In re Estate of Wagner , 584 Pa. 49 ( 2005 )

OPINION

Justice EAKIN.

This Court granted review to determine whether the Commonwealth Court erred in holding appellees, administrators of the Estate of Andrew Jonathan Wagner, could subpoena from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), a copy of a performance audit generated by DPW’s investigation into the death of 14-month-old Andrew Jonathan Wagner. We hold such document is a statutorily-defined performance audit and beyond the scope of discovery by the administrators; accordingly, we reverse.

On February 18, 1999, decedent sustained fatal injuries while in the care of a babysitter.¹ Appellant, Lehigh County Office of Children and Youth Services (CYS), had previously investigated the babysitter in connection with alleged abuse involving other children under her care. As suggested by 23 Pa.C.S. § 6343(b),² decedent’s death prompted DPW to conduct a performance audit of Lehigh CYS to determine whether it had complied with the Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6300-6385, when handling the prior allegations of abuse, and to identify ways to improve its monitoring system. Essentially, DPW sought to determine whether changes should be made to CYS’s policies and procedures, to help prevent future tragedies.

As part of this audit, commonly referred to as a “child death review,” DPW reviewed CYS’s records, including relevant medical records, and interviewed agency staff, decedent’s parents, the babysitter, and the parents of at least one other child who had previously been in the babysitter’s care. DPW sent its findings and recommendations to Lehigh County’s county executive. The county executive distributed the review to other individuals within the county who were responsible for preparing a “plan of correction.” When completed, that plan was submitted to DPW.

Sometime thereafter, the administrators filed a petition for issuance of a subpoena duces tecum to the regional director of the Pennsylvania Office of Children and Youth Services. The estate sought pre-complaint discovery from DPW, to assist in determining whether they had a claim against CYS or any other public agencies. Specifically, the administrators sought a subpoena requiring DPW to produce all “notes, records, reports and/or correspondence prepared and compiled by [CYS] in connection with [DPW’s] reviews of [CYS’s] procedures in the child abuse investigations of [the babysitter].” Petition for Issuance of Subpoena Duces Tecum, 11/13/00, at 2. DPW asserted that the child death review was confidential under the CPSL, see 23 Pa.C.S. § 6339 (designating certain child protective services information as confidential), and that the administrators were not among the individuals to whom such confidential information could be released. See id., § 6340 (pertaining to release of confidential information).

On January 22, 2001, the trial court conducted hearing; the only witness was Len Pocius, Director of DPW’s Northeast Region. Following the hearing, the court found the child death review was a confidential report under § 6339 of the CPSL, but the administrators were nevertheless entitled to a copy pursuant to § 6340(b), which permits “subjects of’ confidential reports to obtain copies. See id., § 6340(b). The court ordered DPW to produce the review, although it permitted the agency to redact the identities of people who reported suspected child abuse or cooperated with the audit.

On appeal, the Commonwealth Court affirmed. In re Estate of Wagner, 791 A.2d 444 (Pa.Cmwlth.2002). Unlike the trial court, the Commonwealth Court concluded the child death review was not a “report” within the meaning of § 6339. It explained that reading § 6339 in conjunction with other portions of the CPSL, it was apparent the General Assembly intended the term “reports” as used in § 6339 to “refer to reports of suspected or confirmed child abuse made under the [CPSL,]” including those specifically defined in § 6303, namely, “ ‘founded report,’ ‘founded report for school employee,’ ‘indicated report,’ ‘indicated report for school employees’ and ‘unfounded report.’ ” Id., at 447 (citing 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303). Accordingly, the Commonwealth Court determined the child death review was not entitled to the blanket confidentiality afforded to “reports” pursuant to § 6339. Id.

The court noted, however, that aside from “reports,” § 6339 also designates as confidential “any other information obtained ... or photographs or X-rays taken concerning alleged instances of child abuse.” Id., at 448 (quoting 23 Pa.C.S. § 6339) (internal quotations omitted). It held that the child death review, although “not a report made within the meaning of Section 6339 [of the CPSL],” id., at 447, was confidential “to the extent that it contains any information or other material obtained by Lehigh CYS concerning alleged instances of suspected or confirmed child abuse.” Id., at 448. However, the court also held that insofar as such information pertained to the abuse of decedent, the administrators qualified as “subjectfs] of a report,” because they are the “parents], guardian[s] or other person[s] responsible for the welfare of a child ... named in a report,” 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303(a), and were therefore entitled under § 6340(b) of the CPSL to obtain that information. In re Estate of Wagner, at 448.

Basically, the Commonwealth Court reasoned that since a “subject of a report” is entitled to this information anyway, as provided in § 6303(a), the administrators could discover those portions of the review containing this information — only those portions which were explicitly shielded in other parts of the CPSL were prohibited from discovery. In addition, the court stated the General Assembly did not intend “to create a privilege to protect the disclosures of DPW or local agency workers about their job performance and the job performances of their colleagues.” Id. It ordered DPW to produce those portions of the review that pertained to CYS’s handling of decedent’s case, without discussing any other child abuse case, as well as any portions of the review “that derive[d] from” reports of suspected or confirmed child abuse that mentioned decedent or his parents. Id. Further, like the trial court, the Commonwealth Court permitted DPW to redact the identities of persons who had reported abuse or cooperated with the audit. See id., at 449.

CYS and DPW sought this Court’s review, arguing the Commonwealth Court erred in requiring DPW to produce any portions of the child death review — particularly the self-assessments and performance critiques — when § 6339 of the CPSL dictates that the entire audit is confidential and not subject to disclosure. We hold child death reviews are what the General Assembly has designated them: intergovernmental performance audits, not reports pursuant to § 6339, and are available to only those authorized in § 6343(b). Additionally, we reject this piecemeal discovery approach to these audits and conclude pub-he policy requires the entire child review be protected.

As questions of statutory interpretation are questions of law, this Court’s review is plenary. Gustine Uniontown Assocs., Ltd. v. Anthony Crane Rental, Inc., 577 Pa. 14, 842 A.2d 334, 343 (2004). We are charged with giving effect to every word and provision in a statute. 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(a). Moreover, we are not to “interpret statutory words in isolation, but must read them with reference to the context in which they appear.” O’Rourke v. Dept. of Corr., 566 Pa. 161, 778 A.2d 1194, 1201 (2001). Ultimately, if upon application of these interpretive principles, we conclude that a statutory provision is unclear, we may consider other factors in ascertaining the General Assembly’s intent. See 1 Pa. C.S. § 1921(c); Mishoe v. Erie Ins. Co., 573 Pa. 267, 824 A.2d 1153, 1155 (2003). However, if a statute is “clear and free from all ambiguity,” we may not disregard the letter of it “under the pretext of pursuing its spirit.”³ 1 Pa.C.S. § 1921(b).

Section 6339, entitled “Confidentiality of Reports,” provides in full:

Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, reports made pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, report summaries of child abuse and written reports made pursuant to section 6313(b) and (c) (relating to reporting procedure) as well as any other information obtained, reports written or photographs or X-rays taken concerning alleged instances of child abuse in the possession of the department or a county agency shall be confidential.

23 Pa.C.S. § 6339.⁴ However, the CPSL also enumerates certain categories of individuals and entities to whom DPW and county agencies must disclose such confidential material. To that end, § 6340 provides, in relevant part:

Release of Information in Confidential Reports

(a) General rule. — Reports specified in section 6339 (relating to confidentiality of reports) shall only be made available to:

(11) Designated county officials, in reviewing the competence of the county agency or its employees pursuant to this chapter....

(b) Release of information to subject of report. — At any time and upon written request, a subject of a report may receive a copy of all information, except that prohibited from being disclosed by subsection (c), contained in the Statewide central register or in any report filed pursuant to section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure).

(c) Protecting identity of person making report. — Except for reports pursuant to subsection (a)(9) and (10), the release of data that would identify the person who made a report of suspected child abuse or the person who cooperated in a subsequent investigation is prohibited unless the secretary finds the release will not be detrimental to the safety of that person. Law enforcement officials shall treat all reporting sources as confidential informants.

Id., § 6340. Meanwhile, the statute defines “[sjubject of the report” as “[a]ny child, parent, guardian or other person responsible for the welfare of a child or any alleged or actual perpetrator or school employee named in a report made to [DPW] or a county agency under this chapter.” Id., § 6303(a).

DPW and CYS maintain that the child death review is a confidential audit within the meaning of § 6339. They further assert that even though the administrators qualify as “subjects of a report,” they cannot gain access to the report’s contents, because the “subject of report” exception to confidentiality only affords qualifying parties access to reports of suspected or confirmed child abuse pertaining to them and information in the Statewide Central Register (ie., indicated and founded reports of abuse), see id., § 6340(b), and the child death review is neither.

The child death review at issue qualifies as neither a report “made pursuant to [the CPSL]” nor a report written “concerning alleged instances of child abuse.... ” Id., § 6339. The General Assembly established the child death review as an intergovernmental performance audit, with the objective of fostering, between multiple governmental agencies, unreserved evaluation of actions taken and forgone. These audits at times include admissions of second-guessing and hindsight analyses, calculated to improve the system for future care; they do not focus on the allegations of abuse, but on the system’s response to those allegations. These audits are not intended to become fodder for those looking to redress past shortcomings, misconduct, torts, or crimes.

In V.B.T. v. Family Services of West. Pa., 705 A.2d 1325, 1333 (Pa.Super.1998), affirmed, 556 Pa. 430, 728 A.2d 953 (1999), this Court adopted the Superior Court’s opinion, which reasoned:

The type of disclosure advocated by these plaintiffs, in contrast, is not aimed at helping the abused child or the abusive family, nor is it intended to facilitate criminal prosecution of the abuser. Rather, it is geared towards vindicating the injuries suffered by the plaintiffs and their daughter. While these interests are important, our legislature has made the judgment that attempting to remedy the serious problem of child abuse in our society and to protect and rehabilitate the powerless victims of such abuse is of superior importance. We thus must conclude that discovery by the plaintiffs of materials protected by the [CPSL], which is neither authorized by the provisions of the CPSL itself nor in furtherance of its goals, may not be permitted.

Id., at 1336 (footnote omitted). Likewise, disclosure of the governmental audit, aimed not at the individual allegations, but at “the serious problem of child abuse in our society,” id., would surely hamper candor by those involved and chill this imperative information flow, defeating the stated purpose of the CPSL.

In enacting the CPSL, the General Assembly made clear its objective:

It is the purpose of this chapter to encourage more complete reporting of suspected child abuse; to the extent permitted by this chapter, to involve law enforcement agencies in responding to child abuse; and to establish in each county protective services for the purpose of investigating the reports swiftly and competently, providing protection for children from further abuse....

23 Pa.C.S. § 6302(b). This objective is frustrated if child death reviews are discoverable to plaintiffs searching for potential mistakes in order to support a lawsuit. See V.B.T., at 1333 (“[sections 6339 and 6340] do not include a civil plaintiff seeking discovery in pursuit of a claim for damages based upon alleged conduct of the abused child.”). Openness and necessary admissions of employees are vital to improving the care of children subject to CYS and DPW oversight. If candor is not encouraged through confidentiality, improvement will be compromised as employees must inevitably seek to shield their own errors from reviewers out of fear of being sued. This scenario flies in the face of the designed goals of the CPSL. See Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 60-61, 107 S.Ct. 989, 94 L.Ed.2d 40 (1987) (as designated in CPSL, Pennsylvania has “compelling interest in protecting its child-abuse information.”).

It has traditionally been the policy in Pennsylvania that remedial measures taken after an injury are not admissible, a policy now embodied in our Rules of Evidence. See Pa.R.Evid. 407. This rule allows parties to fix a problem without fear that by doing so, they will admit liability. The same policy prevents discovery here, for the review is to identify remedial possibilities and better safeguard children; if the results are discoverable, no admissions leading to remedial actions will be forthcoming. Were child death reviews less than confidential, they would not be worth conducting and would disappear.

In sum, these intergovernmental audits must be used to promote the implementation of better child protective procedures; they cannot accomplish this if agencies and workers fear making discoverable admissions that may lead to liability. “CYA” does not trump improvement of CYS. The statute creating these reviews, and the clearly expressed public policy of the General Assembly and this Court, mandate that no portion of these audits be available to plaintiffs as discovery.

Order reversed. Jurisdiction relinquished.

Former Justice LAMB did not participate in the decision of this ease.

Justice NIGRO files a dissenting opinion in which Justice SAYLOR joins.

1 . The babysitter pled guilty to third degree homicide in April, 2000, and was sentenced to 10 to 40 years incarceration.

2 . DPW’s authority to conduct this performance audit derives from the Child Protective Services Law, which provides:

(b) Performance Audit. — Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the secretary or a designee of the secretary may direct, at their discretion, and after reasonable notice to the county agency, a performance audit of any activity engaged in pursuant to this chapter.

23 Pa.C.S. § 6343(b).

Investigating performance of county agency

3 . None of the parties contend § 6339 is ambiguous; they disagree as to the "plain meaning” of the provision. See DPW’s Brief, at 12 ("This Court should find the relevant provisions of the CPSL to be unambiguous... ."); Administrators’ Brief, at 9 n. 6 (”[T]he 'plain wording’ of Section 6339, especially when read in pari materia with the other referenced sections, certainly does not support the complete shielding of the performance audit... .”). We agree the provision is unambiguous when read in context, and need not resort to principles reserved for an ambiguous statute.

4 . Section 6313(b) and (c) provide:

(b) Oral reports. — Oral reports shall be made to the department pursuant to Subchapter C (relating to powers and duties of department) and may be made to the appropriate county agency. When oral reports of suspected child abuse are initially received at the county agency, the protective services staff shall, after seeing to the immediate safety of the child and other children in the home, immediately notify the department of the receipt of the report, which is to be held in the pending complaint file as provided in Subchapter C. The initial child abuse report summary shall be supplemented with a written report when a determination is made as to whether a report of suspected child abuse is a founded report, an unfounded report or an indicated report.

(c) Written reports. — Written reports from persons required to report [suspected child abuse] under section 6311 shall be made to the appropriate county agency in a manner and on forms the department prescribes by regulation. The written reports shall include [certain hereafter designated] information if available....

23 Pa.C.S. § 6313(b), (c).