TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Billionaire brothers and political donors Charles and David Koch have filed a lawsuit in Kansas over the ownership of a prominent, Washington-based conservative think tank.
The Kochs, known for supporting conservative causes, are shareholders in the Cato Institute. Until October, the other two shareholders were its president and a former chairman. The brothers dispute whether the former chairman’s widow now controls his 25 percent voting interest.
The Koch brothers contend that under shareholder agreements, the former chairman’s shares must be sold back to the institute. The Kochs filed their lawsuit in Johnson County because the institute lists an office there.
The Cato Institute did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.
The Koch brothers are top executives at Wichita-based Koch Industries. The company isn’t involved in the lawsuit.
