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Soda shop objects to attorney order in dirty soda suit

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah soda shop locked in a court battle over flavor-shot-spiked 'dirty sodas' is pushing back against a judge's order requiring them to hire a new lawyer because their current attorney is married to one of the shop's co-owners.

Sodalicious lawyer Tessa Meyer Santiago argues there's no evidence she would break ethical rules by sharing information about the case with her husband. Sodalicious says hiring another attorney in the fight against competitor Swig would be unfairly expensive.

The soda shop is objecting to an August order from U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead. He decided there was a risk that Santiago could inadvertently share sensitive financial information with her husband.

Swing's lawsuit claims Sodalicious ripped off the profitable dirty soda concept. They deny that, contending dirty is a common drink moniker. A trial is for 2017.