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Polk County's legal bills for civil cases involving its leaders have surpassed $1.24 million.

A jury awarded former HR chief Jim Nahas $4.26 million for libel, a cost separate from the legal fees.

Total costs could approach $6 million after factoring in potential attorney fees for Nahas. And the battles aren't over.

The cost of ensuring leaders in Iowa's largest county have legal representation in a series of years-long civil cases alleging libel, employment discrimination and violations of open records laws has reached a historic high.

Nine different law firms have submitted invoices totaling $1.24 million as of this month.

The legal bills are in addition to a Sept. 22 jury's decision awarding $4.26 million in damages for libel to Polk County's former human res

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