Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has been fined $2,000 for accepting free legal services from his top employee.
According to a settlement released today by the NYC Conflicts of Interest Board, Markowitz admitted to using his government Chief of Staff, Carlo Scissura, as his personal lawyer, free of charge, when he bought his Windsor Terrace home in 2009. Scissura was fined $1,100.
Under the local conflicts of interest law, City officials are not permitted to enter business or financial relationships with their superiors or subordinates nor are they permitted to accept free services of any sort.
According to the settlement, when Markowitz asked Scissura to refer him to lawyer for his closing, Scissura sent him to an attorney at his own law firm. That attorney went on maternity leave before the closing took place and Scissura took over the case. According to the COIB, Markowitz was not billed for the services until after the DOI opened an investigation.
Markowitz has not commented on the settlement.
