Court Opinion

ID: 9410502
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-07-21 16:10:23.958721+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:58.147506
License: Public Domain

J-A29024-22

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT OP 65.37

 M.W.M.                                 :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                        :        PENNSYLVANIA
                   Appellant            :
                                        :
                                        :
              v.                        :
                                        :
                                        :
 JOSEPH A. BUZOGANY, M.D.,              :   No. 379 WDA 2022
 ARMSTRONG-INDIANA BEHAVIORAL           :
 AND DEVELOPMENTAL HEALTH               :
 PROGRAM, INDIANA REGIONAL              :
 MEDICAL CENTER, BARBARA A.             :
 MCKEE AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF          :
 THE ESTATE OF DONALD L. MCKEE,         :
 ESQUIRE, THE COUNTY OF INDIANA,        :
 PA, AMY CLINE, LOUISE KELLER
 BIVENS, MSW, AND SALLY PRUGH

              Appeal from the Order Entered March 10, 2022
  In the Court of Common Pleas of Indiana County Civil Division at No(s):
                             12227 CD 2018

 M.W.M.                                 :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                        :        PENNSYLVANIA
                   Appellant            :
                                        :
                                        :
              v.                        :
                                        :
                                        :
 JOSEPH A. BUZOGANY, M.D.,              :   No. 380 WDA 2022
 ARMSTRONG-INDIANA BEHAVIORAL           :
 AND DEVELOPMENTAL HEALTH               :
 PROGRAM, INDIANA REGIONAL              :
 MEDICAL CENTER, BARBARA A.             :
 MCKEE AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF          :
 THE ESTATE OF DONALD L. MCKEE,         :
 ESQUIRE, THE COUNTY OF INDIANA,        :
 PA, AMY CLINE, LOUISE KELLER           :
 BIVENS, MSW, AND SALLY PRUGH           :
J-A29024-22

                Appeal from the Order Entered March 10, 2022
    In the Court of Common Pleas of Indiana County Civil Division at No(s):
                               12227 CD 2018

BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., OLSON, J., and KUNSELMAN, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.:                         FILED: July 21, 2023

       In this consolidated appeal, Appellant, M.W.M., appeals from two March

10, 2022 orders entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Indiana County that

granted, in part, two motions to compel specific responses to interrogatories,

as well as the production of Appellant’s medical, mental health, and substance

abuse treatment records. One of the orders granted a motion to compel filed

by Joseph A. Buzogany, M.D. (“Dr. Buzogany”), and the other granted a

motion to compel filed jointly by Donald L. McKee, Esquire (“Attorney McKee”)

and the County of Indiana, Pennsylvania (“Indiana County”).1 We affirm the
____________________________________________

1 The appeal docketed in this Court at 379 WDA 2022 involves Appellant’s
appeal from the March 10, 2022 order granting, in part, the motion to compel
specific responses and the production of documents filed by Dr. Buzogany, as
discussed in greater detail infra (referred to as “Trial Court Order
(Buzogany)”). The appeal docketed in this Court at 380 WDA 2022 involves
Appellant’s appeal from a separate March 10, 2022 order granting, in part,
the motion to compel specific responses and the production of documents filed
by Attorney McKee and Indiana County, as discussed in greater detail infra
(referred to as “Trial Court Order (McKee)”). In a May 22, 2022 per curiam
order, this Court, sua sponte, consolidated the two appeals.

During the events giving rise to Appellant’s causes of action, Attorney McKee
worked with the Public Defender’s Office of Indiana County and represented
Appellant at a mental health commitment hearing, as discussed more fully
infra. Attorney McKee is now deceased, and his interests are represented by
Barbara A. McKee, as the Administrator of the Estate of Donald L. McKee. See
Trial Court Order, 12/24/20. The caption of the appeal docketed at 379 WDA

                                           -2-
J-A29024-22

March 10, 2022 orders but remand this case for further proceedings in

accordance with this memorandum.2

       The trial court summarized the factual history as follows:

       This case involves an incident that occurred on December 20,
       2016. The Pennsylvania State Police received a [telephone] call
       indicating that [Appellant] was contemplating suicide. This report
       led to an altercation between [Appellant] and the Pennsylvania
       State Police[. Appellant] was tased during the incident. It was
____________________________________________

2022 reflected this development, and we have corrected the caption in the
appeal filed at 380 WDA 2022 accordingly. For ease of identification, we refer
to Barbara A. McKee as Administrator of the Estate of Donald L. McKee simply
as “Attorney McKee.”

Armstrong-Indiana Behavioral and Developmental Health Program (“BDHP”),
Indiana Regional Medical Center (“IRMC”), Amy Cline (“Cline”), Louise Keller
Bivens, MSW (“Bivens”), and Sally Prugh (“Prugh”) did not participate in the
consolidated appeals, as they were not parties to any effort to compel more
specific discovery responses and demand the production of mental health
records. Moreover, we have corrected the captions of the consolidated
appeals to reflect the fact that the trial court struck the Public Defender’s
Office of Indiana County as a party from this litigation. See Trial Court Order,
5/27/20.

2On August 1, 2022, Attorney McKee and Indiana County filed a supplemental
reproduced record with this Court that contained excerpts from Appellant’s
wife’s deposition. Supplemental Reproduced Record, 8/1/22, at 29-33. On
August 2, 2022, Appellant filed, with this Court, a motion to strike that portion
of the supplemental reproduced record filed by Attorney McKee and Indiana
County. Attorney McKee and Indiana County filed a response to Appellant’s
motion to strike with this Court on August 8, 2022.

It is well-established that, “for purposes of appellate review, what is not in the
certified record does not exist.” Ruspi v. Glatz, 69 A.3d 680, 691 (Pa. Super.
2013), appeal denied, 81 A.3d 78 (Pa. 2013). A review of the certified record
in the case sub judice demonstrates that Appellant’s wife’s deposition is not
part of the record. As such, we grant Appellant’s motion to strike the excerpts
of his wife’s deposition that are contained within the supplemental reproduced
record submitted by Attorney McKee and Indiana County.

                                           -3-
J-A29024-22

       later determined that [Appellant] was under the influence of
       prescribed medication and alcohol during this altercation.
       [Appellant] was taken into custody and transported to IRMC.
       While at IRMC, [Appellant’s] wife executed the documents
       necessary to have [Appellant] involuntarily committed under 50
       P.S. [§ ]7302[ (relating to the involuntary emergency
       examination and treatment authorized by a physician to
       determine whether the person is severely mentally disabled and
       in need of immediate mental health treatment).3 Appellant] was
____________________________________________

3 Section 7302 of the Mental Health Procedures Act, 50 P.S. §§ 7101 - 7503
(“MHPA”), states, in pertinent part, as follows:

           § 7302. Involuntary emergency examination and
        treatment authorized by a physician - Not to exceed one
                        hundred twenty hours

       (a) Application for Examination. - Emergency examination
       may be undertaken at a treatment facility upon the certification of
       a physician stating the need for such examination; or upon a
       warrant issued by the county administrator authorizing such
       examination; or without a warrant upon application by a physician
       or other authorized person who has personally observed conduct
       showing the need for such examination.

          (1) Warrant for Emergency Examination. - Upon
          written application by a physician or other responsible party
          setting forth facts constituting reasonable grounds to
          believe a person is severely mentally disabled and in need
          of immediate treatment, the county administrator may issue
          a warrant requiring a person authorized by him, or any
          peace officer, to take such person to the facility specified in
          the warrant.

          (2)     Emergency        Examination        Without        a
          Warrant. - Upon personal observation of the conduct of a
          person constituting reasonable grounds to believe that he is
          severely mentally disabled and in need of immediate
          treatment, and physician or peace officer, or anyone
          authorized by the county administrator may take such
          person to an approved facility for an emergency
          examination.     Upon arrival, he shall make a written

                                           -4-
J-A29024-22

        evaluated by [Dr.] Buzogany and a [commitment] hearing under
        50 P.S. [§ ]7303[ (relating to the extended involuntary
        emergency mental health treatment certified by a judge or mental
        health review officer)4] was held.

____________________________________________

           statement setting forth the grounds for believing the person
           to be in need of such examination.

        (b) Examination and Determination of Need for Emergency
        Treatment. - A person taken to a facility shall be examined by a
        physician within two hours of arrival in order to determine if the
        person is severely mentally disabled within the meaning of [50
        P.S. § 7301(b)(1)] and in need of immediate treatment. If it is
        determined that the person is severely mentally disabled and in
        need of emergency treatment, treatment shall be begun
        immediately. If the physician does not so find, or if at any time it
        appears there is no longer a need for immediate treatment, the
        person shall be discharged and returned to such place as he may
        reasonably direct. The physician shall make a record of the
        examination and his findings. In no event shall a person be
        accepted for involuntary emergency treatment if a previous
        application was granted for such treatment and the new
        application is not based on behavior occurring after the earlier
        application.

50 P.S. § 7302(a) and (b).

4   Section 7303 of the MHPA states, in pertinent part, as follows:

           § 7303. Extended involuntary emergency treatment
         certified by a judge or mental health review officer - Not
                           to exceed twenty days

        (a) Persons Subject to Extended Involuntary Emergency
        Treatment. - Application for extended involuntary emergency
        treatment may be made for any person who is being treated
        pursuant to [50 P.S. § 7302] whenever the facility determines
        that the need for emergency treatment is likely to extend beyond
        120 hours. The application shall be filed forthwith in the court of
        common pleas, and shall state the grounds on which extended
        emergency treatment is believed to be necessary. The application

                                           -5-
J-A29024-22

Trial Court Order (Buzogany), 3/10/22, at ¶1; see also Trial Court Order

(McKee), 3/10/22, at ¶1.           Upon conclusion of the December 22, 2016

commitment hearing, a mental health review officer authorized Appellant’s

extended commitment pursuant to Section 7303 of the MHPA.

       Sometime thereafter, Appellant filed a petition for review of the

certification for his involuntary emergency examination and treatment

(“petition for review”). Appellant’s petition for review was docketed at trial

court docket number 12250 CD 2016. On December 27, 2018, the trial court

granted Appellant’s petition for review, finding that the warrant for Appellant’s

emergency examination was not properly issued and that Appellant’s due

process rights, as they pertain to the involuntary commitment process under

the MPHA, were violated. Trial Court Opinion and Order (12250 CD 2016),

12/27/18, at 8, 12. In granting Appellant’s petition for review, the trial court

vacated Appellant involuntary commitment under Section 7303 and expunged

Appellant’s records of involuntary commitment under Section 7302 and

Section 7303.5 Id.

____________________________________________

       shall state the name of any examining physician and the
       substance of his opinion regarding the mental condition of the
       person.

50 P.S. § 7303(a).

5The trial court’s opinion and order, expunging Appellant’s Section 7302 and
Section 7303 commitment record, was made part of the certified record in the
case sub judice as an attachment to Appellant’s motion to determine the
necessity to file a certificate of merit as to, inter alia, Dr. Buzogany.

                                           -6-
J-A29024-22

        Appellant subsequently filed a legal action against Dr. Buzogany,

Attorney McKee, Indiana County, BDHP, IRMC, Cline, Bivens, and Prugh

alleging they violated his due process rights and, as to certain defendants,

committed professional malpractice during the intake process in December

2016. On December 12, 2019, Appellant filed a third amended complaint,

asserting the following causes of action: Count I - violations of his

constitutional rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments; Count

II - violations of his procedural due process rights; Count III - violations of his

substantive due process rights; Count IV – gross negligence and willful

misconduct under Section 7114(a) of the MHPA;6 Count V – legal malpractice;

and Count VI – professional malpractice.7            Third Amended Complaint,

____________________________________________

6   Section 7114(a) of the MHPA states,

        In the absence of willful misconduct or gross negligence, a county
        administrator, a director of a facility, a physician, a peace officer
        or any other authorized person who participates in a decision that
        a person be examined or treated under this act, or that a person
        be discharged, or placed under partial hospitalization, outpatient
        care or leave of absence, or that the restraint upon such person
        be otherwise reduced, or a county administrator or other
        authorized person who denies an application for voluntary
        treatment or for involuntary emergency examination and
        treatment, shall not be civilly or criminally liable for such decision
        or for any of its consequences.

50 P.S. § 7114(a).

7 In the third amended complaint, Counts I, II, and III involved Indiana
County, Dr. Buzogany, Attorney McKee, BDHP, Cline, IRMC, Prugh, and
Bivens; Count IV involved Indiana County, BDHP, and Cline; Count V involved

                                           -7-
J-A29024-22

12/12/19, at ¶¶116 – 252. After discovery commenced, Attorney McKee and

Indiana County filed a motion to compel Appellant to fully respond to questions

1 and 2 of their first request for production of documents (“Attorney McKee

and Indiana County’s motion to compel”).8 See Attorney McKee and Indiana

County’s Motion to Compel, 9/25/20, at ¶3.            In their motion to compel,

Attorney McKee and Indiana County asserted, inter alia, that Appellant

impliedly waived any confidentiality privilege by placing his mental health at

issue in the pending litigation. Id. at ¶13. On October 13, 2020, Appellant

filed a reply and a brief in opposition to Attorney McKee and Indiana County’s

motion to compel.

       On November 18, 2020, Dr. Buzogany filed a motion to compel more

specific responses to his interrogatories, numbered 6 through 9, and to his

request for production of documents, numbered 3, contained within his first

set of interrogatories and requests for production of documents (“Dr.

Buzogany’s motion to compel”).9            In his motion to compel, Dr. Buzogany
____________________________________________

Indiana County and Attorney McKee; and Count VI involved Dr. Buzogany,
IRMC, and Bivens. Third Amended Complaint, 12/12/19, at ¶¶116 – 252.

8 Attorney McKee and Indiana County’s motion to compel “relates to said
[parties’] efforts, through discovery, to obtain records and information relating
to [Appellant’s] history of medical and mental health treatment from January
1, 2013, to December 19, 2016[, with s]pecific emphasis [] placed upon
records from September 2016.” Trial Court Order (McKee), 3/10/22, at ¶4.

9 Dr. Buzogany's motion to compel “relates to [Dr.] Buzogany's efforts,
through discovery, to obtain records and information relating to [Appellant’s]
history of medical and mental health treatment, as well as any substance

                                           -8-
J-A29024-22

asserted that Appellant impliedly waived any confidentiality privilege to his

mental health records by placing his mental health history directly at issue in

the current litigation. Dr. Buzogany’s Motion to Compel, 11/18/20, at ¶¶21,

25-26.    Appellant filed a response to Dr. Buzogany’s motion to compel on

January 25, 2021.

       On March 10, 2022, the trial court granted, in part, Dr. Buzogany’s

motion to compel. Trial Court Order (Buzogany), 3/10/22, at 6. Specifically,

the trial court ordered disclosure of all “records and information relating to

[Appellant’s] history of medical and mental health treatment, as well as any

substance abuse treatment, for the five-year period from December 20, 2011,

to December 19, 2016.” Id. (stating, “[t]o the extent [Dr. Buzogany’s motion

to compel] requests additional responses, said [m]otion is [denied]”). That

same day, the trial court granted, in part, Attorney McKee and Indiana

County’s motion to compel.            Trial Court Order (McKee), 3/10/22, at 6.

Specifically, the trial court ordered responses to “all discovery requests

seeking records and information relating to [Appellant’s] history of medical

and mental health treatment, as well as any substance abuse treatment, for

the period from January 1, 2013, to December 19, 2016.” Id. (stating, “[t]o

the extent [Attorney McKee and Indiana County’s motion to compel] requests

____________________________________________

abuse treatment, for the ten-year period preceding the treatment identified in
the third amended complaint.” Trial Court Order (Buzogany), 3/10/22, at ¶4
(extraneous capitalization omitted).

                                           -9-
J-A29024-22

additional responses, said [m]otion is [denied]”). As part of both March 10,

2022 orders, the trial court directed that all records produced in response to

Dr. Buzogany’s and Attorney McKee and Indiana County’s requests be

summitted to the trial court for in-camera review.       The trial court further

stated that, upon review of the submitted records, the trial court “shall exclude

all records, the discovery of which is contrary to the findings of” the March 10,

2022 orders.     Trial Court Order (Buzogany), 3/10/22, at 6; see also Trial

Court Order (McKee), 3/10/22, at 6. This appeal followed.10

       Appellant raises the following issues for our review:

       1.     Did the [trial] court commit an error of law and set a
              dangerously broad new precedent by deciding that when a
              plaintiff challenges the denial of his due process and
              statutory rights during the involuntary commitment
              process, mental health records from beyond the 30-day
              statutory window are relevant to whether a person was a
              danger to himself or whether [a] defendant[] violated
              plaintiff[’]s rights during the commitment process?

       2.     Did the [trial] court misapply Octave[ v. Walker, 103 A.3d
              1255 (Pa. 2014)] and set a dangerously broad new
              precedent by deciding that [] anyone who asserts a claim
              that [his or her] rights were violated during the involuntary
              commitment process has necessarily and impliedly waived
              confidentiality and privilege as to 5-years' worth of mental
              health, psychiatric, medical, and substance abuse treatment
              records?

____________________________________________

10Both Appellant and the trial court complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925. On April
18, 2022, the trial court filed its Rule 1925(a) opinion, stating it relied upon
the opinions that accompanied the March 10, 2022 orders. Trial Court
Opinion, 4/18/22.

                                          - 10 -
J-A29024-22

       3.     Did the [trial] court abuse its discretion by ignoring that
              there were less intrusive means by which [Dr. Buzogany,
              Attorney McKee, and Indiana County] could obtain
              information they sought and by refusing to require
              continuing confidentiality?

Appellant’s Brief at 4 (extraneous capitalization omitted).11
____________________________________________

11 Appellant appeals from two orders overruling his claims of evidentiary
privilege to his medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment
records and requiring disclosure of this information. These two orders are
immediately appealable as collateral orders pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of
Appellate Procedure 313(b). See Pa.R.A.P. 313(b) (stating, “[a] collateral
order is an order separable from and collateral to the main cause of action
where the right involved is too important to be denied review and the question
presented is such that if review is postponed until final judgment in the case,
the claim will be irreparably lost”); see also Commonwealth v. Harris, 32
A.3d 243, 251 (Pa. 2011) (stating, “orders overruling claims of privilege and
requiring disclosure are immediately appealable under [Rule 313(b)]”).

We are cognizant that Indiana County, a political subdivision of this
Commonwealth, is a defendant-party in Appellant’s underlying cause of
action. As such, we must preliminarily examine whether this Court has
jurisdiction over the instant matter, or if the case should be transferred to the
Commonwealth Court. See Smith v. Ivy Lee Real Estate, LLC, 152 A.3d
1062, 1065 (Pa. Super. 2016) (stating, “this Court may, sua sponte, raise the
issue of whether an appeal should be transferred to the Commonwealth
Court”).

“Chapter Seven of the Judicial Code sets forth the legislatively ordained
division of labor between appellate courts in Pennsylvania.” Mohn v. Bucks
County Republican Comm., 218 A.3d 927, 930 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation
and original quotation marks omitted); see also 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 702 - 764.
Section 742 of the Judicial Code states, “[this Court] shall have exclusive
appellate jurisdiction of all appeals from final orders of the courts of common
pleas, regardless of the nature of the controversy or the amount involved,
except such classes of appeals as are by any provision of this chapter within
the exclusive jurisdiction of [our] Supreme Court or the Commonwealth
Court.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 742 (emphasis added). Section 762 of the Judicial
Code, in pertinent part, states,

                § 762. Appeals from courts of common pleas

                                          - 11 -
J-A29024-22

____________________________________________

       (a) General rule. - Except as provided in subsection (b)
       [(relating to appeals from court of common pleas cases within the
       exclusive jurisdiction of our Supreme Court)], the Commonwealth
       Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of appeals from final
       orders of the courts of common pleas in the following cases:

       ...

          (4) Local government civil and criminal matters. –

              (i) All actions or proceedings arising under any
              municipality, institution district, public school,
              planning or zoning code or under which a municipality
              or other political subdivision or municipality authority
              may be formed or incorporated or where is drawn in
              question     the     application,  interpretation     or
              enforcement of any:

                 (A) statute regulating the affairs of political
                 subdivisions, municipality and other local
                 authorities or other public corporations or of the
                 officers, employees or agents thereof, acting in
                 their official capacity;

       ...

          (7) Immunity waiver matters. - Matters conducted pursuant
          to Subchapter C of Chapter 85 (relating to actions against
          local parties).

42 Pa.C.S.A. § 762(a)(4)(i)(A) and (7) (emphasis added).

Thus, pursuant to our statutory scheme, appeals from final orders of the
court of common pleas involving statutes regulating the affairs or general
operations of counties or potential immunity defenses available to counties
fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Court. Id.; see
also Wheatcroft v. Auritt, 312 A.2d 441, 446 (Pa. Super. 1973) (defining
“affairs of political subdivisions” to mean the “business” or “general
operations” of the political subdivision); 42 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 8541 - 8564
(pertaining to matters affecting government units – actions against local
parties); 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8501 (defining “local party” or “local agency” as “[a]

                                          - 12 -
J-A29024-22

____________________________________________

government unit other than the Commonwealth government”); 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 102 (defining “government unit” as including “any political subdivision”).

We acknowledge that this Court, in an en banc decision, held that appeals
from final orders of the court of common pleas involving substantive
matters enumerated in Section 762 are within the exclusive jurisdiction of
the Commonwealth Court, and such appeals, if filed with this Court or
transferred to this Court, must be transferred to the Commonwealth Court for
disposition. Mohn, supra. Our decision in Mohn, however, is distinguishable
from the case sub judice in that the orders on appeal in the instant case are
collateral orders involving evidentiary privileges afforded by the MHPA and the
Pennsylvania      Drug    and    Alcohol     Abuse    Control     Act,   71    P.S.
§§ 1690.101 - 1690.115, (“DAA”), as discussed more fully infra. These two
orders are not final orders involving substantive issues concerning one of the
seven subject matters enumerated in Section 762(a). Therefore, because the
appeal in the case sub judice has been perfected and the defendant-parties
do not contest this Court’s jurisdiction, we find, under these circumstances,
that this Court has discretion to retain jurisdiction or to transfer this case to
the Commonwealth Court. See Trumbull Corp. v. Boss Constr., Inc., 747
A.2d 395, 398-399 (Pa. Super. 2000); see also 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 704(a)
(stating, “[t]he failure of an appellee to file an objection to the jurisdiction of
an appellate court within such time as may be specified by general rule, shall,
unless the appellate court otherwise orders, operate to perfect the appellate
jurisdiction of such appellate court, notwithstanding any provision of this title,
or of any general rule adopted pursuant to section 503 (relating to
reassignment of matters), vesting jurisdiction of such appeal in another
appellate court”); 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 741(a) (stating, “[t]he failure of an appellee
to file an objection to the jurisdiction of an appellate court on or prior to the
last day under these rules for the filing of the record shall, unless the appellate
court shall otherwise order, operate to perfect the appellate jurisdiction of
such appellate court, notwithstanding any provision of law vesting jurisdiction
of such appeal in another appellate court”).

       In determining whether to retain jurisdiction or transfer an appeal,
       we balance the interests of the parties and matters of judicial
       economy against other factors, including: (1) whether the case
       has already been transferred; (2) whether retaining jurisdiction
       will disrupt the legislatively ordained division of labor between the
       intermediate appellate courts; and (3) whether there is a
       possibility of establishing two conflicting lines of authority on a

                                          - 13 -
J-A29024-22

____________________________________________

       particular subject. We examine each potential transfer on a
       case-by-case basis.

Smith, 152 A.3d at 1065 (citations and quotation marks omitted); see also
Trumbull, 747 A.2d at 399; Mohn, 218 A.3d at 934.

In the case sub judice, Appellant asserts that this Court has jurisdiction
pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 742 (see Appellant’s Brief at 1), and the
defendant-parties did not object to this Court having jurisdiction over the
matter. Although Indiana County, at its request, was excused from oral
argument concerning Appellant’s appeal, the parties involved in the instant
appeal filed appellate briefs in this matter (Indiana County filed an appellee’s
brief, jointly with Attorney McKee). The issues on appeal, as discussed in
greater detail infra, surround the evidentiary protections afforded by the MHPA
and DAA.       Our research reveals that issues involving the evidentiary
protections afforded by the MHPA and the DAA have been almost exclusively
reviewed by this Court. See e.g., Commonwealth v. Nuzzo, 284 A.3d 1243
(Pa. Super. 2022); see also Gates v. Gates, 967 A.2d 1024 (Pa. Super.
2009); T.M. v. Elwyn, Inc., 950 A.2d 1050 (Pa. Super. 2008); but see
Johnsonbaugh v. Dept. of Public Welfare, 665 A.2d 20 (Pa. Commw. Ct.
1995).

After much consideration, we decline to transfer this case to the
Commonwealth Court. Smith, 152 A.3d at 1065; see also Trumbull, 747
A.2d at 399. The interests of judicial economy, as well as the interests of the
parties, are best served by this Court retaining jurisdiction of this appeal.
Furthermore, our disposition herein will not disrupt the division of labor
between this Court and the Commonwealth Court, nor will it result in
conflicting lines of authority. Smith, 152 A.3d at 1065. Moreover, the issues
to be resolved in the instant appeal do not involve substantive matters
enumerated in Section 762. We advise the parties, however, that if Indiana
County remains a defendant-party, the ultimate resolution of this matter is
likely to involve, inter alia, an analysis and interpretation of statutes regulating
the general operations of Indiana County’s mental health treatment programs
and facilities (see generally 50 P.S. §§ 4301 - 4305), as well as its office of
public defender (see generally 16 P.S. §§ 9960.1 - 9960.13), and statutes
governing any possible immunity defenses afforded to Indiana County (see
e.g. 50 P.S. § 9114; see also 50 P.S. § 4603). As such, an appeal of a final
order in the case sub judice would properly lie with the Commonwealth Court
pursuant to Section 762. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 762(a)(4)(i)(A) and (7).

                                          - 14 -
J-A29024-22

        Appellant’s issues, in toto, challenge the trial court’s orders that

compelled more complete responses and more expansive production of

documents related to his medical, mental health, and substance abuse

treatment records as part of the discovery proceedings in the pending action.12

Id. at 24-47. Appellant asserts that his mental health and substance abuse

treatment records are protected by Section 7111 of the MHPA13 and Section

____________________________________________

12Appellant concedes that the defendant-parties are entitled to receive copies
of his medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment records
generated during the 30-day period prior to December 20, 2016. Appellant’s
Brief at 10, 27. As such, Appellant’s appeal is limited to a challenge of the
production of medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment records
generated prior to the 30-day period leading up to December 20, 2016.

13   Section 7111 of the MHPA states as follows:

                       § 7111. Confidentiality of records

        (a) All documents concerning persons in treatment shall be kept
        confidential and, without the person's written consent, may not be
        released or their contents disclosed to anyone except:

        (1) those engaged in providing treatment for the person;

        (2) the county administrator, pursuant to [50 P.S. § 7110];

        (3) a court in the course of legal proceedings authorized by this
        act;

        (4) pursuant to Federal rules, statutes and regulations governing
        disclosure of patient information where treatment is undertaken
        in a Federal agency; and

        (5) a covered entity or a covered entity's business associate that
        makes the use, disclosure or request for disclosure in accordance

                                          - 15 -
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1690.108 of the DAA, which relates to the confidentiality of drug and alcohol

treatment records.14 Appellant’s Brief at 34.
____________________________________________

       with [45 C.F.R. §§ 164.500 – 164.534] (relating to privacy of
       individually identifiable health information).

       In no event, however, shall privileged communications, whether
       written or oral, be disclosed to anyone without such written
       consent. This shall not restrict the collection and analysis of
       clinical or statistical data by the department, the county
       administrator[,] or the facility so long as the use and
       dissemination of such data does not identify individual patients.
       Nothing herein shall be construed to conflict with [Section
       1690.108 of the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act,
       71 P.S. 1690.108.]

       (b) This section shall not restrict judges of the courts of common
       pleas, mental health review officers[,] and county mental health
       and mental retardation administrators from disclosing information
       to the Pennsylvania State Police or the Pennsylvania State Police
       from disclosing information to any person, in accordance with the
       provisions of 18 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 6105(c)(4) (relating to persons not
       to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell[,] or transfer firearms).

50 P.S. § 7111.

14 Section 1690.108 of the DAA, in pertinent part, states that “patient records
and all information contained therein relating to drug or alcohol abuse or drug
or alcohol dependence prepared or obtained by a private practitioner, hospital,
clinic, drug rehabilitation[,] or drug treatment center[,]” except patient
records of a federally assisted program, “shall remain confidential and may
not be disclosed without a patient's consent” and shall only be disclosed, upon
consent, to:

       (i) to medical personnel exclusively for purposes of diagnosis and
       treatment of the patient;

       (ii) to the parent or legal guardian of a minor or any other
       designee for which the patient has provided consent;

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       Generally, our standard of review for discovery orders is as follows:

       In reviewing the propriety of a discovery order, our standard of
       review is whether the trial court committed an abuse of discretion.
       Abuse of discretion occurs if the trial court renders a judgment
       that is manifestly unreasonable, arbitrary[,] or capricious; that
       fails to apply the law; or that is motivated by partiality, prejudice,
       bias[,] or ill-will.

Carlino East Brandywine, L.P. v. Brandywine Village Assoc., 260 A.3d

179, 195-196 (Pa. Super. 2021) (citations, quotation marks, and original

brackets omitted). When a challenge to a discovery order involves statutory

interpretation, however, we address the issue presented as a question of law

for which our standard of review is de novo and our scope of review is plenary.

Octave, 103 A.3d at 1259; see also Nuzzo, 284 A.3d at 1252.

       Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 4003.1 sets forth a general

threshold for discovery of documents and information, in pertinent part, as

follows:

       Rule 4003.1. Scope of Discovery Generally. Opinions and
                             Contentions

____________________________________________

       (iii) to government or other officials exclusively for the purpose of
       obtaining benefits due the patient as a result of his drug or alcohol
       abuse or drug or alcohol dependence; or

       (iv) to a covered entity or a covered entity's business associate
       that makes the use, disclosure[,] or request for disclosure in
       accordance with [45 C.F.R. §§ 164.500 – 164.534 (relating to
       privacy of individually identifiable health care information reported
       to health care clearinghouses)].

71 P.S. § 1690.108(c).

                                          - 17 -
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      (a) Subject to the provisions of Rules 4003.2 to 4003.5 inclusive
      and Rule 4011, a party may obtain discovery regarding any
      matter, not privileged, which is relevant to the subject matter
      involved in the pending action, whether it relates to the claim or
      defense of the party seeking discovery or to the claim or defense
      of any other party, including the existence, description, nature,
      content, custody, condition[,] and location of any books,
      documents, or other tangible things and the identity and location
      of persons having knowledge of any discoverable matter.

      (b) It is not ground for objection that the information sought will
      be inadmissible at the trial if the information sought appears
      reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible
      evidence.

Pa.R.Civ.P. 4003.1; see also Cooper v. Schoffstall, 905 A.2d 482, 522 (Pa.

2006) (stating that, generally, a document or information is discoverable if

that document or information is “reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery

of admissible evidence”). In addition to the requirement that the document

or information be reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible

evidence, the document or information must not be subject to an evidentiary

privilege. Pa.R.Civ.P. 4003.1 (a).

      Evidentiary privileges, such as the protections cited by Appellant and

afforded by the MHPA and the DAA, have been viewed by appellate courts “to

be in derogation of the search for truth and are generally disfavored for this

reason.” Octave, 103 A.3d at 1262. Therefore, such evidentiary privileges

are to be strictly construed. Id.; see also Nuzzo, 284 A.3d at 1252.

      The confidentiality of patient records is the sine qua non of effective

treatment because it encourages patients “to offer information about

themselves freely and without suffering from fear of disclosure of one’s most

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intimate expressions to others and the mistrust that the possibility of

disclosure would engender.” Octave, 103 A.3d at 1260, see also Zane v.

Friends Hosp., 836 A.2d 25, 33 (Pa. 2003); Nuzzo, 284 A.3d at 1250.

Absent an express waiver of confidentiality, i.e. a signed waiver,15 a finding of

implied waiver pertaining to treatment records is disfavored and has been

recognized by Pennsylvania courts in only one, limited circumstance – where

a plaintiff initiates a civil action and seeks to use a confidentiality privilege,

such as Section 7111 of the MHPA, to shield disclosure of treatment records

that the plaintiff could reasonably have foreseen would be placed directly at

issue by the cause of action. Octave, 103 A.3d at 1262; see also Kraus v.

Taylor, 710 A.2d 1142, 1144-1145 (Pa. Super. 1998) (finding, the

confidentiality privileges afforded by the MHPA and DAA were waived when

the plaintiff filed a personal injury lawsuit seeking damages for permanent

injury which placed his life expectancy at issue in the case), appeal dismissed

as improvidently granted, 743 A.2d 451 (Pa. 2000); Compare with Gallo v.

Conemaugh Health Sys., Inc., 114 A.3d 855, 862-863 (Pa. Super. 2015)

____________________________________________

15 When a confidentiality privilege has been waived, whether by express or
implied waiver, the purpose for which it has been waived is determinative of
the scope of that waiver. In re Fortieth Statewide Investigating Grand
Jury, 220 A.3d 558, 568 (Pa. 2019) (stating, “the fact that a privilege has
been narrowly waived for a discrete purpose counsels against construing it as
a general waiver for all unrelated purposes”). For example, an express waiver
of confidentiality for purpose of obtaining insurance coverage for treatment
does not constitute a general waiver but, rather, limits the disclosure to only
that information necessary to obtain insurance coverage and to only necessary
parties who must maintain the confidentiality of the information themselves.

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(finding, the confidentiality of a defendant’s mental health records remained

protected because the defendant did not bring the lawsuit placing his mental

health at issue); see also Fortieth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury,

220 A.3d at 568 (declining to extend the holding announced in Octave,

concerning implied waiver, to a factual scenario where an individual, who

executed an express waiver form authorizing disclosure of treatment records

to certain parties but could not anticipate public disclosure, did not initiate the

grand jury proceedings into which he was drawn).

       In Octave, supra, our Supreme Court explained that confidentiality

privileges are not absolute and the “privilege conferred must be balanced

against the countervailing interests in ensuring the fairness and integrity of

the judicial system.” Octave, 103 A.3d at 1261. The Octave Court held that

“a patient waives his[, or her,] confidentiality protections under the MHPA

where, judged by an objective standard, he[, or she,] knew or reasonably

should have known his[, or her,] mental health would be placed directly at

issue by filing [a] lawsuit.” Id. at 1262.

       Octave involved an individual (Octave) who was struck by a vehicle.

Id. at 1256. Although Octave survived the incident, he later died as a result

of the injuries sustained. Id. at 1256 n.2. Octave’s wife filed a negligence

suit to recover for physical injuries incurred by her husband. Id. at 1256.

“[B]ased upon eyewitness reports, the [Pennsylvania] state police concluded

that [Octave] attempted to commit suicide by jumping under the [vehicle’s]

trailer.”   Id.   The defendant-driver asserted, as a defense, that Octave

                                      - 20 -
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“intentionally caused his own injuries by throwing himself under the [vehicle]

in an unsuccessful suicide attempt.” Id. at 1257.

      Applying an objective standard, the Octave Court determined that

Octave’s wife “knew that by commencing suit and alleging [her husband’s]

physical injuries were caused by [the defendant’s] negligence,” she placed her

husband’s “mental health directly at issue as to causation” because there was

objective evidence that suggested her husband attempted to commit suicide

by jumping under the vehicle’s trailer.              Id. at 1262-1263 and n.11.          In

balancing the competing interest of ensuring a robust search for truth in the

adversarial process against the importance of maintaining confidentiality

privileges, the Octave Court found that the objective standard for finding

implied waiver of a confidentiality privilege was “met[, in that specific

instance,] solely because the state police issued a report, based on

disinterested eyewitness interviews, finding [Octave] attempted to commit

suicide by jumping under the [vehicle’s] trailer.” Id. at 1261, 1263. In so

holding, the Octave Court reasoned that allowing a plaintiff “to pursue a

negligence    action   while      hiding     behind     a   [confidentiality]     privilege

claim - essentially    wielding     the     legislature's    intended    shield     as   a

sword - would offend the most basic understanding of fairness and justice”

under the specific circumstances of that case. Id. at 1263. The Octave Court

further noted that there were no less-intrusive methods to obtain Octave’s

mental health records other than disclosure of the mental health records

because Octave was now deceased.                    Id. at 1263 n.10 (noting that a

                                           - 21 -
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psychological evaluation or interrogatories were not available as less-intrusive

means because Octave was deceased).                In finding implied waiver of the

confidentiality privilege under the case-specific facts, the Octave Court urged

“courts to use great caution in accepting this form of [implied] waiver.” Id.

at 1262 n.8, 1263 (emphasis added) (stating, “[a]llowing a defendant to

initiate a fishing expedition into a plaintiff’s mental health records to explore

whether any information may be potentially relevant or contradictory to the

subject of the action would destroy the purpose of the” confidentiality

protections”).

       In the case sub judice, we consider whether Appellant, by filing his third

amended complaint, impliedly waived the confidentiality privileges afforded to

him pursuant to the MHPA and the DAA, as set forth supra. For the following

reasons, we find that Appellant’s filing of his third amended complaint

constituted a limited waiver of the confidentiality privileges afforded to him by

the MHPA and the DAA pursuant to Octave and its progeny.16

       Before examining the allegations contained in Appellant’s third amended

complaint, it is necessary to first review the trial court’s findings and rulings

in   Appellant’s    expungement        proceeding     related   to   his   involuntary

____________________________________________

16  Although we treat the confidentiality privileges afforded by the MHPA and
the DAA in tandem for purpose of our discussion, we are cognizant that an
individual’s dependence on drugs or alcohol does not constitute a mental
illness under the MHPA. See 50 P.S. § 7102 (stating that, mental retardation,
senility, or alcohol or drug dependence shall not, of themselves, be deemed
to constitute mental illness).

                                          - 22 -
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commitments.      In the expungement action, Appellant challenged “his

involuntary commitments under [Section 7302 and Section 7303 of the

MHPA].”   Trial Court Opinion and Order (12250 CD 2016), 12/27/18, at 8,

10-12. “[Appellant argued] that his [Section 7303] commitment violated his

due process rights because he was denied legal counsel of his choice, forced

to proceed with a court-appointed public defender, and was denied the

opportunity to obtain a continuance [of the Section 7303 commitment

hearing].” Id. at 5. The trial court, in addressing Appellant’s Section 7303

commitment stated,

     Here, the limited record available shows that [Appellant] desired
     to have private representation, which he expressed multiple
     times. Not only was he provided with an extremely minimal
     amount of time to secure private counsel, he was only able to
     briefly meet with his [court-appointed] counsel immediately
     before the [commitment] hearing took place. [Appellant] testified
     that his counsel did not prepare a defense and did not respond to
     his inquires about a voluntary [] commitment, seek a continuance,
     or request a review of the certification. There is no evidence that
     counsel asked questions or objected to erroneous information
     presented at the hearing. Furthermore, [Appellant] was restricted
     from use of the telephone and had no opportunity to attempt to
     retain private counsel to request a review of the certification. For
     these reasons, the [trial c]ourt finds that [Appellant] was denied
     the right to effective representation.

Id. at 7-8.   The trial court also found that Section “7303(b)(2) requires a

record of the proceedings to be kept. While this need not be a stenographic

record, some record is required, and the absence of a record of [Appellant’s]

hearing violated this requirement.” Id. at 8. The trial court, upon “finding

that [Appellant’s] due process rights under the MHPA were violated,” vacated

                                    - 23 -
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Appellant’s involuntary commitment under Section 7303 and expunged all

records pertaining to that commitment. Id. This record makes clear that the

trial court expunged Appellant’s December 2016 involuntary commitment due

to various procedural deficiencies that occurred during the commitment

process. The trial court, however, did not address the underlying substantive

merit of Appellant’s Section 7303 commitment.

     Regarding Appellant’s Section 7302 commitment, the trial court found

that “[t]he boxes on the [Section 7302] application [for involuntary

commitment] were checked to indicate that [Appellant] fit the criteria as

described in [Section] 7301(b)(1) [(relating to harm to others)] and [Section]

7301(b)(2)(ii) [(relating to harm to self by attempting suicide).]” Id. at 11.

The Section 7302 application was then used to obtain a warrant for the

emergency examination of Appellant pursuant to Section 7302 (a)(1). Id.;

see also 50 P.S. § 7302. The trial court, upon review, held that,

     Based on the contents of the application that [was] used to secure
     the warrant, the [trial c]ourt can find no basis for [the warrant’s]
     issuance under [Section] 7301(b)(1), as the application does not
     reference any threats to others by [Appellant]. Furthermore, the
     [trial c]ourt does not find that the statements relating to
     [Appellant’s] threats of harm to himself satisfy the requirements
     for issuance of a warrant under [Section] 7301(b)(2)(ii). While
     [Appellant] may have made comments in the past about killing
     himself, particularly when intoxicated, these general threats were
     not alleged to have occurred within the 30 days prior to [the
     completion of the Section 7302 application.]

Trial Court Opinion and Order (12250 CD 2016), 12/27/18, at 11.             After

concluding that the warrant for Appellant’s emergency examination was

                                    - 24 -
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improperly issued in violation of Appellant’s due process rights, the trial court

expunged Appellant’s Section 7302 commitment records.            Id. at 12.   In

granting Appellant’s request for the expungement of his Section 7302 and

Section 7303 commitment records, the trial court expressly found it

unnecessary to “examine the evidentiary sufficiency of the resulting

commitment.” Id.

       With an understanding of Appellant’s prior expungement action, we turn

to a review of his third amended complaint. In the case sub judice, Appellant

argues that his causes of action, as set forth in his third amended complaint,

stem exclusively from the alleged procedural violations surrounding his

Section 7302 and Section 7303 commitments and do not involve an

examination of, or litigation surrounding, the substantive merit of his Section

7302 and Section 7303 commitments.17 An examination of Appellant’s third

amended complaint, however, reveals assertions that challenge both the

procedural and substantive merits of his Section 7302 and Section 7303

commitments. By way of example, the third amended complaint contains the

following allegations:

       At no time during this period was [Appellant] severely mentally
       disabled, as defined by law, nor did [Appellant] pose a clear and
       present danger to himself or others.

____________________________________________

17Appellant argues that “whether [he] should have been . . . involuntarily
committed has no bearing on whether [his due process] rights were violated
during the commitment process[.]”     Appellant’s Brief at 26 (emphasis
omitted).

                                          - 25 -
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       Instead, the [Section 7303] commitment was improperly used to
       force [Appellant] into treatment for his alcohol use [and] for the
       convenience of the [defendant-parties] and their holiday and
       vacation plans.

Third Amended Complaint, 12/12/19, at ¶¶104 and 105 (“Facts of Case”).18

       As a proximate result of [defendant-parties’ (IRMC, BDHP, and
       Cline)] gross negligence and willful misconduct [Appellant] was
       held against his will and [deprived of] his rights [] for several days.

Id. at ¶217 (Count IV – gross negligence claim).

       As a result of [Attorney McKee’s] gross negligence and failure to
       adhere to professional standards, [Appellant] was held against his
       will for several days.

Id. at ¶225 (Count V – legal malpractice).

       As a proximate result of IRMC, Bivens, and Dr. Buzogany’s
       professional and gross negligence and failure to adhere to
       professional standards and the MHPA, [Appellant] was held
       against his will for several days.

Id. at ¶251 (Count VI – professional malpractice).

       In claiming entitlement to damages for wrongful commitment and

alleging, inter alia, that he was not severely mentally disabled or a threat to

himself or others, Appellant placed the state of his mental health at the time

of his involuntary commitment directly at issue and thereby triggered his

obligation to disclose his mental health treatment records concerning prior

____________________________________________

18 A similar allegation was repeated at paragraph 246 of the third amended
complaint, as follows, “[Appellant] was not severely mentally disabled and/or
a clear and present danger to himself and others, as required by the MHPA.”
Third Amended Complaint, 12/12/19, at ¶246.

                                          - 26 -
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suicide attempts and suicidal ideations.19          Octave, 103 A.3d at 1262.

Specifically, based upon Appellant’s allegations that he was “held against his

will for several days” for no reason other than as a result of the

defendant-parties’ violation of this constitutional and due process rights, as

well as their gross negligence and legal and medical malpractice, it was

reasonably foreseeable that the defendant-parties would challenge these

allegations    by   seeking     to   demonstrate    that   Appellant’s   involuntary

commitments under Section 7302 and Section 7303 were justified because

Appellant was severely mentally disabled and in need of immediate and

continued mental health treatment pursuant to the MPHA.20 In other words,

by asserting claims of medical malpractice and legal malpractice, and by

claiming he was not mentally disabled and did not pose a danger to himself

or others, Appellant placed at issue his mental health and substance abuse

treatment history, at least insofar as those treatment records involve prior

attempts at suicide, prior threats of suicide with actions taken in furtherance

____________________________________________

19  Because Appellant’s involuntary            commitment was not definitively
determined to be unjustified in accord         with the MPHA in the expungement
action, the validity of the involuntary        commitment reasonably remains a
possible defense in the current cause of       action.

20It is also reasonably foreseeable that the defendant-parties might also need
Appellant’s mental health and substance abuse treatment records to
demonstrate that they cannot be held liable under Section 7114 because they
did not engage in willful misconduct or gross negligence, even if certain
procedural deficiencies occurred.

                                          - 27 -
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thereof, or prior treatment involving suicidal ideation.         See 50 P.S.

§ 7301(b)(2)(ii).

       As such, we concur with the trial court that Appellant impliedly waived

the evidentiary privileges afforded by the MHPA and the DAA pursuant to

Octave, supra, and its progeny, based on certain allegations and causes of

action contained in his third amended complaint. We now examine the scope

of that waiver to determine whether the trial court erred in ordering Appellant

to produce his medical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment records

as set forth in the March 10, 2020 orders.

       To reiterate, when a confidentiality privilege has been impliedly waived,

the purpose for which it has been waived is determinative of the scope of that

waiver. In re Fortieth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, 220 A.3d at

568.    In the case sub judice, Appellant impliedly waived the evidentiary

privileges protecting his mental health and substance abuse treatment records

for the purpose of determining the validity of Appellant’s commitment under

Section 7302 and Section 7303 of the MHPA. Therefore, we must examine

whether the March 10, 2022 orders required disclosure of medical, mental

health, and substance abuse treatment records which exceeded the scope of

claims Appellant placed at issue in filing this action.

       A determination of whether Appellant’s involuntary commitment was

justified, under Section 7302 and Section 7303, and, as such, could serve as

a possible defense by the defendant-parties, would involve an analysis of the

information that was known by Dr. Buzogany, at the time he approved the

                                      - 28 -
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Section 7302 immediate involuntary commitment, or by the mental health

review officer, at the time he or she certified the Section 7303 extended

involuntary commitment.      Therefore, the discovery of any documents or

information pertaining to Appellant’s prior mental health and substance abuse

treatment that specifically and directly relate to prior attempts at suicide,

threats of suicide with acts in furtherance thereof, or of suicidal ideation, is

reasonably calculated to lead to admissible evidence that was known by Dr.

Buzogany, at the time of the Section 7302 involuntary commitment, or by the

mental health review officer, as presented at the Section 7303 hearing. As

such, having concluded that Appellant impliedly waived the evidentiary

privileges afforded by the MHPA and DAA by virtue of the allegations contained

in his third amended complaint, we find the scope of that waiver pertains to

any documents or information related to Appellant’s prior mental health and

substance   abuse   treatment    that   specifically   and   directly   involved

Appellant’s prior attempts at suicide, prior threats of suicide coupled with acts

in furtherance thereof, and prior instances involving suicidal ideation and may

have been known, or relied on, by Dr. Buzogany or the mental health review

officer in authorizing Appellant’s involuntary commitments under Section 7302

and Section 7303.

      In filing his third amended complaint, Appellant placed at issue his

mental health status, particularly his suicidal ideations as of December 2016.

For these reasons, we affirm the trial court’s March 20, 2022 orders.

Nevertheless, we are aware of the distinct possibility that many of the

                                     - 29 -
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documents subject to disclosure under the trial court’s orders may fall outside

the scope of the implied waiver of the confidentiality privileges afforded by the

MHPA and DAA. As stated supra, the implied waiver is strictly limited to those

documents and information relating to Appellant’s mental health and

substance abuse treatment that specifically and directly involve treatment

for prior instances of suicidal ideation, including prior attempted suicide or

prior threats of suicide coupled with overt acts in furtherance thereof.

Moreover, while we do not find an abuse of discretion in permitting disclosure

of records for the three or five years prior to December 19, 2016,21 or the

requirement that the records be submitted to the trial court for an in-camera

review to determine whether such records should be disclosed, we find the

trial court needed to put in place certain additional guidelines, as well as

practices and procedures, concerning the use, retention, reproduction, and

further disclosure of such records by the defendant-parties. In other words,

guidelines and practices and procedures should be established by the trial

court that track the production of documents and information; restrict who

has access to the disclosed information, i.e., only the defendant-parties

involved in the motions to compel and their counsel; how the challenged

information may be used in future pleadings and procedures, including court

____________________________________________

21 In the case of Dr. Buzogany’s motion to compel, the trial court limited the
disclosure to the five years prior to December 19, 2016. In the case of
McKee’s motion to compel, the trial court limited the disclosure to the 3 years
prior to December 19, 2016.

                                          - 30 -
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filings and depositions in the case sub judice, i.e., should the parties be

required to petition the trial court to place certain portions of the record under

seal; and what consequences or sanctions should be in place if a

defendant-party fails to maintain the confidentiality of such records. We leave

these decisions to the trial court in the first instance.

      Consequently, for the reasons set forth herein, we affirm the March 10,

2022 orders (Trial Court Order (Buzogany) and Trial Court Order (McKee)).

We remand this case with the instruction that the trial court supplement these

orders with orders that set forth specific guidelines and practices and

procedures to safe-guard the disclosed information in accordance with this

memorandum.

      March 10, 2022 Order (Trial Court Order (Buzogany)) affirmed. March

10, 2022 Order (Trial Court Order (McKee)) affirmed. Case remanded with

instructions to supplement the March 10, 2022 orders. Appellant’s Motion to

Strike Supplemental Reproduced Record granted. Jurisdiction relinquished.

      President Judge Emeritus Bender joins.

      Judge Kunselman files a Dissenting Memorandum.

                                      - 31 -
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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 7/21/2023

                          - 32 -