Judge Grants Class-Action Status to Open Records Lawsuit

"An Oklahoma County judge today approves a request by an attorney to grant class-action status to a lawsuit filed concerning Oklahoma City's rules for people who want copies of public records. ... The suit alleges the city violated the Oklahoma Open Records Act by charging search fees to people who wanted copies of law enforcement records."

http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=6699277

Washington law prohibits a "search" fee for public records. Many have thought a class-action suit in Washington over illegal "search" fees and excessive copying charges would make sense. After all, an agency is not even remotely deterred by having to refund a few dollars to an individual requestor, but if you group several thousand requestors together for refunds ...