# Fla. Stat. § 119.12: 119.12 Attorney fees

> Florida · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.12

## Section

- **Citation:** Fla. Stat. § 119.12
- **Heading:** 119.12 Attorney fees
- **Jurisdiction:** Florida
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Florida Code / Title X / Chapter 119 / Section 119.12

## Text

(1) If a civil action is filed against an agency to enforce the provisions of this chapter, the court shall assess and award the reasonable costs of enforcement, including reasonable attorney fees, against the responsible agency if the court determines that: (a) The agency unlawfully refused to permit a public record to be inspected or copied; and (b) The complainant provided written notice identifying the public record request to the agency’s custodian of public records at least 5 business days before filing the civil action, except as provided under subsection (2). The notice period begins on the day the written notice of the request is received by the custodian of public records, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and legal holidays, and runs until 5 business days have elapsed.

(2) The complainant is not required to provide written notice of the public record request to the agency’s custodian of public records as provided in paragraph (1)(b) if the agency does not prominently post the contact information for the agency’s custodian of public records in the agency’s primary administrative building in which public records are routinely created, sent, received, maintained, and requested and on the agency’s website, if the agency has a website.

(3) The court shall determine whether the complainant requested to inspect or copy a public record or participated in the civil action for an improper purpose. If the court determines there was an improper purpose, the court may not assess and award the reasonable costs of enforcement, including reasonable attorney fees, to the complainant, and shall assess and award against the complainant and to the agency the reasonable costs, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by the agency in responding to the civil action. For purposes of this subsection, the term “improper purpose” means a request to inspect or copy a public record or to participate in the civil action primarily to cause a violation of this chapter or for a frivolous purpose.

(4) This section does not create a private right of action authorizing the award of monetary damages for a person who brings an action to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Payments by the responsible agency may include only the reasonable costs of enforcement, including reasonable attorney fees, directly attributable to a civil action brought to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

History: s. 5, ch. 75-225; s. 7, ch. 84-298; s. 13, ch. 2004-335; s. 1, ch. 2017-21.

## Nearby sections

- [Fla. Stat. § 119.01 119.01 General state policy on public records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.01.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.07 119.07 Inspection and copying of records; photographing public records; fees; exemptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.07.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.10 119.10 Violation of chapter; penalties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.10.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.011 119.011 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.011.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.11 119.11 Accelerated hearing; immediate compliance.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.11.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.12 119.12 Attorney fees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.12.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.15 119.15 Legislative review of exemptions from public meeting and public records requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.15.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.021 119.021 Custodial requirements; maintenance, preservation, and retention of public records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.021.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.035 119.035 Officers-elect.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.035.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.071 119.071 General exemptions from inspection or copying of public records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.071.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.084 119.084 Copyright of data processing software created by governmental agencies; sale price and licensing fee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.084.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.092 119.092 Registration by federal employer’s registration number.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.092.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.105 119.105 Protection of victims of crimes or accidents.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.105.md)
- [Fla. Stat. § 119.0701 119.0701 Contracts; public records; request for contractor records; civil action.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.0701.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_FL_TX_C119_S119.12. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.