Court Opinion

ID: 9459858
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 21:33:28.261735+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:36:21.860009
License: Public Domain

WIDENER, Circuit Judge
(concurring and dissenting):
I must respectfully dissent with respect to those who made an agreement with the government in good faith that the information disclosed about their “private homes” would be kept confidential, particularly those who are yet in possession of the premises involved. What I say does not apply to “public buildings.” The words “private homes” and “public buildings” are quoted from the complaint.
I am of opinion that the statute does not require blanket disclosure, to complete strangers, of information which the government obtained under a good faith agreement that it would not be disclosed. For persons who so agreed, I believe the files of information concerning their homes are “. . . similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted-invasion of personal privacy.” 5 U.S.C. § 552(b) (6).
There is no question but that giving out this information promiscuously to strangers is an invasion of personal privacy. Disclosure of a specifically agreed upon confidential communication from citizen to sovereign may be considered no less. The question is whether or not it is clearly unwarranted. If the person seeking the information has any colora-ble interest in obtaining it, I think it may not be the clearly unwarranted invasion contemplated by the statute. These plaintiffs, however, insist that they need have no connection with the premises involved, no matter how remote, in order to get the information sought. Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Edition, defines unwarranted as “Not warranted; being without warrant, authority, or guaranty.” Plaintiffs' right to interfere, having no interest they have chosen to disclose, is, in my opinion, clearly without warrant or authority, and ought not to be allowed.
With respect to these particular plaintiffs, in their search for information about the private homes of others, I agree with the district court when it stated: “As the House Report accompanying this legislation indicated, a citizen must be able to confide in his Government. When the Government has obligated itself in good faith not to disclose documents or information which it receives, it should be able to honor this obligation.”