Office [5041 658-1060
HELENA MORENO isoo Perdido Street . Suite 2W4o
CDUNCILMEMBER New Orleans, Louisiana 70112

Walrus/e .

February 19, 2020

 

 

Amanda Phillips
Executive Director
Edward Wisner Donation
935 Gravier Street

New Orleans, LA 70112

Dear Ms. Phillips:

We write on behalf of the New Orleans City Council to request information regarding the status
and operations of the Edward Wisner Donation.

As you are no doubt aware, the Edward Wisner Donation was established in 1914 as a IOU-year
trust. In 2013, as the end of the trust approached, several income bene?ciaries sought a
judgment declaring the trust perpetual. That effort failed, and the Fourth Circuit ruled that the
trust terminated on August 14, 2014 in accordance with Mr. Wisner?s wishes. In re Edward
Wisner Donation, 150 So. 3d 391 (La. App. 4 Cir. 9/ 18/ 14), writ denied 1509 So. 3d 463 (La.
2/ 13/ 15).

Now that the trust has expired, the Council would like clari?cation of several matters relative to
the trust and the disposition of trust assets:

0 What is the current condition of the former trust
property?
Who is currently managing the former trust asset and under what authority?
What is the status of efforts to wind up the trust?
Who currently owns the corpus of the trust, and in what percentages and capacity are they
owned 

What is the current status and role of the Edward Wisner Donation Advisory Committee
during the wind up?

0 What if any attempts have been made to assess the value of the trust property and
explore the possibility of selling the assets?

The Council believes it is vital to gain a clearer understanding of current trust
management/?nances so that we may properly exercise our legal responsibility with regard to
public assets. To that end, we would also appreciate any memoranda in your possession that
discuss the legal and operational implications of trust termination. We assume that any such

records would be public records, owing to the Fourth Circuit?s ruling that declared the Wisner
Donation a public body. If that assumption is incorrect, please advise. 

Ultimately, the Council would like to have you or a representative of the Edward Wisner
Donation present during an upcoming meeting of the Council?s Ad Valorem Dedicated
Revenue Special Committee. In conjunction with that effort, it might be helpful to meet
privately with you or the legal representatives of the Donation in advance of any presentation.
Thank you for your efforts. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,
elena Moreno Joseph I. Giarrusso 
City Council President Councilmember District A
Jay Rh Wis?n?sksonl??
Councilmember District Councilmember District 
a?mwett 7 

 

Councilmember District Councilmember District