He should sue for millions, just getting the bills paid doesn’t teach them anything
They are liberal politicians, incapable of learning.
IIRC, the reimbursement of defendant's legal expenses is covered under a specific statute or code article - it doesn't have to be litigated from the ground up. If the state refuses to pay, then a civil suit would have to be filed to compel payment. This doesn't address damages at all; that issue can be taken up later in a seaprate action.