Rogers v. SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES CTY.

Petitioner William Rogers seeks review of an order of respondent court denying his request for disclosure of public records from real party in interest, the City of Burbank (the City), pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code, § 6250 et seq., hereinafter the Act). He contends: (1) respondent court erred in finding that telephone numbers contained in the sought-after public records were exempt from disclosure; (2) respondent court abused its discretion in failing to award him costs and attorney fees; (3) there is no substantial evidence to support respondent court’s finding that the City’s responses were reasonably timely; and (4) respondent court abused its discretion in awarding costs to the City. We deny the petition in part and grant it in part.

Facts and Procedural History

Petitioner is a free-lance writer and columnist published under the byline “Will Rogers” in the Glendale News-Press, the Burbank Leader and the Foothill Leader. Over a six-month period, he requested from the City, and was provided, approximately 750 pages of public documents, primarily expense account records of city council members and other City employees. One category of…