The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association is being sued by its lobbying firm, the latest step in an apparent fallout following a failed effort to increase medical-malpractice caps.
Lobbyists Jenifer Brandeberry and Julie McKenna have sued the trial lawyers for nonpayment, saying their firm, Brandeberry-McKenna Public Affairs, still has a contract that needs to be honored.
The trial lawyers maintain the two parties went their own ways after the session ended in May and the contract is over.
“They think we owe them more money than we think we owe them,” said attorney Joe Mellon, a member of the trial lawyers’ board of directors.
The CTLA has hired a newly formed lobbying firm founded by Will Coyne, former chief of staff for the House Democrats, and Adam Eichberg, who formerly lobbied for Gov. Bill Ritter.
Brandeberry and McKenna said in their lawsuit that the CTLA agreed to pay them $195,000 for 2009, with payments to be made the first day of the month. They did not get paid in June or July.
Brandeberry and McKenna referred questions to their attorney, former Democratic state Sen. Mike Feeley. He would only say that, “After more than a decade of success working together, it’s unfortunate it comes to this.”
Former state Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burlington, who battled with the CTLA for years, said he finds it “delicious” that trial lawyers are being sued. But, he said, both the lawyers and lobbyists “have to feel like they’ve lost their right arm.”
This spring, Brandeberry and McKenna lobbied on behalf of a malpractice bill that would have allowed the $300,000 cap on noneconomic damages — for pain and suffering — to be adjusted for inflation. The cap hasn’t been raised since 2003. That portion of the bill failed, much to the chagrin of the trial lawyers.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
