Exhibit 11.2





                                                     August 7, 2002





Columbia Special Fund, Inc.
1301 S.W. Fifth Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97201


         Re:   Registration Statement on Form N-14
               -----------------------------------


Ladies and Gentlemen:


         We have acted as counsel to Columbia Special Fund, Inc. (the "Acquiring
Fund") in connection with the Registration Statement (Reg. No. 333-91934) of the
Acquiring Fund on Form N-14 (the "Registration Statement") filed by the
Acquiring Fund under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
relating to the proposed combination of the Acquiring Fund with the Stein Roe
Capital Opportunities Fund (the "Acquired Fund"), a series of Liberty-Stein Roe
Funds Investment Trust (the "Trust"), and the issuance of shares of Common Stock
of specified classes of the Acquiring Fund in connection therewith (the
"Shares"), all in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization by and among the Acquiring Fund, the Trust on behalf of the
Acquired Fund, and Columbia Management Group, Inc. (the "Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization"), in the form included in the Registration Statement.


         We have examined the Acquiring Fund's articles of incorporation and any
amendments thereto and the Acquiring Fund's bylaws, as amended. We have also
examined those documents, corporate records and other instruments we deemed
necessary for the purposes of this opinion.

         We have assumed for purposes of this opinion that, prior to the date of
the issuance of the Shares, (1) the Trustees of the Trust and holders of
beneficial interests in the Acquired Fund will have taken all action required of
them for the approval the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, (2) the officers
of the Acquiring Fund will have taken the action necessary to file the amended
and restated articles of incorporation of the Acquiring Fund, as approved by the
directors and shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, with the Secretary of State of
Oregon, (3) the officers of the Acquiring Fund will have taken the action
necessary to file the articles of





Columbia Special Fund, Inc.
August 7, 2002



amendment to the Acquiring Fund's amended and restated articles of
incorporation, as approved by the directors of the Acquiring Fund, establishing
the shares of Common Stock of specified classes, with the Secretary of State of
Oregon and (4) the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization will have been duly
executed and delivered by each party thereto.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

         1.       The Acquiring Fund has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Oregon.

         2.       The Shares, when issued in accordance with the Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     /s/ Stoel Rives LLP

                                                     Stoel Rives LLP