Senate gets another bill for Brodkorb case
The Minnesota Senate has another legal bill to pay from last year's scandal involving a staffer.
The latest invoice from the Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren law firm details $5,956.50 of work during November, December and January. That puts the total amount spent on outside legal work related to the firing of former Republican staffer Michael Brodkorb at more than $200,000. Brodkorb filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Senate following his firing in 2011. It was later revealed that he was having an affair with then-Majority Leader Amy Koch.
Earlier this week, a federal judge dismissed three counts in the suit, including defamation allegations. Two remain. The Senate Rules Committee, which is now run by Democrats, is scheduled to meet Monday to approve payment of the latest legal bill.
Senate leaders have said the termination was proper because Brodkorb was an "at-will" employee. Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said this week that he hopes to bring the remainder of the lawsuit to a prompt and satisfactory conclusion.
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