Report: Costs for ethics agency suit to increase

ATLANTA (AP) A lawsuit against the state ethics commission is still costing taxpayers despite a jury verdict earlier this year. <br /> <br /> Both sides will be back in court Monday to address claims the state failed to turn over key documents before trial. <br /> <br /> The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/1p1Z3pC ) the state is paying two private attorneys $125 an hour to defend the commission and its executive director against the claims. That comes after Attorney General Sam Olens said his office couldn't defend itself and the commission. <br /> <br /> That's on top of the $700,000 verdict in favor of a former commission employee who claimed retaliation for investigating complaints against Gov. Nathan Deal. She was also awarded $450,000 in back pay and attorney fees. After the verdict, the state settled with three other former employees for $1.8 million.

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