Spokane Research & Defense Fund v. City of Spokane

Sweeney, A.C.J.

This is a public disclosure act (PDA) case. Tim Connor, an investigative reporter, seeks attorney fees and penalties as a prevailing party under the PDA. We agree with the trial judge that Mr. Connor is not a prevailing party for two reasons. First, he failed to obtain a show cause order as required by the PDA. And, second, most of the documents Mr. Connor demanded were made public as the result of related but separate litigation by others. To the extent Spokane Research & Defense Fund did prevail, it did so on claims to which Mr. Connor was not a party and by following the…