PHOENIX, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)-Phoenix trial attorney Michael Manning, who has won two multimillion dollar lawsuits against the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, says he won't run for state attorney general.

In a Dec. 8 letter, Manning said his law firm's staff has expressed concern about their jobs if he decides to make a bid to succeed Democrat Terry Goddard as the state's chief legal officer.

"Shortly after it became public that I had been urged to run for Attorney General in 2010, I received a petition signed by most members of my office's staff," Manning said. "Their petition expressed support in the event I decided to run but also expressed concern about the impact a win would have on our office and on their jobs. They urged that I decline that honorable quest."

Manning is managing partner at the Phoenix law firm Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP.

In 2000, Manning won an $8.25 million settlement against Sherriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. More recently, in 2006, Manning won a $9 million federal court verdict against the Maricopa County and its sheriff's department in another wrongful death case.

Likely to enter the AG race are former Assistant Attorney General Felecia Rotellini and state Rep. David Lujan on the Democratic side, while Republican State Schools Superintendent Tom Horne could seek the GOP nomination.

Goddard is widely expected to run for governor. He has not made his bid officials because state law would require him as a current officeholder to give up his post once he announces his candidacy.

From Legal Newsline: Reach staff reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.