SAN JOSE — A judge this week ordered former San Jose Councilman Manh Nguyen to pay Santa Clara County and current Councilman Lan Diep $27,971.04.

After Diep beat incumbent Nguyen by 12 votes in 2016 to win the District 4 Council seat, Nguyen filed a lawsuit alleging that the county elections office mishandled the ballot count despite two recounts suggesting otherwise.

Related Articles Letters: Stalled police reform | Promoting flexibility | Climate votes | Trivial effect | No more excuses

Letters: Wrong doctor for job | Judging words, deeds | Misdirecting fault

Federal judge blocks Postal Service changes that slowed mail

Why some Asian Americans are on the front lines of the campaign against affirmative action

TV tonight: Joe Biden participates in town-hall special Last year, a judge said Nguyen had failed to show the elections office botched the count. The latest court order directs Nguyen to cover costs the county and Diep incurred because of the suit. Nguyen has appealed the court’s decision about the election loss and that appeal must be resolved before he is forced to pay.

The county is set to recover $26,572.40, while Diep would get $1,398.64.