ATTEMPT TO CONTEST THE NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS’ FAILURE TO PLUG THE LLC LOOPHOLE, WHICH ALLOWS HIGHER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR LLC’S THAN FOR CORPORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, PROPERLY DISMISSED FOR LACK OF STANDING AND LACK OF A JUSTICIABLE CONTROVERSY (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, over a concurring opinion and an extensive dissenting opinion, determined that the petitioners’ attempt to contest the NYS Board of Elections’ failure to plug the LLC loophole was properly dismissed because the petitioners did not have standing and because the petition did not present a justiciable controversy. The LLC loophole treats limited liability companies as individuals for campaign contribution purposes. LLC’s therefore can contribute more than corporations and partnerships:

Essentially, petitioners ask this Court to direct respondent to rescind its 1996 opinion on the LLC Loophole and replace it with one that would provide what they assert to be a superior application of public policy. We may not grant this request without violating the vital principle of the separation of powers. That principle dictates that each branch of government “should be free from interference, in the lawful discharge of duties expressly conferred, by either of the other branches” … . Here, the Legislature has conferred the authority to make directions pertaining to campaign financing practices upon respondent … . This Court cannot disturb respondent’s lawful directions with regard to LLCs without interfering with “policy-making and discretionary decisions that are reserved to the legislative and executive branches” … . The important issues raised here involve matters of discretion and policy that have been expressly entrusted to another branch of government and are “beyond the scope of judicial correction” … .

The nonjusticiable nature of this controversy is closely interconnected with the question of petitioners’ standing to pursue this matter — “an aspect of justiciability which, when challenged, must be considered at the outset of any litigation” … . To establish standing, petitioners must show that they have suffered an injury-in-fact and that the injury is within the zone of interests protected by the statute at issue .. Here, the dispute focuses upon the injury-in-fact element, which requires petitioners to establish that they have suffered or will suffer concrete harm that is “distinct from that of the general public” … . Matter of Brennan Ctr. for Justice At NYU Sch. of Law v New York State Bd. of Elections, 2018 NY Slip Op 02228, Second Dept 3-29-18

ELECTION LAW (LLC LOOPHOLE, ATTEMPT TO CONTEST THE NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS’ FAILURE TO PLUG THE LLC LOOPHOLE, WHICH ALLOWS HIGHER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR LLC’S THAN FOR CORPORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, PROPERLY DISMISSED FOR LACK OF STANDING AND LACK OF A JUSTICIABLE CONTROVERSY (THIRD DEPT))/LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW (ELECTION LAW,  ATTEMPT TO CONTEST THE NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS’ FAILURE TO PLUG THE LLC LOOPHOLE, WHICH ALLOWS HIGHER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR LLC’S THAN FOR CORPORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, PROPERLY DISMISSED FOR LACK OF STANDING AND LACK OF A JUSTICIABLE CONTROVERSY (THIRD DEPT))/CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS (ELECTION LAW, LLC LOOPHOLE, ATTEMPT TO CONTEST THE NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS’ FAILURE TO PLUG THE LLC LOOPHOLE, WHICH ALLOWS HIGHER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR LLC’S THAN FOR CORPORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, PROPERLY DISMISSED FOR LACK OF STANDING AND LACK OF A JUSTICIABLE CONTROVERSY (THIRD DEPT))