LandCo attorney asks to see cards ethics panel is holding

An attorney for the chairman of the local real estate development firm involved in the now-defunct deal to keep the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs is digging for documents related to the ethics investigation against Mayor Lionel Rivera.

John Cook, who represents LandCo Equity Partners Chairman Ray Marshall, who is at the center of the allegations against Rivera, filed an open-records request with the city last week.

In his request, Cook asked for “any and all documents” related to the ethics investigation against Rivera, who is accused of behaving unethically by negotiating a $53 million deal last year that went to Marshall, who used to be one of the mayor’s clients at UBS Financial Services.

Specifically, Cook requested documents “produced by or requested from Ron Johnson, Lindsay Fischer or any third party to this action.”

Johnson, a local businessman, filed the ethics complaint. Fischer, a longtime attorney, is representing Johnson in the investigation.

“We just wanted to see what they had presented to the commission because we’re the only ones that didn’t have it,” Cook said Thursday. “That’s it.”

Last month, Fischer submitted a list of potential witnesses to the city’s Independent Ethics Commission, which is leading the inquiry. Included in the list is Colorado Springs investor Jack W. Mason, a former business partner with Marshall.

Mason has alleged that Marshall used his money “to fund and operate Marshall’s unrelated development activities.” Mason and Marshall eventually reached a settlement, but the documents are sealed under court order.

“Is there any irony in the attorney for Marshall asking the city to turn the cards up when it seems that Mr. Marshall, in all his dealings, has preferred confidentiality commitments?” Fischer said in an e-mail.

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