Court Opinion

ID: 9727557
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:43:18.451009+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:40.179461
License: Public Domain

Lynch, J.
(dissenting). This case requires us to construe the following sentence: “No social worker . . . may disclose any information he may have acquired from persons consulting him in his professional capacity ...” (emphasis supplied). G. L. c. 112, § 135, inserted by St. 1977, c. 818, § 2. In her amicus brief, the social worker asserts only that she was “assigned to treat the [victim’s] family” and that, “in her professional capacity,” she received “confidences” from the defendant, members of the victim’s family, and others. On the basis of these sketchy allegations, the majority states that “[t]he defendant appears to be a person who consulted the social worker in her professional capacity” and concludes that the defendant “is therefore entitled to claim the privilege under the statute.” I agree that the defendant is entitled to a hearing to determine whether the privilege is applicable to the information which the Commonwealth seeks to have the social worker disclose. I do not agree, however, that the social worker’s unsubstantiated version of the circumstances under which she received information from the defendant is enough to form a proper basis for this determination.
*440The language of the statute is neither peculiar nor technical but is comprised of familiar words combined to express a single thought. Thus it should be construed according to the common and approved use of this language. New England Medical Center Hosp. v. Commissioner of Revenue, 381 Mass. 748, 750 (1980). The plain meaning of the verb “consult,” is “to ask advice of” or “seek the opinion of.” Webster’s Third New Int’l Dictionary 490 (1961). To “consult” a social worker or other professional means, in the common understanding of the term, to seek that professional’s advice or opinion. It is the confidences of persons seeking such advice that the statute in question was intended to protect. Cf. Usen v. Usen, 359 Mass. 453, 457 (1971) (quoting In re Lifschutz, 2 Cal. 3d 415, 431 [1970], referring to “the justifiable expectations of confidentiality that most persons seeking psychotherapeutic treatment harbor”). There is nothing in the record on which to base the conclusion that the defendant consulted with the social worker, in the sense of seeking her advice or opinion, at any time.
Nor is there anything in the record to indicate that the defendant has established, or could establish, the existence of the first of the “four basic and fundamental conditions which must be present to establish a privilege, whether the privilege is set forth by statute or common law, to wit: I. The communications must originate in a confidence that they will not be disclosed” (emphasis in original).1 State v. Martin, S.D. , (274 N.W.2d 893, 895 [S.D.]), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 883 (1979), quoting from 8 J. Wigmore, Evidence § 2285, at 527 (McNaughton rev. 1961). See Wisconsin v. Driscoll, 53 Wis. 2d 699, 706 (1972). I find no basis for the majority’s assumption that the social worker made assurances of confidentiality to any *441or all of her informants, or that the defendant relied on such an assurance in making the statements that he did. Cf. Commonwealth v. Maltais, ante 79, 89-90 (1982) (rejecting the defendant’s argument that his statements to police were not constitutionally voluntary “because certain of those statements were inculpatory and no intelligent individual, absent coercion or trickery, would make inculpatory statements to police officials”).
The majority construes overbroadly the phrase “persons consulting [the social worker] in his professional capacity.” They would have it read, “persons from whom the social worker acquires information in the course of his professional duties.” Their construction gives the “social worker privilege” a far greater scope than that of any common law or statutory privilege previously recognized. For example, the attorney-client privilege protects only those communications made by the client in the course of seeking legal advice (as opposed to moral advice, even on legal matters). Hatton v. Robinson, 14 Pick. 416, 423-424 (1833). Further, even those communications between attorney and client which otherwise would be privileged lose that status if third parties (not agents of either attorney or client) are present when the communications are made. Drew v. Drew, 250 Mass. 41, 44-45 (1924).2 According to the majority’s reasoning, virtually all communications with social workers which occur during their performance of their duties must be found privileged, regardless whether third parties are present or assurances of confidentiality have been made, unless these communications fall within the exemptions listed in G. L. c. 112, § 135 (a)-(e). Apparently, no distinction is to *442be drawn between counselling and the myriad other investigative and administrative tasks performed by social workers. I believe that the Legislature’s limitation of the privilege to information acquired by the social worker from persons consulting him requires making that distinction.
I would remand the case to the Superior Court for a determination whether (a) the defendant and others contacted by the social worker had reason to believe that their communications would be held confidential, and (b) the defendant (and the others) sought the social worker’s advice or assistance at any time during their communications. If the answer to either question is in the negative, the statutory privilege does not apply.3
I agree that concern for confidentiality requires this determination to be made by the judge, based on his examination of the social worker (and, if necessary, other witnesses) in the absence of the prosecutor or defense counsel. In order to make possible judicial review of the judge’s decision, however, the proceedings should be recorded. (I would permit the presence of a court reporter.) In addition, the judge should make written findings of fact setting forth the basis for his decision. Absent such findings, parties would have no means of ascertaining whether the judge’s decision to exclude information as privileged was justified. These findings should exclude, of course, any mention of the information regarding which the privilege is asserted.
The majority’s decision in this case seems to slight the principle in this Commonwealth that “the public ‘has a right to every man’s evidence’ . . . [which] has been preferred, on the whole, to countervailing interests.” Matter *443of Pappas, 358 Mass. 604, 607 (1971), quoting from 8 J. Wigmore, Evidence § 2192 (McNaughton rev. 1961). On this record, no trier of fact reasonably could determine whether the defendant or others “consulted the social worker] in [her] professional capacity.” As a result, no conclusion can be drawn regarding whether the Legislature intended that information arguably relevant to determining the truth of the charges brought against the defendant should be kept from the prosecutor and, eventually, the jury. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.

 The other conditions are: “(2). This element of confidentiality must be essential to the full and satisfactory maintenance of the relation between the parties. (3). The relation must be one which in the opinion of the community ought to be sedulously fostered. (4). The injury that would inure to the relation by the disclosure of the communications must be greater than the benefit thereby gained for the correct disposal of litigation” (emphasis in original). 8 J. Wigmore, Evidence § 2285, at 527 (McNaughton rev. 1961).

See also G. L. c. 233, § 20A, inserted by St. 1962, c. 372 (priest-penitent privilege limits disclosure only of a “confession made to [the priest, rabbi, or ordained or licensed minister of any church, or an accredited Christian Science practitioner] in his professional character, in the course of discipline enjoined by the rules or practice of the religious body to which he belongs” [emphasis supplied]); G. L. c. 233, § 20B, inserted by St. 1968, c. 418 (only those communications between psychotherapist and patient “relative to the diagnosis or treatment of the patient’s mental or emotional condition” [emphasis supplied] are privileged).

 It is possible, of course, that some (but not all) of the information sought by the Commonwealth would be found to be privileged. I agree with thé majority, however, that much of the information sought by the Commonwealth regarding “the child’s appearance and behavior prior to her hospitalization and the feelings, observations, suspicions and hopes that the defendant and the others interviewed held about the child and one another” would be inadmissible hearsay at trial and need not be disclosed; in addition, at least some of the information sought would appear to be irrelevant.