Litigation Analysis

COGOP Litigation Network

Seven cases · Four factions · 2020–2026 Court Records

Seven lawsuits spanning six years. The Colorado Republican Party has been entangled in a web of litigation arising from the factional war over control of the state central committee. It began with challenges to party election procedures in 2020, escalated into a full leadership dispute in 2024 when members attempted to remove Chairman Dave Williams, and produced a central case (2025CV30292) that generated 219 filings before the court called all parties “stubbornly litigious” and denied every outstanding motion. One case remains active as of March 2026.

Total Cases

219

Filings (Main Case)

Factions

Dismissed

Closed

Active

Lawsuit Network — Who Sued Whom

All seven cases orbit the same dispute: who controls the Colorado Republican State Central Committee. The central case (2025CV30292) attracted the most parties, the most filings, and the most satellite litigation. Five cases fed directly into it—as predecessors, companions, or cited precedent. The seventh (Garcia v. Klenda) spun off from it and remains the only active proceeding.

  2020CV31415                    2023CV30176
  Schneider v. Griswold          Tonkins v. Burton Brown
  (precedent on party            (earlier factional dispute
   controversy jurisdiction)      involving counsel Murray)
         |                              |
         | cited as                     | predecessor
         | precedent                    |
         v                              v
    +-------------------------------------------------+
    |                2025CV30292                       |
    |  CRC/Williams v. Bremer, Pallozzi, Watkins,     |
    |  McCarney, Horn, Burton Brown                   |
    |  219 filings | DISMISSED Jul 2025               |
    |  Judge Philipps, El Paso County                 |
    +-------------------------------------------------+
         ^            ^                 |
         |            |                 | spawned
  predecessor    companion              v
         |            |        Garcia v. Klenda (2026)
  2024CV31638    2024CV31549   Garcia v. Horn, Keck,
  CRC v. Williams  CRC v. Watkins  Andrews, CRC
  (quorum ruling   (related party   Denver County
   by Judge Bentley) dispute)        ACTIVE
         ^
         |
     companion
         |
      2025CV367
      Emergency Petition
      re COGOP Governance
      (dismissed, Henderson)

Reading the diagram. Arrows show how each case relates to the central case (2025CV30292). “Predecessor” means the earlier case influenced or set up the main litigation. “Companion” means it ran in parallel addressing related issues. “Referenced” means it was cited as legal precedent. Garcia v. Klenda “spawned” from the main case—Garcia’s complaint was first filed as an exhibit within 2025CV30292 before becoming a standalone Denver County proceeding.

Faction Map

The litigation involved four distinct factions within the party, plus a fifth actor (Garcia) who operated independently. Allegiances shifted as the dispute progressed—notably Andrews, who signed declarations supporting Horn’s position in April 2025, then broke with Horn publicly in February 2026.

Williams Faction (Original Plaintiffs)

Dave Williams — Former CRC Chairman, plaintiff
Hope Scheppelman — Former CRC Vice Chairwoman, plaintiff
Anna Ferguson — Former CRC Secretary, plaintiff

Attorneys: David Pigott & Natalie Chase (Hampton & Pigott LLP, through Apr 2025)

Anti-Williams Faction (Original Defendants)

Eli Bremer — Defendant
Nancy Pallozzi — Defendant, JeffCo GOP Chair
Todd Watkins — Defendant
Kevin McCarney — Defendant
Kristi Burton Brown — Defendant, former CRC Chair

Horn Faction (Took Control of Plaintiff Entity)

Brita Horn — Elected CRC Chair 3/29/2025; named defendant, then controlled plaintiff entity CRC
Darrel Phelan — CRC Vice Chair (elected 3/29/2025, resigned mid-2025)
Russ Andrews — CRC Secretary (elected 3/29/2025; broke with Horn Feb 2026)

Attorney: Steven Klenda (substituted in Apr 2025, still active)

Investigative Committee (Non-Party Intervenors)

Eric Grossman — CRC member, attempted intervenor
Cody LeBlanc — CRC member, attempted intervenor

Attorney: Matthew Arnold (CRSPCIC counsel, denied standing)

Garcia (Independent Actor)

Raymond Garcia — CRC bonus member, pro se plaintiff in Garcia v. Klenda

Filed 137-signature petition for special meeting (Dec 2025). Filed separate Denver County complaint. Pro se.

The twist. Horn was originally a defendant in the case Williams filed. When Horn won the CRC chairmanship on March 29, 2025, she gained control of the plaintiff entity (CRC) and immediately moved to dismiss the case her own party had filed against her. The original plaintiffs (Williams, Scheppelman, Ferguson) lost standing and their attorneys were replaced.

All Seven Cases

CRC/Williams v. Bremer et al. Dismissed

Case Number

2025CV30292

Court

District Court, El Paso County (Division 3, Courtroom S380)

Judge

Amanda J. Philipps

Filed

February 10, 2025

Dismissed

July 11, 2025 (without prejudice, CRCP 41(a)(1))

Final Orders

February 17, 2026

Total Filings

219

The central case. CRC under Chairman Williams sued six party members who organized a July 27, 2024 meeting to remove him. 38-page complaint alleged breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, conspiracy, unjust enrichment. After Horn won the CRC chairmanship on March 29, 2025, she replaced Williams’ attorneys with Klenda and moved to dismiss the case her own party had filed. Case dismissed July 11, 2025.

Despite dismissal, 100+ filings followed over the next seven months: Rule 11 sanctions motions, attorney fee disputes, a declaratory judgment on whether CRC must indemnify the Investigative Committee, and jurisdictional challenges. The court’s final orders on February 17, 2026 denied all sanctions, all fee motions, and all CRSPCIC motions. Judge Philipps called all parties “stubbornly litigious.”

“The parties are stubbornly litigious.”

— Judge Amanda J. Philipps, Order re Sanctions and Attorney Fees, February 17, 2026 (Filing #217)

CRC v. Williams Closed

Case Number

2024CV31638

Court

District Court, El Paso County

Judge

Eric Bentley

Relationship

Predecessor to 2025CV30292

The quorum ruling. Judge Bentley ruled that the July 27, 2024 meeting lacked a valid quorum for officer removal. “Three-fifths of the entire membership” under CRC bylaws means 3/5 of all CRC members (~248 of 414), not 3/5 of those present at the meeting. This ruling directly informed the subsequent main case.

CRC v. Watkins Dismissed

Case Number

2024CV31549

Court

District Court, El Paso County

Relationship

Companion to 2025CV30292

Related party dispute. The Order Dismissing Plaintiffs' Claims was filed as Exhibit J in the main case (2025CV30292).

Emergency Petition re COGOP Governance Dismissed

Case Number

2025CV367

Court

District Court, Arapahoe County

Judge

Henderson

Relationship

Companion to 2025CV30292

Emergency petition by party members regarding the same governance dispute. Filed in Arapahoe County rather than El Paso. Dismissed by Judge Henderson.

Tonkins v. Burton Brown Closed

Case Number

2023CV30176

Court

District Court, Arapahoe County

Relationship

Predecessor to 2025CV30292

Earlier factional litigation involving former CRC general counsel Christopher O. Murray. Predates the Williams-era disputes but established the pattern of internal party members taking governance grievances to civil court.

Schneider v. Griswold Closed

Case Number

2020CV31415

Court

District Court, El Paso County

Relationship

Cited as precedent in 2025CV30292

Cited as precedent on party controversy jurisdiction under C.R.S. 1-3-106 (party disputes involving elections and contests). Not a COGOP internal dispute but a legal precedent used in the main case arguments.

Garcia v. Klenda, Horn, Keck, Andrews & CRC Active

Case Number

Garcia v. Klenda et al. (2026)

Court

District Court, Denver County

Filed

2026

Relationship

Spawned from 2025CV30292

The only active case. Pro se complaint by Raymond Garcia (CRC bonus member). Alleges CRC changed petition rules midstream to defeat his 137-signature special-meeting petition, stalled and obstructed his internal appeal, and continues to retain and pay attorney Steven Klenda after a September 27, 2025 termination vote. Names Klenda, Horn, Keck, Andrews, and CRC as defendants. Seeks injunctive, declaratory, and mandamus relief.

Garcia’s complaint was first filed as an exhibit within the main case (Filing #183) before being filed as a standalone Denver County proceeding. His petition efforts are connected to the Feb 21, 2026 special meeting called by Secretary Andrews (Filing #200).

Key Events Timeline

2020

Schneider v. Griswold filed

El Paso County case that would later be cited as precedent on party controversy jurisdiction under C.R.S. 1-3-106.

2020CV31415

2023

Tonkins v. Burton Brown filed

Earlier factional litigation in Arapahoe County involving former CRC general counsel Murray. Sets pattern for internal party disputes going to court.

2023CV30176

July 27, 2024

The July 27 Meeting

CRC members convene to remove Chairman Dave Williams. Williams and allies dispute the meeting’s legitimacy. This event triggers the cascade of litigation that follows.

2024

CRC v. Williams (quorum ruling)

Judge Bentley rules the July 27 meeting lacked quorum. “Three-fifths of the entire membership” means 3/5 of all CRC members (~248 of 414), not 3/5 present.

2024CV31638

2024

CRC v. Watkins filed and dismissed

Related party dispute. Dismissal order later filed as exhibit in the main case.

2024CV31549

February 10, 2025

Main case filed: CRC/Williams v. Bremer et al.

38-page complaint filed by Hampton & Pigott LLP (Pigott/Chase) on behalf of CRC under Chairman Williams. Six defendants named: Bremer, Pallozzi, Watkins, McCarney, Horn, Burton Brown.

2025CV30292 — Filing #2

2025

Emergency Petition (Arapahoe County)

Emergency petition re COGOP governance filed in Arapahoe County. Dismissed by Judge Henderson.

2025CV367

March 29, 2025

Horn elected CRC Chair

Brita Horn wins the CRC chairmanship, replacing Williams. Phelan elected Vice Chair, Andrews elected Secretary. Horn gains control of the plaintiff entity (CRC) in the lawsuit she was named as a defendant in.

April 2, 2025

CRSPCIC files amended complaint

Investigative Committee (Arnold) files amended complaint seeking to intervene and continue the litigation Williams started.

2025CV30292 — Filing #28

April 3, 2025

Horn/Klenda move to dismiss

Horn’s new attorney Steven Klenda moves to dismiss with prejudice. Argues Williams/Scheppelman/Ferguson lost standing when removed from office March 29. Klenda now represents both defendant Horn and plaintiff CRC.

2025CV30292 — Filing #35

April 8, 2025

Attorney substitution: Pigott/Chase out, Klenda in

Klenda formally substitutes for Pigott and Chase as CRC counsel. The original plaintiff’s own attorneys are replaced by the new leadership’s attorney.

2025CV30292 — Filing #37

April 23, 2025

CRSPCIC intervention denied

Court rules the Investigative Committee is subordinate to CRC and lacks standing to challenge CRC’s dismissal decision.

2025CV30292 — Filing #69

June 6, 2025

Notice of Dismissal filed

Horn/Klenda file notice of voluntary dismissal under CRCP 41(a)(1).

2025CV30292 — Filing #92

July 11, 2025

Case dismissed

Court grants dismissal without prejudice. But the litigation is far from over.

2025CV30292 — Filing #103

July 22, 2025

Holtorf elected CRC Vice Chair

Richard Holtorf wins Vice Chair election (204-193 vote), replacing Phelan who resigned. Holtorf would later be identified as coordinating with external operative Josh Salem against Horn.

August 8, 2025

Sanctions battle begins

Horn/Klenda file Joint Motion for Rule 11 Sanctions against CRSPCIC and Arnold. Fee motion against Grossman/LeBlanc follows. Despite the case being dismissed, the parties continue fighting over costs and conduct.

2025CV30292 — Filing #109

August 21, 2025

Williams indemnification memo surfaces

A memo signed by Williams on March 24, 2025—five days before he lost the chairmanship—purporting to ratify and indemnify the Investigative Committee through 2032. Filed as exhibit.

2025CV30292 — Filing #113

September 27, 2025

Klenda termination vote

CRC votes to terminate Klenda as attorney. Garcia’s later lawsuit alleges CRC continued to retain and pay Klenda despite this vote.

November 25, 2025

Indemnification ruling

Court rules CRC is NOT required to indemnify the Investigative Committee. Williams’ last-minute ratification memo does not bind the organization.

2025CV30292 — Filing #152

December 2025

Garcia’s 137-signature petition

Raymond Garcia collects 137 CRC member signatures for a special meeting petition. CRC leadership challenges the petition’s validity.

January 30, 2026

Garcia Complaint filed

Garcia’s pro se complaint against Klenda, Horn, Keck, Andrews, and CRC filed as exhibit in the main case. Separately filed as standalone Denver County case.

2025CV30292 — Filing #183 / Garcia v. Klenda (Denver)

February 9, 2026

Andrews calls special meeting

CRC Secretary Andrews issues official call for a February 21, 2026 CRC special meeting. Agenda includes vote of confidence in Horn and cessation of “lawfare” in Case 2025CV30292.

2025CV30292 — Filing #200

February 2026

Holtorf resigns as Vice Chair

Resignation reported in article filed as court exhibit. Article notes $140K+ owed to Klenda for legal fees.

2025CV30292 — Filing #201

February 11, 2026

Andrews breaks with Horn

CRC Secretary Andrews sends “Airing Dirty Laundry” email. Details leadership failures, validates Garcia’s petition (reversing his earlier position), endorses recall. Filed as exhibit in main case.

2025CV30292 — Filing #212

February 17, 2026

Final orders: everything denied

Judge Philipps issues three orders on the same day. ALL sanctions against CRSPCIC and Arnold: denied. ALL fees against Grossman/LeBlanc: denied. ALL pending CRSPCIC motions: denied (lacks standing). Court effectively closes the docket.

2025CV30292 — Filings #217, #218, #219

The Attorney Situation

The legal representation in this dispute is as complicated as the dispute itself. The plaintiff entity (CRC) changed attorneys mid-case when new leadership took over. The Investigative Committee’s attorney was denied standing. And the current CRC attorney is now a defendant in a separate lawsuit.

Attorney	Represents	Case	Period	Status
David Pigott & Natalie Chase	CRC / Dave Williams	2025CV30292	Feb 2025 – Apr 8, 2025	Terminated (replaced by Klenda after Horn’s election)
Steven Klenda	Brita Horn / CRC	2025CV30292	Apr 8, 2025 – present	Active (also named as defendant in Garcia v. Klenda)
Matthew Arnold	CRSPCIC (Grossman / LeBlanc)	2025CV30292	Apr 2, 2025 – present	Active (all motions denied; committee lacks standing)
Christopher O. Murray	Former CRC general counsel	2023CV30176	2023	Historical
Raymond Garcia (pro se)	Self	Garcia v. Klenda	2026 – present	Active

The $141K question. Secretary Andrews’ February 11, 2026 email (Filing #212) reported that CRC owed attorney Klenda over $140,000 in legal fees. Garcia’s separate lawsuit alleges CRC continued to retain and pay Klenda after the September 27, 2025 vote to terminate him.

Key attorney dynamics. CRSPCIC (Arnold) moved to disqualify Klenda in April 2025, arguing a conflict of interest: Klenda simultaneously represented defendant Horn and plaintiff CRC. Horn and her new officers (Phelan, Andrews) signed declarations waiving the conflict. The disqualification motion was decided by the court in May 2025 (Filing #81). Klenda characterized the Investigative Committee as a “rogue” and “zombie” body in court filings.

Current Status (March 2026)

Case	Status	Last Action
2025CV30292	Dismissed. All post-dismissal motions denied Feb 17, 2026.	Feb 17, 2026 — Final orders (Filings #217–219)
2024CV31638	Closed.	Quorum ruling issued.
2024CV31549	Dismissed.	Dismissal order filed as exhibit in main case.
2025CV367	Dismissed.	Dismissed by Judge Henderson.
2023CV30176	Closed.	Historical.
2020CV31415	Closed.	Cited as precedent only.
Garcia v. Klenda (2026)	Active — Denver County	Pending. Pro se complaint by Garcia. Seeks injunctive, declaratory, and mandamus relief.

Net result of the main case (2025CV30292). After 219 filings over 373 days: no sanctions awarded to anyone, no attorney fees awarded against anyone, no indemnification of the Investigative Committee, and the case was dismissed without prejudice—meaning it could theoretically be refiled.

Outstanding exposure. Garcia v. Klenda remains the only active proceeding. The complaint targets CRC’s current attorney (Klenda), its chair (Horn), its secretary (Andrews), and CRC itself. The claims center on petition-process manipulation and unauthorized retention of counsel.