New York agencies must now pay legal fees for successful litigants
New York Gov. David Paterson signed into law improvements to the public records law. For example, if someone sues the government over a public records denial and prevails then the government must pay for the requester's attorney fees. That is important legislation because agencies will think twice before denying a valid public records request, especially if it may cost the agency tens of thousands of dollars in covering someone else's legal fees. If you are curious how your state handles legal fees, check out the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Open Government Guide or the Brechner
Citizen Access Project ("attorneys' fees, requesters").