Fairbury Hires Two City Attorneys To Replace Bargen
By Reagan Connelly and Gordon Hopkins
The City of Fairbury has selected two new attorneys to replace outgoing city attorney David J.A. Bargen.
Governor Pete Ricketts appointed Bargen as district court judge in Southeast Nebraska’s First Judicial District. The First Judicial District consists of Jefferson, Fillmore, Gage, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, and Thayer counties.
David Bargen, 49, of Rembolt Ludtke, LLP, a law firm in Lincoln, has been Fairbury’s City Attorney for 14 years, as well as maintaining a private practice that handles general litigation. Bargen replaces Judge Vicky Johnson, who retired at the end of January of this year. Bargen is scheduled to begin serving as judge Monday, July 11 of this year. Until, then, Jefferson County will continue to be served by interim District Court Judge Julie Smith.
Fairbury Mayor Spencer Brown recently told FJN, “Myself and the city staff are excited for David and his new endeavor. David will transition out and Rembolt Ludtke has committed to supporting our needs in the interim. I would like to personally thank David for his time and expertise.”
The Fairbury City Council was scheduled to formally accept Bargen’s resignation at a meeting Tuesday evening, June 7. Also on the agenda at that same meeting is the appointment and swearing-in of Mark Fahleson as City Attorney and Kurth Brashear as Deputy City Attorney.
Both Fahleson and Brashear are also attorneys with Rembolt Ludtke.
Fahleson specializes in advising businesses, organizations, insurers, governmental bodies and officials, and individuals. His passion for his job has resulted in many successful verdicts ranging from state to federal court. He was named Lawyer of the Year in 2021.
Brashear counsels individuals, families, and businesses, but he specializes in nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. Brashear has expertise in business law from entity formation to restructurings to tax-exempt status and all things in between.
