The Philadelphia law firm to which U.S. Rep. Bob Brady owes nearly half a million dollars has appealed a judge's ruling that threw out its suit against the city Board of Ethics.

Cozen O'Connor has asked Commonwealth Court to reconsider its argument that the Ethics Board is wrong in requiring that donations to Brady's mayoral campaign committee, for the purpose of retiring his debt, comply with the city's limits on donor contributions.

Brady incurred nearly $450,000 in legal fees during his successful fight to stay on the ballot during last year's mayoral primary. He would be able to pay that debt off faster and easier if donors now were permitted to exceed the city caps in that race, which were $5,000 per individual, and $20,000 per political committee.

But in a ruling last month, Common Pleas Court Judge Gary F. DiVito dismissed Cozen O'Connor's lawsuit, saying the firm lacked the legal standing to challenge the city law