§18.1 Introduction

• Jurisdiction: Washington

§18.1 INTRODUCTION

The Public Records Act (PRA), Chapter 42.56 RCW, mandates in RCW 42.56.550(4) that a party who requests access to public records and who is wrongfully denied such access, or who has such access unreasonably delayed, is to be awarded its costs, including reasonable attorney fees, and within the discretion of the court a penalty not to exceed $100 per day. "[S]trict enforcement of this provision discourages improper denial of access to public records." Spokane Research & Def. Fund v. City of Spokane (Spokane Research IV),155 Wn.2d 89, 101, 117 P.3d 1117 (2005); see also Yousoufian v. Office of Ron Sims (Yousoufian V), 168 Wn.2d, 444, 459, 229 P.3d 735 (2010) (citation omitted).

RCW 42.56.550(4) provides:

Any 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...