Corona’s 998 offer was not ambiguous. Though the City had received two public records requests for the same information and had voluntarily given the information to the other requester, not Kinney, the City’s 998 offer was unambiguous in offering to give the requested information to Kinney (plus $2,500 in attorney fees) in return for dismissal of the action. Kinney obtained no greater relief from the action, just release of the requested information. So his fee award had to be limited to the amount incurred before the 998 offer, $2,475.