Opinion ID: 2268910
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Court of Appeals Erred by Granting Attorney Fees

Text: ¶ 23 The Court of Appeals awarded attorney fees to the O'Neills because they had partially prevailed. Id. at 940, 187 P.3d 822. Washington law provides that [a]ny person who prevails against an agency in any action in the courts seeking the right to inspect or copy any public record or the right to receive a response to a public record request within a reasonable amount of time shall be awarded all costs, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred in connection with such legal action. RCW 42.56.550(4). We have previously held that attorney fees should be granted only when documents are disclosed to a prevailing party, and where further fact finding is necessary to determine whether the PRA was violated, the question of attorney fees should be remanded to the trial court. Concerned Ratepayers Ass'n v. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1, 138 Wash.2d 950, 964, 983 P.2d 635 (1999). Here, the Court of Appeals did not find that the City violated the PRA. It merely stated that metadata is subject to the PRA and remanded for the trial court to determine whether the PRA was violated. O'Neill, 145 Wash.App. at 936, 187 P.3d 822. We also do not say whether the PRA was violated but remand the case to the trial court for that determination. The Court of Appeals therefore erred when it said that [a]n award is proper because she has partially prevailed. Id. at 940, 187 P.3d 822. The trial court should award attorney fees only if it finds a violation of the PRA.