SALT LAKE CITY?Merrill Cook doesn’t take losing well.

An attorney for Cook argued Monday before the Utah Supreme Court that a judgment which could cost the former congressman nearly $450,000 should be overturned.

In October, the former two term Republican representative announced he would try to reclaim his old 2nd Congressional District seat next year.

Cook’s attorney says the suit over unpaid campaign bills was secretly funded by unidentified political foes.

Cook lawyer Blake Atkin said the April 2000 jury award ignored a contract between the politician and his one-time campaign consultant, Ron Nielson.