Opinion ID: 2570259
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Fuller's Other Arguments

Text: Fuller advances various arguments challenging the amount of time Drathman spent conducting his review. She contends that it is undisputed that in mid-November Drathman reviewed all of the file boxes responsive to her October 11 request even though she had narrowed her request on November 6. She contends that the facts permit an inference that if Drathman had limited his review to the files specified in her November 6 request, it is quite likely the five hour `free' search time would not have been exceeded. Relatedly, she argues that after the city denied her October request as too broad, Drathman reviewed the documents she requested in October despite her more specific November request, creat[ing] an inference that the review was not undertaken as efficiently as possible in good faith. She also asserts that the city's past poor treatment of her permits an inference that Drathman did not act with reasonable efficiency. Finally, she argues that Drathman failed to follow the city regulation that requires payment of estimated charges before the search is undertaken. Had he done so, she contends, she might have discovered that he intended to review the boxes she originally requested, even though she later narrowed her request. However, only if there were good reason to think that the city was intentionally inefficient in retaining or producing the disputed documents would the superior court have been compelled to reduce the time spent in production. For the same reason, we need not discuss Fuller's argument that the city did not comply with HCC 02.08.010(f), which states that whenever possible only one copy of documents shall be retained, and with HCC 02.08.010(j), which, she argues, anticipates that restricted or confidential documents will be segregated from other stored documents. And of course Fuller is not responsible for the privilege review time, whether it was spent efficiently or not. Fuller also contends that no records of Drathman's time were preserved and that no witness could verify his review because it occurred on a weekend. Lack of independent verification does not mean that appropriate production costs should not be recovered. It is for a fact finder to decide whether the amount charged was incurred appropriately. The lack of independent corroboration does not justify reversal here. Having concluded above that the city could not recover privilege review costs from Fuller, it is unnecessary for us to consider Fuller's arguments challenging the time or cost of the privilege review. We therefore also do not need to consider whether Drathman had expertise in reviewing documents for privilege. We likewise need not consider Fuller's argument that the city's actions indicate a pattern of behavior that easily allows an inference to be drawn that the city manager would do whatever he could to hinder access to public records by annexation opponents including making sure a privilege review was conducted at a leisurely pace so as to exceed the five free hours standard. [38]