Deputy administrator lawsuit dismissed after costing Polk county $1.54M
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Polk County deputy administrator Sarah Boese. Photo: Courtesy of Boese via LinkedIn
A judge this week dismissed the remaining lawsuit by Polk County deputy administrator Sarah Boese against the county and three supervisors.
Why it matters: Boese's cases were part of a string of litigation involving county officials — including former HR director Jim Nahas' wrongful termination case — that generated millions in settlements and legal costs.
Driving the news: Clarke County Judge Elizabeth Reynoldson threw out Boese's case before trial Wednesday, rejecting her discrimination, retaliation and privacy claims against the county and Supervisors Matt McCoy, Mark Holm and Jill Altringer.
Catch up quick: Boese sued Polk County in 2022, saying McCoy sexually harassed her in 2020 and county officials retaliated against her.
- McCoy has denied the allegations.
Zoom in: Her complaint became central to Jim Nahas' firing after county officials accused him of mishandling Boese's harassment complaint.
- Nahas said his firing was political and sued the county and several supervisors.
- A jury awarded him $4.26 million last year, but supervisors approved a $2.5 million settlement in February. About $1 million was covered by insurance.
Stunning stat: The county's costs tied to Boese's lawsuits have now reached $1.54 million, according to data provided to Axios Thursday.
- That includes $1.39 million related to the claims dismissed this week and almost $150,000 on two public records cases it settled, including $50K for Boese's attorney fees.
What they're saying: McCoy tells Axios that this week's ruling provided a "logical rationale" for dismissal.
- He said Boese's case against him was a factor in his Democratic primary loss.
What we're watching: Whether the ruling ends the disputes — and whether Boese continues working for the county.
- Boese and her attorney, Matt Sahag, did not respond to Axios' requests for comment, and it's unknown whether they'll appeal.
- Asked whether he will take legal action against Boese, McCoy says he hasn't decided.