Opinion ID: 2376601
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Attorneys fees and daily penalties

Text: ¶ 83 The Herald-Republic requests an award of attorney fees under RCW 42.56.550(4), which 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. In addition, it shall be within the discretion of the court to award such person an amount not less than five dollars and not to exceed one hundred dollars for each day that he or she was denied the right to inspect or copy said public record. ¶ 84 As we explained in our recent decision, Sanders v. State, 169 Wash.2d 827, 240 P.3d 120 (2010), costs and reasonable attorney fees may be awarded for vindicating `the right to inspect or copy' or `the right to receive a response.' Id. at 860, 240 P.3d 120 (quoting RCW 42.56.550(4)). However, penalties are authorized only for denials of `the right to inspect or copy.' Id. ¶ 85 Turning first to the paper's request for attorney fees, RCW 42.56.070(1) required the county to make available for public inspection and copying all public records or identify a specific exemption and provide an explanation of how it applies to the individual agency record. In its response, the county was equivocal about whether nonjudicial county entities held responsive records. Instead of identifying records, the county shifted the burden to the newspaper, requiring the paper to file a court action. The Herald-Republic is entitled to its costs and reasonable attorney fees. However, we deny the paper's request for daily penalties as premature.