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Washington Prisoner Awarded $125 for Failure to Timely Respond to Public Records Request
Washington Prisoner Awarded $125 for Failure to Timely Respond to Public
Records Request
A Thurston County, Superior Court in Washington State awarded
Airway Heights Correction Center prisoner Derek E. Grunquist $125 for a
114 business day delay in responding to his public records request. On
June 22, 1998, the Washington Department of Corrections (WDOC) received a
public records request from Grunquist requesting that he be provided the
number of prisoners within the WDOC who had their sentences adjusted
pursuant to the decision of In re: Mahrle, 88 Wash.App. 410, 945 P.2d 1142
(1997). Grunquist did not receive a response until October 27, 1998. On
October 29 he sent a letter clarifying his request because WDOC responded
he should direct his request elsewhere. After his suit was filed, WSOC
responded to Grunquist's request by stating six prisoners had been
affected by Mahrle as of April 1998.
Both parties moved for summary judgment in Grunquist's public
records suit. The Judge, Richard J. Strophy, granted judgment for WDOC on
the records claim, finding the information" Grunquist sought, without
more specifity, does not constitute an adequate request under the Public
Disclosure Act. The Court, however, ruled in favor of Grunquist on the
failure to timely respond issue. The Court awarded Grunquist, acting pro
se, $125 for the delay plus costs of the litigation, for a total award of
$319.22. See: Grunquist v. Kirby, Washington Superior Court, Thurston
County, Case No. 98-2-02316-1.
Records Request
A Thurston County, Superior Court in Washington State awarded
Airway Heights Correction Center prisoner Derek E. Grunquist $125 for a
114 business day delay in responding to his public records request. On
June 22, 1998, the Washington Department of Corrections (WDOC) received a
public records request from Grunquist requesting that he be provided the
number of prisoners within the WDOC who had their sentences adjusted
pursuant to the decision of In re: Mahrle, 88 Wash.App. 410, 945 P.2d 1142
(1997). Grunquist did not receive a response until October 27, 1998. On
October 29 he sent a letter clarifying his request because WDOC responded
he should direct his request elsewhere. After his suit was filed, WSOC
responded to Grunquist's request by stating six prisoners had been
affected by Mahrle as of April 1998.
Both parties moved for summary judgment in Grunquist's public
records suit. The Judge, Richard J. Strophy, granted judgment for WDOC on
the records claim, finding the information" Grunquist sought, without
more specifity, does not constitute an adequate request under the Public
Disclosure Act. The Court, however, ruled in favor of Grunquist on the
failure to timely respond issue. The Court awarded Grunquist, acting pro
se, $125 for the delay plus costs of the litigation, for a total award of
$319.22. See: Grunquist v. Kirby, Washington Superior Court, Thurston
County, Case No. 98-2-02316-1.
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Related legal case
Grunquist v. Kirby
| Year | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Washington Superior Court, Thurston County, Case N |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 0 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |