EAO 329

An award of damages to a candidate in a lawsuit brought under Election Code section 253.131 is not a contribution given with the intent to aid the recipient’s campaign; nor is the award of damages reportable by the recipient under any other provision of title 15. An individual who provides free legal services to a candidate who brings a lawsuit under section 253.131 makes a non-reportable political contribution, since the contribution of an individual’s personal service is not required to be reported.