The attorney representing three Republican voters who helped successfully fight to keep Republican gubernatorial hopeful Marc Holtzman off the primary ballot has asked that the court order Holtzman to pay legal costs of $178,722.57.
Attorney Michael Norton asked to be reimbursed for expenses such as witnesses, investigative services, copies and transcripts, according to court papers.
Norton did not return a call seeking comment. But Holtzman’s attorney, Mark Grueskin, said appellate courts have rejected similar claims.
“The truth is, Mr. Norton’s clients filed their own protests before the secretary of state, and then they filed their own lawsuit in Denver District Court,” he said. “To the extent that they went on an unprecedented spending spree to keep Mark Holtzman off the ballot, that was their own doing. They ought to be willing to take responsibility for it.”
Holtzman fought to prove that he had enough valid signatures to petition on to the Aug. 8 primary ballot against Republican rival Bob Beauprez. He lost.
Beauprez will face Democrat Bill Ritter in November.
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at 303-820-1633 or cfrates@denverpost.com.
