Phifer v. Gingher

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Appellate Court Date: 2017.07.12
13:03:36 -05'00'
Phifer v. Gingher, 2017 IL App (3d) 160170
Appellate Court VANETTA L. PHIFER, Plaintiff, v. PHYLLIS M. GINGHER,
Caption Defendant-Appellee (Matthew D. Ports, Contemnor-Appellant).
District & No. Third District
Docket No. 3-16-0170
Rule 23 order filed January 18, 2017
Motion to publish
allowed March 30, 2017
Opinion filed March 30, 2017
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Peoria County, No. 13-L-242; the
Review Hon. Katherine Gorman, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed and remanded.
Counsel on Matthew D. Ports, of Pfaff, Gill & Ports, Ltd., of Chicago, for
Appeal appellants.
Adam P. Chaddock, of Quinn Johnston Henderson Pretorius &
Cerulo, of Peoria, for appellee.
Panel JUSTICE WRIGHT delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Holdridge and Justice O’Brien concurred in the
judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Plaintiff filed a complaint against defendant seeking damages for “great pain and anguish
both in mind and body” resulting from an automobile collision in 2012. During the production
of pretrial discovery, defendant filed multiple motions to compel plaintiff to produce plaintiff’s
mental health records. Plaintiff resisted the discovery requests by asserting the records were
privileged under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. 740
ILCS 110/1 et seq. (West 2012).
¶2 Following an in camera review of plaintiff’s mental health records, the court ordered
plaintiff to produce the records for defendant’s review on January 4, 2016. Plaintiff’s counsel
(contemnor) refused to produce his client’s mental health records and requested to be held in
indirect civil contempt to facilitate appellate review of the trial court’s pretrial discovery
ruling. Therefore, the trial court found contemnor in civil contempt. Contemnor appeals the
trial court’s contempt finding.
¶3 FACTS
¶4 On August 21, 2012, a vehicle operated by Phyllis M. Gingher (defendant) struck the back
of Vanetta L. Phifer’s (plaintiff) vehicle on Knoxville Avenue in Peoria, Illinois. On
September 4, 2013, plaintiff filed a complaint alleging defendant negligently operated her
vehicle and caused plaintiff to sustain “serious and permanent injuries.” Plaintiff’s complaint
alleged that due to defendant’s negligence plaintiff “suffered great pain and anguish both in
mind and body and will in the future continue to suffer.” On November 20, 2013, defendant
answered plaintiff’s complaint by denying she drove negligently on the date in question.
¶5 On November 19, 2013, defendant issued interrogatories that are relevant to this appeal.
Defendant’s interrogatory No. 10 requested plaintiff to “State the name and address of any
physician or other health care professional who examined and / or treated you within the last 10
years and the reason for such examination and / or treatment.” Plaintiff answered: “Unknown.”
¶6 Defendant’s interrogatory No. 11 asked if plaintiff was claiming “any psychiatric,
psychological and / or emotional injuries as a result of this occurrence?” If so, in subparagraph
(a) of defendant’s interrogatory No. 11 defendant requested plaintiff to disclose the name of
any health care professional rendering treatment for plaintiff’s injuries. Plaintiff affirmatively
responded to defendant’s interrogatory No. 11 by listing Dr. Lisa Watt and Lisa Bresnahan.
Subparagraph (b) of Defendant’s interrogatory No. 11 asked whether plaintiff “suffered any
psychiatric, psychological and/or emotional injury prior to the date of the occurrence” in 2012.
(Emphasis added.)
¶7 Plaintiff’s deposition took place on March 28, 2014. During this deposition, plaintiff
disclosed that she sustained a closed head injury as a result of the August 21, 2012, collision.
Plaintiff claimed that as a result of the head injury she sustained in the collision, she had
current difficulties with memory and multitasking, headaches, crying spells, and fears
associated with traveling in a vehicle and residing in the area near where the collision occurred.
In addition, following the collision plaintiff suffered from lower professional confidence,
slower thinking, lower energy levels, inability to focus, and recently suffered panic attacks.
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¶8 According to her deposition testimony, plaintiff went to see Lisa Bresnahan for
psychological issues after the 2012 collision. Plaintiff also stated Dr. Lisa Watt conducted
cognitive testing on plaintiff as part of Watt’s evaluation after the August 21, 2012, collision.
¶9 On September 25, 2014, the parties conducted the discovery deposition of Lisa Bresnahan,
a licensed clinical social worker and counselor employed by the Saint Francis Medical Center
in Peoria, Illinois. Bresnahan explained that she provided professional services to plaintiff for
several months after the 2012 collision. According to Bresnahan, following the accident,
plaintiff sought treatment for ongoing difficulties with multitasking and remembering details.
Bresnahan stated plaintiff suffered from headaches, anxiety, and showed signs of depression.
¶ 10 The deposition of Dr. Lisa Watt, a neuropsychologist, also took place on September 25,
2014. Watt explained that after the 2012 accident, she gave plaintiff a multitude of tests to
measure and gauge plaintiff’s cognitive abilities. In terms of a diagnosis, Watt explained that
plaintiff had many indicators supporting the conclusion that she suffered from a traumatic head
injury. These indicators included headaches and cognitive inefficiency that caused difficulty
with learning, recall, and a reduced attention span.
¶ 11 On November 5, 2014, defendant issued supplemental interrogatories. Defendant’s
supplemental interrogatory No. 1, requested plaintiff “State the names and addresses of all
physicians, surgeons, or other healers of every description who have either examined or treated
the Plaintiff at any time for mental health reasons, including, but not limited to anxiety and
depression. Give the dates of all such examinations and periods of treatment in each case.” In
response, plaintiff indicated that she would obtain these past medical records to determine
whether or not to produce them or file a privilege log.
¶ 12 Defendant’s supplemental interrogatory No. 2 requested plaintiff to “State the names and
addresses of all physicians, surgeons, or other healers of every description who have either
examined or treated the Plaintiff in the 20 years prior to the occurrence for any physical
ailment. Give the dates of all such examinations, the reasons for treatment, and periods of
treatment in each case.” Plaintiff objected to defendant’s supplemental interrogatory No. 2 on
grounds that the interrogatory was, inter alia, overbroad and irrelevant.
¶ 13 On February 17, 2015, defendant filed a motion to compel plaintiff to produce the names of
both medical and mental health personnel that treated plaintiff prior to the collision in 2012.
On March 12, 2015, the trial court granted defendant’s motion to compel. Following this
ruling, plaintiff disclosed the names and addresses of the following medical and mental health
care providers: Dr. Edward Morris, Vivian Short, Moses Cone, Theresa Williams, Sara Rose,
Dr. Leon Chandler, Carey Davies, Dr. Susan Ladd, Dr. Joseph Narins, Dr. Haywood, Dr.
Stringer, and Dr. Veita Bland.
¶ 14 On July 22, 2015, defendant filed a second motion to compel seeking signed authorizations
from plaintiff to facilitate the release of plaintiff’s prior out-of-state mental health records.
Subsequently, plaintiff filed her Illinois Supreme Court Rule 213(f)(1) and (2) disclosures on
September 14, 2015. Ill. S. Ct. R. 213(f)(1), (2) (eff. Jan. 1, 2007). Plaintiff’s Rule 213(f)(2)
independent expert witness disclosure indicated Dr. Lisa Watt and Lisa Bresnahan would
testify about “their personal knowledge of the facts at issue in this case, including their care
and treatment of the Plaintiff, their prognoses, the damages incurred as a result of the incident,
including past and future medical expenses, past and future pain and suffering, past and future
disability and disfigurement, and other subjects discussed (or to be discussed) in their
depositions and/or contained in their medical records.”
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¶ 15 The trial court held a hearing on November 17, 2015, on defendant’s second motion to
compel filed on July 22, 2015. During this hearing, plaintiff argued the medical and mental
health records at issue in the second motion to compel were privileged records pursuant to the
provisions of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (Act). 740
ILCS 110/1 et seq. (West 2012). On this basis, plaintiff opposed the entry of an order
compelling plaintiff to produce these mental health records pertaining to mental health
treatment she received before the collision in 2012.
¶ 16 At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial judge granted defendant’s second motion to
compel dated July 22, 2015, and ordered production of plaintiff’s mental health records related
to treatment received prior to 2012. The court ordered production solely for the purpose of
allowing an in camera review by the court. The court’s written order dated November 17,
2015, instructed plaintiff to “sign authorizations for or otherwise produce to the Court for in
camera review the medical and/or mental health records from the providers sought by
Defendant; the Court to contact counsel following in camera review for determination of
which documents, if any are discarded.”
¶ 17 As ordered, plaintiff produced the out-of-state medical and/or mental health records for the
purpose of an in camera review by the court. On December 16, 2015, the trial court conducted
a telephonic hearing with the parties and reported the results and ruling of the court following
the in camera inspection. The court’s ruling is embodied in an order entered by the court on
January 4, 2016. The order issued on January 4, 2016, required plaintiff “to produce to the
Defendant within 28 days all of the records produced by Plaintiff to the Court for in-camera
review and evaluation except for the first page of Exhibit 44A, being page 10 of 188.”
¶ 18 Plaintiff’s counsel refused to produce the records as ordered by the court on January 4,
2016. On February 3, 2016, defendant filed a third motion to compel, which included a request
for sanctions for non-production by plaintiff. In response, plaintiff’s counsel admitted the
records were not timely produced and asked to be held in friendly contempt of the court for the
purpose of seeking appellate review.
¶ 19 Consequently, on March 3, 2016, the trial court found plaintiff’s counsel in “friendly”1
contempt of court. The court assessed plaintiff’s counsel (contemnor) a $100 fine in a good
faith attempt to allow for appellate court review. On March 31, 2016, contemnor filed a timely
notice of appeal of the trial court’s contempt finding.
¶ 20 ANALYSIS
¶ 21 On appeal, contemnor challenges the trial court’s March 3, 2016, order finding him in
contempt of court. Before reaching the merits of the contempt order, we first resolve two
procedural matters.
¶ 22 Contrary to contemnor’s jurisdictional statement, defendant correctly points out that our
jurisdiction in this appeal arises from Illinois Supreme Court Rule 304(b)(5) (eff. Mar. 8,
2016). Clearly, Illinois Supreme Court Rule 304(b)(5) allows this court to consider an appeal
from an “order finding a person or entity in contempt of court which imposes a monetary or
other penalty.” Id.
The trial court’s order fails to indicate which form of contempt contemnor has been held under.
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However, based on the facts of this case, we believe the court found contemnor in friendly contempt.
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¶ 23 Next, both sides agree the records at issue qualify as mental health records that are
normally privileged under the Act. However, the parties disagree about whether plaintiff
waived her therapist/recipient privilege under the Act by placing her mental health at issue in
this case. Therefore, we are called upon to determine whether, as a matter of law, the mental
health records in this case fell within an exception to the protective privilege provided by the
Act. Since we will be considering an issue of law, de novo review applies. D.C. v. S.A., 178 Ill.
2d 551, 559-61 (1997).
¶ 24 We begin by considering the relevant portions of the Act itself as set forth below:
“(a) Except as provided herein, in any civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative
proceeding, or in any proceeding preliminary thereto, a recipient, and a therapist on
behalf and in the interest of a recipient, has the privilege to refuse to disclose and to
prevent the disclosure of the recipient’s record or communications.
(1) Records and communications may be disclosed in a civil, criminal or
administrative proceeding in which the recipient introduces his mental condition
or any aspect of his services received for such condition as an element of his claim
or defense, if and only to the extent the court in which the proceedings have been
brought, or, in the case of an administrative proceeding, the court to which an
appeal or other action for review of an administrative determination may be taken,
finds, after in camera examination of testimony or other evidence, that it is relevant,
probative, not unduly prejudicial or inflammatory, and otherwise clearly
admissible; that other satisfactory evidence is demonstrably unsatisfactory as
evidence of the facts sought to be established by such evidence; and that disclosure
is more important to the interests of substantial justice than protection from injury
to the therapist-recipient relationship or to the recipient or other whom disclosure is
likely to harm. *** [N]o record or communication between a therapist and a
recipient shall be deemed relevant for purposes of this subsection, except the fact of
treatment, the cost of services and the ultimate diagnosis unless the party seeking
disclosure of the communication clearly establishes in the trial court a compelling
need for its production.” (Emphasis added.) 740 ILCS 110/10(a)(1) (West 2012).
The case law provides that party may waive his or her statutory privilege by introducing his or
her mental health condition through “pleadings, answers to written discovery, a deposition, in
briefs or motions, in argument before the court, or by stipulation.” Reda v. Advocate Health
Care, 199 Ill. 2d 47, 61 (2002).
¶ 25 Contemnor urges this court to determine that our supreme court’s decision in Reda controls
the outcome of this appeal and requires this court to set aside the finding of contempt. In Reda,
the plaintiff brought a medical malpractice action against the hospital and doctors following
the development of an acute thrombosis and an apparent stroke. Id. at 50-51. During discovery
in Reda, plaintiff’s counsel refused to comply with the trial court’s pretrial discovery order
requiring plaintiff to produce his psychiatric records citing privilege under the Act. Id. at
49-50. As in the case at bar, in Reda, the trial court held plaintiff’s counsel in friendly civil
contempt and plaintiff challenged this finding of contempt. Id. at 50.
¶ 26 Our supreme court was called upon to determine whether the plaintiff in Reda, placed
plaintiff’s mental health at issue. See generally Reda, 199 Ill. 2d 47. In Reda, the complaint
alleged the plaintiff “ ‘sustained injuries of a personal and pecuniary nature’ ” attributable to
defendant’s negligence and caused damages including, but not limited to, loss of society,
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companionship, and affection. Id. at 50. When asked to describe his injuries for purposes of
interrogatories, the plaintiff in Reda answered that he suffered severe injuries to his leg that
resulted in disability, disfigurement, and pain and suffering. Id. at 51. The plaintiff also said he
suffered a stroke, heart problems, and kidney problems. Id. Further, the depositions of the
plaintiff and his wife in Reda disclosed “headaches, loss of memory, decline in
comprehension, difficulties in performing daily activities, and changes in personality.” Id. at
57.
¶ 27 Our supreme court reasoned a section 10(a)(1) exception to the Act “applies only when a
party affirmatively places his or her own mental condition at issue.” Id. at 59. Our supreme
court held that a neurological/physical injury such as a stroke and/or other brain damage does
not necessarily create psychological damage or automatically place the plaintiff’s mental
health at issue. Based on the allegations in the complaint in Reda, and the statements made
during discovery, the court concluded the plaintiff did not actually place his mental condition
at issue by making claims for damages due to a diminished physical capacity to perform daily
activities, loss of society, companionship, and affection in his complaint or by discussing
headaches, loss of memory, decline in comprehension, difficulties in performing daily
activities, and changes in personality during depositions because such alleged injuries were
physical/neurological in nature and could be separated from psychological damage. Id. at
57-58.
¶ 28 The facts in Reda are distinguishable from the instant case. Here, plaintiff did not restrict
her damage claims to physical/neurological injuries. Instead, plaintiff’s original complaint
alleged that “she suffered great pain and anguish both in mind and body and will in the future
continue to so suffer.” (Emphasis added.) Unlike the plaintiff in Reda, in response to
interrogatories, specifically, interrogatory No. 11, plaintiff affirmatively stated she was
claiming “psychiatric, psychological and/or emotional injuries” as a result of this occurrence.
(Emphasis added.) Based on the unique record in this case, we conclude plaintiff affirmatively
placed her own mental condition at issue.
¶ 29 We recognize plaintiff’s own deposition responses and her Rule 213(f)(2) disclosures
place less emphasis on the damage to her mental health in comparison to the broader
allegations of her complaint and her unambiguous affirmative answer to defendant’s
interrogatory No. 11. However, during her discovery deposition, plaintiff described her
injuries resulting from the August 21, 2012, occurrence to include anxiety in addition to
memory loss, difficulty multitasking, headaches, frequent episodes of crying, and irrational
fears interfering with her ability to drive or ride in a car and feel safe in the area where she
lived.
¶ 30 Moreover, plaintiff’s Rule 213(f)(2) disclosure indicated that her two expert witnesses, Dr.
Watt and Ms. Bresnahan, would offer testimony about “other subjects discussed (or to be
discussed) in their depositions and/or contained in their medical records.” Our careful review
of the depositions and medical records from these two experts document cognitive testing and
treatment plaintiff received from these experts for anxiety, lowered professional confidence,
panic attacks, and depression.
¶ 31 Thus, we conclude the case at hand is factually distinguishable from Reda. Therefore, the
trial court correctly determined plaintiff placed her present and past mental health status at
issue, thereby waiving her privilege under the Act. Without discussing the details revealed in
plaintiff’s mental health records in this public forum, we further conclude, based on our careful
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review of the same records subject to an in camera review by the trial court, that the trial court
correctly concluded the records at issue are relevant, probative, and not unduly prejudicial as
required under the Act. 740 ILCS 110/10(a)(1) (West 2012).
¶ 32 Contemnor alternatively argues that even if this court agrees with the trial court’s finding
that plaintiff initially placed her mental health at issue, plaintiff has now withdrawn her claims
for damages solely attributable to the mental health injuries she sustained in 2012. Conversely,
defendant asserts plaintiff’s verbal assurances regarding her intent to withdraw mental health
claims before trial are both vague and insufficient.
¶ 33 During arguments in the trial court and before this court on appeal, contemnor consistently
stated that plaintiff previously stepped back from all claims involving mental health damages
beyond those physical damages allowed under the rationale of Reda. Yet, a lack of clarity still
exists regarding whether plaintiff has made a definitive election to abandon all claims for
mental health damages. For example, in this appeal, contemnor’s reply brief asserts “Plaintiff
Has, and Continues to Have, the Right to Waive Claims for Mental Health Injuries to Avoid
Disclosure of Her Prior Mental Health Care.” (Emphasis added.) This statement of the issue
implies contemnor perceives that plaintiff retains an unexecuted future option to remove or
waive the mental health damages that are currently on the table and at issue.
¶ 34 Moreover, contemnor has not directed this court to any agreed order, stipulation, or
document of record confirming plaintiff’s decision to abandon damages based on the
psychiatric, psychological, and/or emotional injuries addressed by defendant’s interrogatory
No. 10. Nor has plaintiff amended her affirmative response to this interrogatory as required by
Rule 213(i). Ill. S. Ct. R. 213(i) (eff. Jan. 1, 2007). Therefore, we reject the contemnor’s
argument that his client clearly expressed a desire to forego her previous claims for mental
health damages.
¶ 35 For the foregoing reasons, the trial court’s March 3, 2016, order finding contemnor in
contempt of court is affirmed.
¶ 36 CONCLUSION
¶ 37 The judgment of the circuit court of Peoria County is affirmed.
¶ 38 Affirmed and remanded.
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