Senate legal tab on Brodkorb case tops $46,000

The Minnesota Senate has rung up a $46,150 legal bill so far to defend its firing of former Republican caucus staffer Michael Brodkorb.

The invoice from the Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren law firm released today details the first three months of legal bills. The Senate hired outside attorney Dayle Nolan when Brodkorb threatened a wrongful termination lawsuit.

The four-page invoice itemized 169 hours of work from mid-January through March. Most of the work was done at a rate of $330 an hour.

The bill includes a $3,960 charge for Nolan to prepare for and attend a hearing on an ethics complaint filed against Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, over his handling of Brodkorb's firing.

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Bordkorb lost his job shortly after Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch resigned her leadership post. It was later revealed that the two were having an affair.

Brodkorb is preparing a potential lawsuit against the Senate.

Here's the invoice:

Lawyer's bill to Senate for Brodkorb/Koch affair