Opinion ID: 2626552
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Mr. Blanchard's Testimony

Text: [¶ 30] Dr. Greene's next assertion of error concerns the testimony of Geral Blanchard, a licensed professional counselor in Wyoming, who Dr. Greene called to testify on his behalf. The Board's findings of fact contain the following concerning Mr. Blanchard: 46. Geral Blanchard (Blanchard), a licensed professional counselor in Wyoming, testified on behalf of Dr. Greene. Blanchard has been working in the field of sexual abuse, counseling, teaching, authoring, and working with both victims and perpetrators of sexual crimes for the past 36 years. Blanchard conducted a battery of tests on Dr. Greene and ruled out antisocial personality disorder and sexual addiction. However, Blanchard went on to testify that, There was a deficit that I discovered in training and education around boundaries, the maintenance of boundaries, the development of boundaries, and a limited amount of education on the sexual dilemma that healthcare providers encounter in dealing with patients, some of the vulnerability that patients bring to healthcare providers. Blanchard referred to Dr. Greene as having a deficit in education around sexual dilemmas and the healthcare profession and the need for ongoing and continuous education in that area. [¶ 31] Dr. Greene asserts the Board's finding is arbitrary and capricious because it makes no mention of Mr. Blanchard's testimony on direct examination concerning the factors he considers in determining whether allegations of sexual abuse are exaggerated or false. Although Mr. Blanchard had never met either of the women who filed complaints against Dr. Greene, he was called as a witness for Dr. Greene to testify that individuals with a past history of unresolved sexual abuse sometimes experience transference, meaning that an experience in the present that resembles one from the past can trigger similar feelings and confusions. Mr. Blanchard also testified that in his opinion, in determining whether an allegation of sexual abuse is exaggerated or false, it is important to know whether the individual has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Mr. Blanchard stressed on direct examination the importance of knowing the history of both the accuser and the accused in cases involving allegations of sexual abuse. In its finding, the Board made no mention of this testimony but focused instead on Mr. Blanchard's testimony in response to the Board's questioning about the opinions he formed from tests he performed on Dr. Greene. [¶ 32] In support of his argument that the Board failed to mention all of Mr. Blanchard's testimony, Dr. Greene cites cases in which this Court has emphasized the importance of expert testimony in administrative proceedings involving matters not within the general knowledge of the courts. Devous v. Wyo. State Bd. of Medical Examiners, 845 P.2d 408, 418 (Wyo.1993); Billings v. Wyo. Bd. of Outfitters & Guides (In re Billings) 2001 WY 81, ¶ 18, 30 P.3d 557, 566-67 (Wyo.2001). In those cases, this Court held that without expert testimony supporting the administrative ruling, there was not substantial evidence in the record from which it could be affirmed. Those cases have no application here where the Board allowed the expert testimony. [¶ 33] Dr. Greene also reiterates his argument that he was entitled to disclosure of SS's mental health records. He asserts the records were essential in order for the Board to assess her credibility. As discussed above, mental health records are privileged communications under Wyoming law, subject to disclosure in only limited circumstances. None of the exceptions applied in this case, and Dr. Greene was not entitled to the records. Mr. Blanchard's opinions concerning the importance of such records in making credibility determinations does not change that result. [¶ 34] As the trier of fact, the Board was entitled to give Mr. Blanchard's testimony the weight it concluded it deserved in light of other evidence presented. McIntosh, ¶ 20, 162 P.3d at 489. In addition to Mr. Blanchard's testimony, the Board heard and considered the testimony of SS and Dr. Greene. It is apparent from its lengthy ruling that the Board fully considered all of the evidence presented and reasonably concluded that SS's testimony was credible. We find no error in the Board's failure to make findings concerning the entirety of Mr. Blanchard's testimony in its ruling.