ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Senate's legal costs related to the dismissal of a top Republican aide climbed to nearly $85,000 by the end of May, although threatened lawsuits have yet to materialize.
An invoice obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press details $38,533 in legal services from a private firm, Larkin Hoffman Attorneys, in April and May. The latest billing comes on top of a yet-unpaid $46,150 invoice covering the firm's work through March.
The Senate has been preparing to defend itself against litigation anticipated from former senior communications aide Michael Brodkorb.
Brodkorb was dismissed in December after his boss, then-Republican Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, stepped down from her leadership role. It was later revealed the two were having an affair.
The Senate hired an outside attorney, Dayle Nolan, who charges $330 an hour. The latest invoice shows she and another attorney paid at the same rate worked 115 hours on tasks including meetings and phone calls, communicating with Brodkorb's attorneys and reviewing Brodkorb's attempt to claim unemployment benefits.
Brodkorb is moving toward a federal gender discrimination lawsuit, alleging that he was treated differently from other Senate employees involved in workplace affairs. His attorneys also have threatened to file state lawsuits charging several senators and Senate officials with defamation and invasion of privacy.
Those lawsuits could further increase the public's costs because the officials may be entitled to state-paid legal help. So could other staffers who might be drawn into the litigation.
The combined invoices exceed a $50,000 threshold that triggers a requirement for a public hearing by the Senate Rules and Administration Committee. That panel meets Wednesday to review the legal expenses.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Comments (18)
Add commentNot a fiscally sound use
of taxpayers' money.
Haha
The party of values strikes again, the hypocrisy is beyond laughable.
That's right,
Clinton's cigar use cost the taxpayers MILLIONS. Hypocrisy that makes us choke with .....who's laughing? Maybe an itterdidiot.
He never claimed
to be a man of values.... "hypocracy"??? and you corrected Smartguy's spelling??...good one DB-FUB, slap slap slap
They must have been too busy
They must have been too busy protecting marriage from gays. LOL!!!!!
Like I've said before if you want to know what the cons are up to just look at what they accuse others of doing.
UNNEEDED Voter ID = corporate takeover of our elections through the use of truck loads of unmarked bills pouring in the back door.
UNNEEDED Anti-gay marriage amendment = adultery by high ranking cons.
And the list goes on and on.
You two,
....
Strike 2 FUB
Now it's "Hypocricy" DB-FUBBY??? C'mon man, try again, I think you can still edit. Here, let me help you, h-y-p-o-c-r-i-s-y.
You should lose a thousand points for this debacle. Nothing like starting your day with a bruised ego eh???
Just to summarize....
This was the high and mighty FNB's recommendation to Smartguy yesterday:
"You really should
get into a summer school class SG. Maybe lakelander can tutor you on that spelling. Or are you in the cups already?"
And now, after two failed attempts at spelling his party's mantra, ........this is funnier than the Broadkorp-Koch hook-up.....
Nothing bruised here
slither. I did that on purpose to lure you out. I call it trolling for dummies and it works every time.
Interesting how people like you make idiot remarks
that some how excuse Clinton's behavior with results that tarnished the Presidency. But then again, with who is in office, how much more tarnished can it be. Would you also like to sidestep the latest debacle involving Edwards, and now Holder? At least the Brodkorb-Koch affair didn't end up selling the country to the Mexicans!
If that
was the case, you would have left it.....I must congratulate you, you finally fixed it after 3 attempts...way to go D-B FUBBY
Leadership , Family Values, & Property Taxes
You can always count on the Grand Old Party to keep us in line especially on those nagging all important social issues. Remember ,do as they say ,NOT as they do, thats different.
Speaking of idiots
pdiddy, maybe you can cash in your points at SA
Easy
Never itter done. I am trying to give Pd a run for his $$ on the points so I can win the toaster. I want to see how it works on democratic buns.
Itter, that's the best response you can come up with?
Basically is what you just said is that you agree with me, thank you. OFB, you can have the toaster, I need a new coffe maker. Democratic Buns: soggy, limp, and full of contradictions!
That's all your worth
pudnut, I see your comprehension skills still need some work. Maybe you and D-B FUB can take a class together...spelling and comprehension 1...good luck, make sure you bring the teacher an apple
as he sleezes down
a crack in the corner of the bar........
Itter
Was your mommy named chrissy & big itter(chrissy) run for public office??