Opinion ID: 2258806
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Defendant Invaded Plaintiffs' Privacy by Using a Private Family Evaluation

Text: Count XXXI alleges that defendant Dunigan violated plaintiffs' right to privacy by obtaining and disseminating the private evaluation prepared by Champlain Valley Psychiatric Services although she had been denied access to the report by Jeffrey Billado. Jeff's affidavit stated that defendant asked him for a copy of the report and a release and he refused. Thereafter, defendant used information from the report in her affidavit in support of the 1990 CHINS petition. The affidavit contained misrepresentations about the report. Defendant's affidavit in support of summary judgment indicates she obtained the report from Melanie, and this is supported by Melanie's affidavit. Defendant's affidavit that accompanied the CHINS petition noted the completion of the report and itemized Melanie's deficiencies, emphasizing the great concern of the report authors that Melanie disregarded the requirement prohibiting contact between the children and Vincelette and intended to continue to disregard it. The affidavit stated that SRS was continuing to investigate a charge that Vincelette had sexually assaulted Brandi. With respect to Jeff, it said that the report found a psychological profile of a somewhat suspicious and guarded individual who can be overly hostile, resentful and argumentative, and tends to project blame onto others for his personal problems. It concluded that the report authors had reservations about both parents in regard to sole custody of the children. Apparently, plaintiffs rely on some amorphous constitutional right to privacy as the basis for their § 1983 claim. They have failed to define it in any of their filings, and we find it too general to allow realistic analysis. See Hodge v. Jones, 31 F.3d 157, 167 (4th Cir.1994). Moreover, we fail to see why Melanie's release of the report, even if it was otherwise confidential and privileged, did not give defendant the right to rely on it in a confidential juvenile proceeding. Even if plaintiffs could make out a constitutional violation, defendant's actions were covered by qualified immunity.