EAST LANSING - Michigan State University will pay for former university President Lou Anna Simon's criminal defense as its legal bills related to the Larry Nassar scandal approach $20 million.

With those legal fees, plus a settlement with hundreds of Nassar's victims, payments to consultants and a fund that had been set up for some of Nassar's victims to receive counseling, the total cost to MSU as of the middle of November was more than $523 million, according to records obtained through public records requests.

The university is paying the law firms using income generated by its investment office that doesn't come from endowment funds. The university will sell bonds to pay for the $500 million settlement.

$19.37 million and rising

Since December 2016, a dozen law firms have billed the university for $19.37 million for work related to lawsuits and outside investigations connected to Nassar, a former MSU doctor who sexually abused hundreds of women and girls, including many at his campus office.

The 12 law firms that sent invoices to MSU for 28,561 hours, with some charging as much as $990 per hour.

At least $3.4 million had been paid to law firms handling issues and a lawsuit related to the university's insurance carriers. As early as summer 2017, MSU began paying Latham & Watkins LLP to handle the insurance matters that might arise.

In July, MSU filed a lawsuit against several of its insurers and argues they aren't honoring policies dating back to the late 1990s. The lawsuit remains open.

The majority of the university's legal fees — $13.4 million — have gone to two law firms: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Latham & Watkins.

Simon, Strampel, Klages criminal defenses

Three current or former MSU officials face charges related to the Nassar scandal, and MSU is paying for all or part of the defense for each. The university did not pay any of Nassar's criminal defense.

Simon, who had been university president for more than a decade, resigned that post hours after Nassar was sentenced in Ingham County. She and former MSU gymnastics coach Kathie Klages face charges of lying to police about when they knew about sexual abuse reports against Nassar.

The university will pay for both of their criminal defenses and half of former Dean William Strampel's defense as two of his four charges relate to his role as Nassar's former boss.

As of Nov. 12, MSU has been billed $29,689 for Strampel's defense and had not yet received invoices related to Klages and Simon.

The cases against Klages and Strampel are in Ingham County Circuit Court where they could go to trial.

Simon is set for a preliminary hearing in Eaton County next week. The hearing will determine if there's enough evidence against her for the case to proceed.

Simon still holds a professorship at the MSU's College of Education but has taken a leave of absence without pay while the criminal case proceeds.

Related:Police: MSU's Lou Anna Simon attended 2014 meeting where Larry Nassar inquiry was discussed

Related:Case against ex-MSU dean William Strampel will head to trial

Related:Kathie Klages criminal case to move forward after judge hears evidence during hearing

Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini.