In a recent report, the inspector general of the National Labour Relations Board, David Berry, confirmed that an investigation into acting GC Lafe Solomon found that he acted in a matter involving a company in which he had a financial stake.

Wal-Mart stock

The Wall Street Journal reports that Mr Solomon made decisions involving a case with retail giant Wal-Mart, a company in which he owned more than $15,000 in stock. The case reportedly concerned Wal-Mart’s social media policy in relation to federal labour law.
Mr Solomon, represented by William Taylor of Washington-based law firm Zuckerman Sparder, had denied any ethics violations. Mr Taylor said the report reached the ‘wrong conclusions’, adding that Mr Solomon ‘didn’t commit even a technical violation of applicable ethics rules’.
Although Mr Solomon did disclose his Wal-Mart interests he did not seek a waiver to participate in the case until he had already attended a meeting. The waiver was subsequently denied, and Mr Solomon then sold the shares.

Financial interest

The report adds that Mr Solomon participated ‘personally and substantially’ in the case, knowing that he owned the stock and that the case ‘would have a direct and predictable effect on that financial interest’.
It is not yet clear how Mr Solomon – appointed to his position by President Barack Obama in 2010 – will be reprimanded, as an NLRB spokeswoman said it's not the inspector general’s role to suggest a response.