Skip to main content
Second Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

CLICS/CLICS2026A/commsumm.nsf
PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For RETENTION OF COUNSEL FOR THE LEGISLATIVE DEFENDANTS IN THE CASE OF CHICK V. LIEDER, ET AL.

JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL SERVICES
Date Aug 19, 2026       Location HCR 0112

Retention of counsel for the legislative defendants in the case of Chick v. Lieder, et al. - Counsel retained
03:02:31 PM  
Chair Mabrey welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted for the Committee that the question of retention of counsel for the first agenda item is similar to instances where the Committee has approved retention of counsel in the past. He further noted that any specifics should only be discussed if the Committee decides to go into an executive session.
03:03:27 PM  
Ed DeCecco, Director of the Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS), made opening comments about the purpose of the meeting - to consider the retention of counsel for the legislative defendants named in the recent lawsuit Chick v. Lieder, McCluskie, and Duran.
03:03:51 PM  
Michael Dohr, Deputy Director of the OLLS, provided an overview of the complaint.
03:05:14 PM  
Director DeCecco explained the statutory authority for the Committee to retain counsel and recommended that the Committee retain counsel for all of the defendants in this case.
03:07:24 PM  
Deputy Director Dohr provided the Committee with an overview of the two attorneys interested in taking the case: Eric Moutz and Mark Grueskin.
03:08:47 PM  
Representative Camacho asked if the two identified attorneys would still be subject to the members' selections.
03:09:01 PM  
Chair Mabrey explained that his proposal would be to assign Mr. Moutz to Representative Lieder and assign Mr. Grueskin to the Majority Leader and Speaker.
03:09:54 PM  
Director DeCecco agreed with Chair Mabrey's proposal and recommended that, based on their different areas of expertise, Mr. Moutz represent Representative Lieder and Mr. Grueskin represent the Speaker and Majority Leader.
03:11:52 PM  
Representative Soper asked Director DeCecco if he contemplated the possibility that the Speaker and Majority Leader might want to have separate legal counsel.
03:12:14 PM  
Director DeCecco answered that he had not contemplated that point based on his initial reading of the complaint and expressed his confidence that if Mr. Grueskin identified a conflict of interest between their two defenses, he would address that concern in accordance with his ethical obligation.
03:14:11 PM  
Representative Luck referenced the Committee's decision not to retain counsel for an individual related to a workplace harassment complaint during the Committee's previous meeting and asked what the Committee's stance is as to that point vis-a-vis the issue before the Committee at this meeting.
03:14:55 PM  
Chair Mabrey explained his perspective on the distinction between a workplace harassment complaint and a lawsuit.
03:16:13 PM  
Upon conclusion of the discussion, Chair Mabrey recognized Vice-chair Frizell for motions.

03:16:38 PM
 Motion I move that the Committee retain Eric Moutz and his firm, The Law Offices of Eric J. Moutz, LLC, for the defense of Representative Shiela Lieder in the lawsuit filed against Representatives Lieder, McCluskie, and Duran filed in the Denver District Court.
Moved Frizell
Seconded Camacho
Camacho Yes
Carson Yes
Gonzales J. Excused
Joseph Yes
Luck Excused
Roberts Yes
Soper Yes
Weissman Yes
Frizell Yes
Mabrey Yes
YES: 8   NO: 0   EXC: 2   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS

03:18:24 PM
 Motion I move that the Committee retain Mark Grueskin and his firm, Recht Korngfeld, PC, for the defense of Representative Julie McCluskie and Representative Monica Duran in the lawsuit filed against Representatives Lieder, McCluskie, and Duran filed in the Denver District Court.
Moved Frizell
Seconded
Camacho Yes
Carson Yes
Gonzales J. Excused
Joseph Yes
Luck Excused
Roberts Yes
Soper Yes
Weissman Yes
Frizell Yes
Mabrey Yes
YES: 8   NO: 0   EXC: 2   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS