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Arizona opposes request for fees in suit over inmate care

Posted at 3:24 PM, Oct 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-22 18:24:40-04

Lawyers representing the state of Arizona in a lawsuit challenging the quality of health care in its prisons want a judge to reject a request from opposing attorneys for $1.6 million in additional legal fees.

The state has already spent $15 million in the lawsuit, including $8.8 million for the attorneys defending prison officials and $5.7 million for lawyers who pressed the civil case against the state.
    
An additional $1.2 million was awarded to inmates' attorneys for their efforts through July 2017 in enforcing a settlement in the case, but the amount hasn't yet been paid because the state is appealing the decision.
    
Lawyers for the prisoners say the latest request for $1.6 million covers their enforcement efforts for the one-year period ending on June 30.