any other
promises or offers previously made or tendered by any past or present representative of the Conflicts of
Interest Board or the New York City Department of Transportation, and that I fully understand all the
terms of this agreement.
14. This Disposition shall not be effective until all parties below have affixed their signatures.
15. The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board and the New York City Department of
Transportation accept this Disposition and the terms contained herein as a final disposition of the abovecaptioned matter only, and, accordingly, affirmatively state that other than as specified in this
Disposition, no further enforcement or administrative action will be taken by the Conflicts of Interest
Board or the New York City Department of Transportation against Respondent based upon the facts and
circumstances set forth herein.
Lawrence King
Respondent
Dated: November 27, 2001
Seth Cummins, Esq.
General Counsel
Department of Transportation
Dated: November 29, 2001
Benito Romano
Acting Chair NYC Conflicts of Interest Board
Dated: December 13, 2001