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Transgender Inmate Wants State To Pay $806K In Legal Costs

BOSTON (AP) — Lawyers for a convicted murderer who won a court ruling ordering Massachusetts prison officials to provide a state-funded sex change are asking the state to pay more than $806,000 in legal costs.

Michelle Kosilek's lawyers filed their request Thursday, seeking $644,573 in attorneys' fees and $161,873 spent on out-of-pocket costs.

COURT DOCUMENTS: Motion For Fees | Attorney Fees

U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf ruled last month that sex-reassignment surgery is the "only adequate treatment" for Kosilek's gender-identity disorder. Wolf found that Kosilek is also entitled to legal fees.

Kosilek's lawyers said they offered to forego attorneys' fees if the state would agree to provide Kosilek with the surgery. But they said the Department of Correction's decision to appeal Wolf's ruling made that offer moot.

Kosilek was named Robert when married to Cheryl Kosilek and convicted of murdering her in 1990.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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