Fieger Firm Agrees to Pay $131K to Resolve FEC Contributions Probe
The law firm of Michigan trial lawyer Geoffrey Fieger will pay $131,000 to resolve a probe by the Federal Election Commission, an amount that pales in comparison to the potential fine if commissioners had found a knowing violation of finance laws.
The payment will resolve an FEC probe into contributions made to the John Edwards presidential campaign in 2004, according to the Associated Press and the Detroit Free Press. The FEC said the agreement was reached after it found probable cause that the firm had reimbursed 66 employees and other individuals who collectively donated $131,000 to the campaign.
FEC documents indicated the commission was split over whether Fieger and his law partner, Ven Johnson, ”knowingly and willfully” violated campaign finance laws, AP says. Such a finding could have led to fines of about $1 million.
The firm did not admit liability. Fieger’s lawyer, Michael Dezsi, told AP that settlement was the best option. “We felt confident that we would have prevailed,” he said. “But for the amount we were able to negotiate the settlement, it simply just wasn’t worth the litigation.”
Fieger and Johnson were acquitted of violating campaign finance laws in a criminal case last year. They were represented by famed lawyer Gerry Spence.
