Aside from the severance package, the committee will still need to convene at a later date to sign off on final defense payments.

The Senate is seeking a variety of personal materials from aggrieved former staffer Michael Brodkorb, including medical records, recent employment history and private communications relating to his discrimination lawsuit.

The Senate's legal bills stemming from Michael Brodkorb's wrongful termination lawsuit have now reached $226,000. The latest billings from the Larkin Hoffman firm add $27,701 to the tab for work done between February 13 and April 30.

A federal judge has dismissed claims that former Senate staffer Michael Brodkorb was defamed by comments made about his lawsuit by the former Secretary of the Senate. The ruling narrows Brodkorb's case against the Senate to federal and state allegations of gender discrimination.

There was no audible dissent from Democrats as the committee voted to approve the additional $90,000 in fees, pushing total legal costs in the case over the $200,000 mark. Brodkorb is suing the chamber after he was suddenly fired last December. Brodkorb was having an affair with his boss, former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch.

Senate Republicans say they have left the DFL majority a $2.6 million surplus going into the 2013 session. Democrats say that number is "dubious" after a memo from the GOP Secretary of the Senate citing minority staffing reductions in 2013.

Former Senate staffer Michael Brodkorb's lawsuit against his former employers has been significantly reduced in scope, with Brodkorb voluntarily dismissing several of his claims. The Senate wants the suit to shrink yet again, arguing in court on Thursday morning for the dismissal of three additional counts.

Former Minnesota Senate staffer Michael Brodkorb has officially filed his long-threatened lawsuit against the chamber, alleging Senate leaders practiced gender discrimination and invaded his privacy when they suddenly fired him from his job last December. He is also suing Secretary of the Senate Cal Ludeman for defamation.

In a divided voice vote, the Minnesota Senate Rules Committee approved spending nearly $85,000 on legal fees related to an affair between former Senate Republican Majority Leader Amy Koch and fired chief Senate communications staffer Michael Brodkorb.

Timing matters. It’s been approximately 12 weeks since former Senate staffer Michael Brodkorb, who was fired last December a day after Majority Leader Amy Koch stepped down from her post, filed a gender-discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission