Section 8 of the Right-to-Know Law defines what remedies may be applied to violations of chapter 91-A.
I. If any public body or agency or employee or member thereof, in violation of the provisions of this chapter, refuses to provide a governmental record or refuses access to a governmental proceeding to a person who reasonably requests the same, such public body, public agency, or person shall be liable for reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in a lawsuit under this chapter provided that the court finds that such lawsuit was necessary in order to make the information available or the proceeding open to the public.
Fees shall not be awarded unless the court finds that the public body, public agency, or person knew or should have known that the conduct engaged in was a violation of this chapter or where the parties, by agreement, provide that no such fees shall be paid.
In any case where fees are awarded under this chapter, upon a finding that an officer, employee, or other official of a public body or agency has acted in bad faith in refusing to allow access to a governmental proceeding or to provide a governmental record, the court may award such fees personally against such officer, employee, or other official.
I-a. The court may award attorney's fees to a public body or public agency or employee or member thereof, for having to defend against a person's lawsuit under the provisions of this chapter, when the court makes an affirmative finding that the lawsuit is in bad faith, frivolous, unjust, vexatious, wanton, or oppressive.
II. The court may invalidate an action of a public body or agency taken at a meeting held in violation of the provisions of this chapter, if the circumstance justify the invalidation.
III. In addition to any other relief awarded pursuant to this chapter, the court may issue an order to enjoin future violations of this chapter.
This is NOT the current language of this law. This language was in effect from July 1, 2008 until January 1, 2013. The previous language was effective July 17, 2001. The original language was effective July 7, 1973. This language of the RSA was changed by these session laws: 2008, 303; 2001, 289; 1986, 83; 1977, 540; 1973, 113.
I. If any public body or agency or employee or member thereof, in
violation of the provisions of this chapter, refuses to provide a
[public]governmental record or refuses access to a [public]governmental proceeding to a
person who reasonably requests the same, such public body,
public agency, or person shall be liable for reasonable attorney's fees and
costs incurred in a lawsuit under this chapter provided that the court
finds that such lawsuit was necessary in order to make the information
available or the proceeding open to the public.
Fees shall not be awarded unless the court finds that the public body,
public agency, or person knew or should have known that the conduct
engaged in was a violation of this chapter or where the parties, by
agreement, provide that no such fees shall be paid.
In any case where fees are awarded under this chapter, upon a finding
that an officer, employee, or other official of a public body or agency
has acted in bad faith in refusing to allow access to a [public]governmental
proceeding or to provide a [public]governmental record, the court may award such
fees personally against such officer, employee, or other official.
I-a. The court may award attorney[s']'s fees to a
[board,]public body or public
agency or employee or member thereof, for having to defend against a
person's lawsuit under the provisions of this chapter, when the court
makes an affirmative finding that the lawsuit is in bad faith,
frivolous, unjust, vexatious, wanton, or oppressive.
II. The court may invalidate an action of a public body or agency taken at a meeting held in violation of the provisions of this chapter, if the circumstance justify the invalidation.
III. In addition to any other relief awarded pursuant to this chapter, the court may issue an order to enjoin future violations of this chapter.