RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Arent Fox LLP Litigation partner Stephen G. Larson persuaded a three-judge panel of the Fourth District Court of Appeal to affirm the dismissal of all bribery charges against his client Jeffrey Burum, managing partner of Colonies Partners LP. The opinion, drafted by Associate Justice Art W. McKinster, rejected the prosecution’s request to reinstate those charges, instead affirming an August 2011 ruling by Superior Court Judge Brian McCarville. The Court of Appeal also dismissed a conflict of interest count against Mr. Burum, agreeing with Mr. Larson that conflict of interest charges under California Government Code Section 1090 can only be brought against public officials, not private citizens.

“This has already been a long and convoluted case throughout which we have maintained Jeff’s innocence,” noted Mr. Larson. “We are grateful that the Court of Appeal confirmed Judge McCarville’s dismissal of the bribery charges, including the bribery conspiracy, and that it also recognized that the conflict of interest count legally could not be brought against Jeff.”

Characterized by the prosecution as one of the largest public corruption cases in California history, the case against Mr. Burum and three former county officials centers on a $102 million legal settlement between San Bernardino County and Colonies Partners, L.P., in November 2006. Mr. Larson, formerly a federal court judge sitting in the Central District of California, successfully moved to dismiss five of the seven charges against Mr. Burum in August 2012. With only two of the original seven counts now remaining against Mr. Burum, Mr. Larson and the Arent Fox litigation team, which includes partner Mary Carter Andrues, and associates Jonathan E. Phillips and Steven A. Haskins, look forward to clearing his name altogether.

“Jeff and his family have suffered unbelievable trauma as a result of this politically motivated and irresponsible prosecution,” said Mr. Larson. “As we have said from the outset, there simply was no bribe. Jeff Burum is innocent of all charges, and we look forward to proving that innocence as we move forward on the two remaining counts. This case has been a terrible miscarriage of justice, but the Court of Appeal’s decision is a major step toward clearing Jeff’s name and restoring his reputation.”