CONFLICT INVESTIGATION BEGAN IN FEBRUARY, AT MAYOR'S REQUEST.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Mayor Richard Riordan learned of possible conflicts of interest involving Scott Adler nearly four months ago, triggering an investigation into Adler's actions as president of the city Building and Safety Commission, officials said Wednesday.

Adler resigned last week at Riordan's request after the mayor learned that Adler was being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old prostitute and impersonating a police officer.

But Adler had already been under scrutiny, said Deputy Mayor Robin Kramer, Riordan's chief of staff.

``On Feb. 9 of this year the mayor received an anonymous tip which indicated possible inappropriate or illegal actions by Scott Adler which may or may not have been related to his official position,'' Kramer said. ``Having heard this, the mayor was worried and disturbed enough to directly ask Chief (Willie L.) Williams to initiate an investigation,'' she said.

As a result, the LAPD launched an investigation into whether Adler violated conflict of interest laws by going into court to represent the manager of a Koreatown bar who was fighting fines sought by city building inspectors, officials said Wednesday.

``There is an ongoing investigation and it's been discussed with the District Attorney's Office,'' said Cmdr. Robert Ruchhoft, a Police Department spokesman.

Documents filed with Los Angeles Municipal Court show that Adler was the attorney of record for Young Jang Jin, the manager of Mama Lion's Bar at 601 S. Western Ave., in Koreatown.

With Adler present and concurring, Jin pleaded ``no contest'' Jan. 31 to violating the operating conditions of a conditional use permit issued by the Planning Department for the bar, court records show.

The violations were enforced by city building inspectors who work for the department that Adler and his commission oversee.

``I remember there was some concern on my part and the court's part,'' said Deputy City Attorney Victor Sofelfanik, who went up against Adler in the Koreatown bar case.

The manager received a suspended sentence of six months and agreed to pay $100 in fines, court records indicate.

Ruchhoft said the investigation is focusing on whether Adler faced a conflict of interest.

City records show that Adler's defense of Jin is just one of three instances this year in which the former official faced potential or real conflicts of interest stemming from his dual roles as president of the city commission and a City Hall lobbyist/lawyer representing clients who were fighting building inspectors' orders.

Adler is a partner in the law firm of Armbruster and Adler Inc. and is president of a real estate development company specializing in building affordable single-family homes in the city of Los Angeles.

His law partner, Mark Armbruster, is president of the city's Environmental Affairs Commission. Armbruster also made a court appearance on behalf of Jin, records indicate.

The two men are registered lobbyists at City Hall, reporting to the Ethics Commission that they received $80,753 during the first three months of this year to represent clients dealing with the city.

Adler, his law partner and his companies have contributed $20,800 to city elected officials and candidates in the past five years, including $2,500 to Riordan and lesser amounts to council members Laura Chick, Hal Bernson, Mike Hernandez, John Ferraro, Rudy Svorinich Jr., Nate Holden, Richard Alatorre, Mark Ridley-Thomas and Ruth Galanter.

The City Attorney's Office recently disqualified the entire Building and Safety Commission from acting on an appeal by two other Adler clients - the Charles Co. and George Quintero - in their battle against the department's work-stop order for a mini-mall project at 1705 N. Western Ave.

Building inspectors ordered work to stop March 13, citing the requirement for fire sprinklers to be installed and a zoning appeal to be processed.

After Adler disclosed that he had represented the owners, the commission agreed to ask the City Attorney's Office for advice on whether there was a conflict of interest.

Assistant City Attorney Tony Alperin disqualified the commission from acting on the matter, saying in an April 1 legal opinion that, ``After a prior meeting of your board, the members of the board, including Commissioner Adler, engaged in a non-agendized discussion of facts that are relevant to the pending appeal.''

As for Adler's involvement, Alperin wrote, ``We are of the opinion that the possible appearance of divided loyalty could exist where, as here, the law firm provided legal services for a client in connection with an appeal, even though that representation ceased prior to the commission's actual hearing and consideration of the matter.''

Alperin said the appeal must be taken up by the City Council's Board of Referred Powers, which handles cases involving conflicts.

Two other clients represented by Adler and Armbruster also had business with the Building and Safety Department this year.

Adler had to recuse himself from voting March 14 on an appeal filed with the commission by Van Nuys businessman Alan Florea, who was fighting a building code violation.

Kramer said the mayor took no action against Adler until last week because the LAPD was concerned any such move could compromise its investigation.

``The LAPD specifically asked the mayor and his staff not to discuss this with anyone, including Mr. Adler, or take any action, including asking him to resign, that might interfere with the investigation,'' Kramer said. ``The mayor and his staff have cooperated fully with the Police Department and honored their request,'' she said.