Ethics Watch Actions - Lawsuits

Coffman Responds to Ethics Watch Complaint

ltoro — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:07:02 -0600

Yesterday, Secretary of State Mike Coffman responded to Ethics Watch's February 13, 2008 complaint to the Independent Ethics Commission ("IEC") regarding conflicts of interest in his office. Revealingly, although Coffman claimed to "vehemently deny" the allegations of the complaint, he failed to address the factual basis of the complaint at all. Instead, the response consisted primarily of legal arguments regarding Amendment 41, which created the IEC.

Ethics Watch Suit Results In A Win For Legislative Transparency

ltoro — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 11:31:31 -0600

Today, Colorado Ethics Watch announced that it has successfully concluded its lawsuit against Sen. Joshua Penry and Reps. Frank McNulty and Cory Gardner for their failure to disclose public records of communications among themselves and their staffs regarding Amendment 52. Under an agreement reached Tuesday, Ethics Watch has obtained all documents that were the subject of its July 18, 2008 Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) request to the legislators.

IEC Sets Hearing In Coffman Ethics Probe

ltoro — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:37:37 -0500

The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission ("IEC") has set a hearing date of December 2, 2008 on Ethics Watch's complaint against Secretary of State Mike Coffman. The complaint alleges that Coffman broke ethics rules by permitting an Elections Division employee to operate a partisan political side business, and by certifying electronic voting systems made by a vendor that hired Coffman's campaign manager's firm to lobby on its behalf. The IEC notified Coffman and Ethics Watch of its determination that Ethics Watch's complaint is not frivolous and should proceed to a hearing.

Senate Majority Fund Fined In Case Filed By Ethics Watch

ltoro — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 16:23:39 -0500

Today, an administrative law judge ruled in favor of Colorado Ethics Watch and imposed a $1000 penalty against the Senate Majority Fund LLC (SMF), a political organization registered with the Colorado Secretary of State as a 527, for its failure to report thousands of dollars in campaign spending. Ethics Watch filed the complaint against SMF in July based on SMF’s failure to report at least $25,000 of television air time for ads supporting state senate candidate Libby Szabo in June 2008.

Ethics Watch Responds to IEC’s Court Application for Secrecy, Files Countersuit Demanding Transparency

ltoro — Wed, 8 Oct 2008 12:57:43 -0500

Today, Ethics Watch filed a complaint in Denver District Court against the Independent Ethics Commission (“IEC”) for failure to disclose public records requested pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act (“CORA”). Ethics Watch acted in response to the IEC's filing in Denver District Court of an application for an order disallowing disclosure of documents under CORA.

Colorado Ethics Watch Sues Senate Majority Fund LLC And Colorado Leadership Fund LLC For Skirting Campaign Finance Laws

dstaggs — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:15:58 -0500

Today, Ethics Watch filed a complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State against the Senate Majority Fund LLC (SMF) and the Colorado Leadership Fund LLC (CLF), both 527 political organizations, asserting that SMF and CLF violated state campaign finance laws.

Ethics Watch Files CORA Suit Against Penry, McNulty and Gardner

ltoro — Tue, 9 Sep 2008 13:34:34 -0500

Colorado Ethics Watch has asked the Denver District Court to force State Senator Joshua Penry, R-Grand Junction, State Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, and State Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, to comply with an open-records request seeking documents and communications regarding two proposed oil and gas severance tax initiatives, including Amendment 52.

Ethics Watch Moves For Summary Judgment In Senate Majority Fund Case

ltoro — Fri, 5 Sep 2008 16:20:54 -0500

This afternoon, Ethics Watch filed with the Colorado Office of Administrative Courts a motion for summary judgment in its case against Senate Majority Fund, LLC for failing to timely report spending on advertising regarding Libby Szabo, a candidate for state senate.

Ethics Watch Calls On IEC To Investigate Coffman Complaint

ltoro — Tue, 2 Sep 2008 13:23:27 -0500

With the new rules of the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission taking effect yesterday, Colorado Ethics Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit legal watchdog group, today bolstered its pending complaint against Secretary of State Mike Coffman by submitting additional evidence and by calling on the Commission to immediately move forward with the investigation and hearing process.

Ethics Watch Complaint Forces Geddes Campaign To Admit Violations, Pay Fine

ltoro — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:46:03 -0500

In response to a complaint filed by Colorado Ethics Watch, an administrative law judge ruled last week that the campaign committee for Dr. Jim Geddes, candidate for University of Colorado Regent, District 6 in the 2008 general election, is guilty of campaign finance violations and ordered Dr. Geddes’ campaign committee to pay $4000 in fines.

Ethics Watch Sues Senate Majority Fund Over Szabo Ad

ltoro — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:36:10 -0500

Colorado Ethics Watch filed a complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State against the Senate Majority Fund LLC (SMF), a political organization registered with the Internal Revenue Service and the Colorado Secretary of State as a 527, for failure to report thousands of dollars in campaign spending. According to documents obtained by Ethics Watch, SMF purchased at least $25,000 of television air time for ads supporting state senate candidate Libby Szabo in June 2008. Reports filed by SMF to date do not disclose spending on the television ad.

Ethics Watch Files Arguments In Morrissey Case

ltoro — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:00:59 -0500

Today, Colorado Ethics Watch filed written arguments in favor of its petition to the Denver District Court to compel Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey to act on its request for a criminal investigation of Senator Andy McElhany and the Senate Minority Office. The brief was filed in response to a June 27 order by District Court Judge Norman D. Haglund that permitted to parties to submit additional legal arguments.

Denver District Court Orders Further Briefing In Morrissey Case

ltoro — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:46:09 -0500

Denver District Court Judge Norman D. Haglund today gave Colorado Ethics Watch and Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey two weeks to file written arguments in the case against Morrissey for his failure to prosecute Ethics Watch's complaint against Senator Andy McElhany.

Ethics Watch Files Campaign Finance Complaint Against Committee to Elect Dr. Jim Geddes For CU Regent

dstaggs — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:20:51 -0500

Today Ethics Watch filed a campaign finance complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office against Jim Geddes’ campaign committee for failure to file two contribution and expenditure reports due on May 1 and June 2, 2008.

Statement on DA Morrissey's Response to Ethics Watch's Petition to Require Prosecution of Sen. McElhany

ltoro — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:54:07 -0500

By court order, District Attorney Mitch Morrissey late yesterday filed his response to Ethics Watch's complaint for his failure to prosecute Senator McElhany for potential crimes in 2007. Today, Colorado Ethics Watch releases a statement in response.

Denver District Court Orders DA Morrissey to Respond to Ethics Watch Petition

ltoro — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:41:20 -0500

In a case filed by Colorado Ethics Watch, Denver District Court Judge Norman D. Haglund today ordered District Attorney Mitch Morrissey to file by June 23 a written explanation of his reasons for not investigating or prosecuting possible criminal behavior by Colorado State Senator Andy McElhany in 2007.

Colorado Ethics Watch Files Petition to Bring Denver District Attorney to Court

dstaggs — Mon, 2 Jun 2008 10:59:10 -0500

Ethics Watch petitions to Denver District Court to force DA Morrissey to explain his refusal to prosecute Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany for possible criminal violations.

Ethics Watch Files Brief In Broomfield Appeal

ltoro — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:49:14 -0500

Colorado Ethics Watch is filing today its opening brief in its appeal of an administrative law judge's decision, with statewide implications, that allows the City and County of Broomfield to make seemingly unlawful campaign contributions to select mayoral and City Council candidates.

Colorado Ethics Watch Files First Complaint With Colorado Independent Ethics Commission Against Secretary of State Mike Coffman

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:00:01 -0600

Today, Colorado Ethics Watch (Ethics Watch) filed a complaint with the Independent Ethics Commission asking it to penalize Secretary of State Mike Coffman for his continued egregious pattern of misconduct. This is the first complaint filed with the Independent Ethics Commission since it was approved by voters in November 2006.

Ethics Watch Challenges Broomfield Campaign Finance Decision

admin — Tue, 5 Feb 2008 18:00:01 -0600

Today, Colorado Ethics Watch (Ethics Watch), a non-partisan, non-profit legal watchdog group, filed an appeal with the Colorado Court of Appeals challenging a recent decision, with statewide implications, that allows the City and County of Broomfield to make seemingly unlawful campaign contributions to select City Council candidates.