Minnesota Lawyer
Michael Brodkorb
Leaders of the Minnesota Senate announced Thursday that they have settled the lawsuit brought by former staffer Michael Brodkorb. The Senate will pay Brodkorb $30,000 — an amount equal to the severance pay he was previously offered in the suit — and all claims against the Senate are to be dismissed. The terms of the settlement include acknowledgement by Brodkorb that the facts do not support his claims in the case.
Brodkorb sued the Senate for wrongful termination after he was discovered to be having an affair with then-Majority Leader Amy Koch and subsequently fired in December 2011. Brodkorb had argued in his case that he was treated differently than female staffers who had affairs with male superiors.
In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said “we are pleased to have successfully resolved this matter in the best interests of taxpayers and the institution of the Minnesota Senate.”
The Senate had approved another $91,000 in legal fees for the case just weeks ago, and spent around $318,000 in its defense before that.
