Butt

The petition of plaintiff and appellant Thomas K. Butt for writ of mandate seeking to order defendant and respondent City of Richmond to allow him to inspect itemized public records was denied. He appeals from that portion of the judgment ordering him to pay respondent’s attorney fees and costs and imposing sanctions. We affirm.

Background

On August 29, 1994, appellant filed an ex parte petition for writ of mandate, temporary restraining order, and preliminary injunction. He alleged generally that respondent possessed (1) documents relevant to the proposed utility tax to be paid by Chevron USA; (2) documents relevant to its selection of the architectural/engineering consultant on a public project known as Terminal No. 3 Transit Shed; and (3) reports generated by its investigations of possible building code violations to which appellant had alerted it. He further alleged that these documents were public records not statutorily exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (CPRA) (Gov. Code, div. 7, ch. 3.5, § 6250 et seq.), and that respondent failed and refused to comply with his request to inspect or receive copies thereof. Finally, he alleged that…