Opinion ID: 1723461
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: SUBSECTION 13(1)(a).

Text: The FOIA's privacy exemption, subsection 13(1)(a), provides: A public body may exempt from disclosure as a public record under this act: (a) Information of a personal nature where the public disclosure of the information would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of an individual's privacy. [M.C.L. § 15.243, subd. 13(1)(a); M.S.A. § 4.1801(13)(1)(a).] The privacy exemption consists of two elements, both of which must be present for the exemption to apply. First, the information must be of a personal nature. Second, the disclosure of such information must be a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. [18] In the past, we have used two slightly different formulations to describe personal nature. The first defines personal as [o]f or pertaining to a particular person; private; one's own.... Concerning a particular individual and his intimate affairs, interests, or activities; intimate.... [19] We have also defined this threshold inquiry in terms of whether the requested information was personal, intimate, or embarrassing. [20] Combining the salient elements of each description into a more succinct test, we conclude that information is of a personal nature if it reveals intimate or embarrassing details of an individual's private life. We evaluate this standard in terms of the `customs, mores, or ordinary views of the community'.... [21] In these cases, the requested records were provided, under seal, to this Court for our evaluation. With regard to Ms. Bradley, her file contained documents pertaining to corrective or disciplinary actions, complaints filed, and performance evaluations. As for the administrators, their requested records contained administrative performance reviews. Significantly, none of the documents contain information of an embarrassing, intimate, private, or confidential nature, such as medical records or information relating to the plaintiffs' private lives. Moreover, the appellants have not alleged specific private matters that would be revealed by the disclosure of their personnel records. Instead, the requested information consists solely of performance appraisals, disciplinary actions, and complaints relating to the plaintiffs' accomplishments in their public jobs. Because the requested information does not disclose intimate or embarrassing details of the plaintiffs' private lives, we hold that the requested records do not satisfy the personal-nature element of the privacy exemption. Because we conclude that the records are not of a personal nature, it is unnecessary for us to consider whether disclosure of the personnel files is a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy. [22] We hold that the FOIA's privacy exemption does not apply under these facts.