Former congressman suing Oklahoma City company

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A $450,000 lawsuit brought by former Oklahoma Congress member Dave McCurdy against a former client should be resolved this week. <br><br>McCurdy left public office in 1995 and has

Monday, April 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A $450,000 lawsuit brought by former Oklahoma Congress member Dave McCurdy against a former client should be resolved this week.

McCurdy left public office in 1995 and has since been serving as a consultant.

He is suing Oklahoma City-based American Biomedical Group Inc., claiming they have shorted him on fees.

American Biomedical has countersued, claiming it paid McCurdy's company $293,000 but did not receive any new business in return.

A verdict in the case is expected Monday after three days of contradictory testimony last week.

McCurdy claims the company owes him $24,000 for serving as a director of the company, but American Biomedical claims McCurdy was never a director.

Jim Burgess, chief executive officer of American Biomedical, testified that he hired McCurdy because of his access and influence in the federal government, developed from 14 years in Congress.

Also, McCurdy's consulting agreement indicated that he was supposed to receive several types of compensation, including a marketing fee equal to 2 percent of the Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense contract business brought in during the term of the agreement.

American Biotechnical claims that a federal law makes it illegal to link commissions to securing federal contracts.

McCurdy's attorneys contend that the provision is legal if it saves the government money and if the same commissions are paid on nongovernment contracts.