Nast v. Michels

In Nast v. Michels, 107 Wn.2d 300, 303-04, 730 P.2d 54 (1986) the Court held the public disclosure act did not provide access to court case files even though the Act did not provide an exemption prohibiting their disclosure. The court reasoned the common law provided access to court case files; the public disclosure act (which includes the public records act) did not specifically include courts or court case files in its definitions; and that to interpret the Act to allow access to court case files would undo developed case law protecting privacy and government interests. Id. at 307.