In Re: Subpoenas In case of Mielcarz v. Pietzsch

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN RE: SUBPOENAS IN CASE OF : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MIELCARZ V. PIETZSCH, ET AL., : PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL CASE NO. 160700066 SERVED :
BY TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION :
ON BUCKS COUNTY DISTRICT :
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REQUESTING :
DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED :
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE :
RECORDS : No. 119 EDA 2017
:
APPEAL OF: COMMONWEALTH OF :
PENNSYLVANIA, BUCKS COUNTY :
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE :
Appeal from the Order Entered December 15, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Civil Division at No(s): July Term, 2016 160700066
IN RE: SUBPOENAS IN CASE OF : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MIELCARZ V. PIETZSCH, ET AL., : PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL CASE NO. 160700066 SERVED :
BY JULIA MIELCARZ ON BUCKS :
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S :
OFFICE REQUESTING DISCLOSURE :
OF PROTECTED CRIMINAL :
INVESTIGATIVE RECORDS :
: No. 122 EDA 2017
APPEAL OF: COMMONWEALTH OF :
PENNSYLVANIA, BUCKS COUNTY :
DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE :
Appeal from the Order Entered December 15, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Civil Division at No(s): July Term, 2016 160700066
BEFORE: PANELLA, J., OLSON, J., and STEVENS*, P.J.E.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED JUNE 22, 2018
*Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court
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In this case, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office (“DA’s Office”)
appeals from the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County’s (“trial
court’s”) order dated December 12, 2016 and entered on December 15, 2016.
The order denied DA’s Office’s motion to quash a subpoena issued in a civil
case by Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”), which appeal was docketed at
119 EDA 2017. The order also denied DA’s Office’s motion to quash an almost
identical subpoena issued in the same case by Julia Mielcarz (“Mielcarz” and
together with Toyota “Issuers”), which appeal was docketed at 122 EDA 2017.
DA’s Office alleges that the trial court erred in compelling disclosure of certain
materials to litigants in a civil case. In both appeals, DA’s Office’s claims
center on its contention that the trial court’s order violated the Criminal
History Records Information Act (“CHRIA”), 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9101 et seq., which
precludes disclosure of criminal investigative information.
Preliminarily, we conclude that the order denying the motions to quash
is a collateral order and, therefore, we have jurisdiction over these appeals.
As to the merits, we conclude that CHRIA bars disclosure only if the records
were created for the purpose of a criminal investigation. Some of the records
sought in this case are protected by CHRIA; however, further development of
the record is required to determine if other records are protected by CHRIA.
Accordingly, we reverse in part, vacate in part, and remand for further
proceedings consistent with this memorandum.
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The factual background of this case is as follows. On December 10,
2014, Jamie Pietzsch (“Pietzsch”) rear-ended a vehicle driven by Mielcarz. On
November 16, 2015, Pietzsch pled guilty to three counts of driving under the
influence – controlled substance,1 two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle
while driving under the influence,2 two counts of recklessly endangering
another person,3 driving under the influence of alcohol – general impairment,4
driving under the influence of alcohol – highest rate,5 reckless driving,6 and
speeding7 in relation to that accident. She was subsequently sentenced to a
term of imprisonment. See Commonwealth v. Pietzsch, CP-09-CR-
0005239-2015 (C.C.P. Bucks).
On July 5, 2016, Mielcarz instituted this civil action seeking to recover
for injuries sustained during the accident. Mielcarz’ complaint named several
defendants including, inter alia, Pietzsch and Toyota. In November and
December 2016, Issuers served DA’s Office with separate subpoenas seeking
1 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3802(d)(1)(iii), (d)(2), and (d)(3).
2 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3735.1(a).
3 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2705.
4 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3802(a)(1).
5 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3802(c).
6 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3736(a).
7 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3361.
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its complete investigative file relating to the accident. DA’s Office filed
motions to quash the subpoenas. On December 15, 2016, the trial court
entered its order denying the motions to quash and directing DA’s Office to
comply with the subpoenas. These appeals followed.8
DA’s Office presents two issues for our review:
1. [Does this Court have jurisdiction over these appeals under the
collateral order doctrine?
2. Did the trial court err in denying DA Office’s motions to quash
the subpoenas?]
DA’s Office’s Brief at 4.
In its first issue, DA’s Office argues that this Court has jurisdiction to
hear these appeals under the collateral order doctrine. “The question of
whether an order is appealable [] is a question of law. Accordingly, our
standard of review is de novo and our scope of review is plenary.”
Commonwealth v. McClure, 172 A.3d 668, 683 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation
omitted).
8 DA’s Office and the trial court complied with Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate
Procedure 1925(a). Although DA’s Office did not include its first issue in its
concise statement, this Court issued rules to show cause directing DA’s Office
to explain why these appeals should not be quashed as interlocutory. DA’s
Office filed responses arguing that the order is subject to review under the
collateral order doctrine. Cf. Kelley v. Pittman, 150 A.3d 59, 64 (Pa. Super.
2016) (citation omitted) (discovery orders are only appealable if they are
collateral orders). In mid-February 2017, this Court discharged the rules to
show cause and indicated that the parties should be prepared to address
jurisdictional concerns in their briefs and at oral argument. Cf. Grimm v.
Grimm, 149 A.3d 77, 83-84 (Pa. Super. 2016) (citation omitted) (explaining
that a party may not waive arguments relating to subject-matter jurisdiction).
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Generally, appeals may only be taken from final orders. Pa.R.A.P.
341(a). One exception to this rule, however, is that a party has a right to
appeal a collateral order. Pa.R.A.P. 313(a). Rule 313 defines a collateral
order as “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.” Pa.R.A.P. 313(b).
DA’s Office argues that the order in question is a collateral order because
it requires the disclosure of privileged and/or confidential information.
According to DA’s Office, without the ability to appeal the trial court’s order it
will be required to violate CHRIA’s provisions and turn over privileged and/or
confidential information to Issuers. After careful consideration, we conclude
that the order denying DA’s Office’s motions to quash satisfies all three
requirements of Rule 313(b).
First, the order is separate and collateral to the main cause of action.
The order does not involve the merits of the case. Issuers, opposing parties
in the case, are the two appellees before this Court. Our decision on whether
DA’s Office must comply with the subpoenas will not touch on which, if any,
defendants are liable for Mielcarz’ injuries nor the amount of damages (if any)
to which she may be entitled. Second, DA’s Office argues that the information
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sought by Issuers is confidential and/or privileged under CHRIA. 9 Protecting
confidential and/or privileged information is a right too important to be denied
review. Jones v. Faust, 852 A.2d 1201, 1203 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citation
omitted). This Court and our Supreme Court have applied this rule in an array
of contexts. E.g., Commonwealth v. Harris, 32 A.3d 243, 249-251 (Pa.
2011) (order concerning psychotherapist-patient privilege is a collateral
order); Price v. Simakas Co., Inc., 133 A.3d 751, 755 (Pa. Super. 2016)
(order requiring disclosure of information made confidential by federal
regulation is a collateral order). This case similarly requires production of
documents protected by a privilege and/or made confidential by state statute.
Finally, if review is postponed until final judgment in the case, the claim will
be irreparably lost because DA’s Office “would be forced to disclose
information in conformance with the trial court’s discovery order[]. Such
disclosure could not be undone in a subsequent appeal.” T.M. v. Elwyn, Inc.,
950 A.2d 1050, 1058 (Pa. Super. 2008). Therefore, all three requirements of
the collateral order doctrine are satisfied and we have jurisdiction to reach the
merits of these appeals.
DA’s Office argues that CHRIA bars it from producing its investigative
file. Thus, in order to resolve these appeals we must interpret CHRIA. Issues
9 We explicitly decline to opine on whether CHRIA’s nondisclosure requirement
is a privilege or whether it merely ensures confidentiality of information. It is
sufficient for our analysis to determine that CHRIA’s nondisclosure
requirement is a privilege and/or ensures confidentiality of information.
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of statutory construction are pure questions of law. Therefore, our standard
of review is de novo and our scope of review is plenary. See In re Steele,
177 A.3d 328, 333 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation omitted).
We are guided by the Statutory Construction Act, 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1501 et
seq. See Rancosky v. Washington Nat'l Ins. Co., 170 A.3d 364, 371 (Pa.
2017). “[O]ur paramount interpretative task is to give effect to the intent of
our General Assembly in enacting” CHRIA. Commonwealth v. Grove, 170
A.3d 1127, 1141 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation omitted). “Generally, a statute’s
plain language provides the best indication of legislative intent. . . . Therefore,
when ascertaining the meaning of a statute, if the language is clear, we give
the words their plain and ordinary meaning.” Commonwealth v. Wise, 171
A.3d 784, 788 (Pa. Super. 2017) (cleaned up). 10 “In reading the plain
language, words and phrases shall be construed according to rules of grammar
and according to their common and approved usage[.]” Gross v. Nova
Chemicals Servs., Inc., 161 A.3d 257, 264 (Pa. Super. 2017) (cleaned up).
The Commonwealth Court has explained that “CHRIA’s general purpose
is to control the collection, maintenance, dissemination[,] or receipt of criminal
history record information.”11 Garner v. Bureau of Prof’l & Occupational
10“‘Cleaned up’ is a new parenthetical designed to tell readers that they have
removed extraneous material for readability and guarantee that nothing
removed was important.” Commonwealth v. Kehr, 2018 WL 1077109, *5
n.6 (Pa. Super. Feb. 28, 2018) (cleaned up).
11 CHRIA defines “criminal history record information” as
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Affairs, State Bd. of Optometry, 97 A.3d 437, 442 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014),
citing 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9103, appeal denied, 112 A.3d 655 (Pa. 2015); see also
Neal v. Pennsylvania State Police, 2013 WL 3944421, *2 n.7 (Pa. Cmwlth.
Mar. 5, 2013) (unpublished memorandum) (“the purpose of [CHRIA] is to
ensure the accuracy of an individual’s criminal history record information[.]”).
Having set forth CHRIA’s general purpose, we turn to the specific
provision at issue in this case. CHRIA provides that:
Investigative and treatment information shall not be disseminated
to any department, agency[,] or individual unless the department,
agency[,] or individual requesting the information is a criminal
justice agency which requests the information in connection with
its duties, and the request is based upon a name, fingerprints,
modus operandi, genetic typing, voice print[,] or other identifying
characteristic.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9106(c)(4). “Investigative information” is defined as
“[i]nformation assembled as a result of the performance of any inquiry, formal
or informal, into a criminal incident or an allegation of criminal wrongdoing
Information collected by criminal justice agencies concerning
individuals, and arising from the initiation of a criminal
proceeding, consisting of identifiable descriptions, dates and
notations of arrests, indictments, informations or other formal
criminal charges[,] and any dispositions arising therefrom. The
term does not include intelligence information, investigative
information[,] or treatment information, including medical and
psychological information, or information and records specified in
section 9104 (relating to scope).
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9102.
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and may include modus operandi information.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9102.12 DA’s
Office argues that its investigative file constitutes investigative information
and, therefore, CHRIA proscribes production. Issuers, on the other hand,
argue that the information they seek is not investigative information and,
therefore, it is subject to subpoena. Cf. Pa.R.C.P. 4003.1(a) (“a party may
obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, which is relevant to the
subject matter involved in the pending action”).
Our Supreme Court recently interpreted CHRIA’s investigative
information provision in Pennsylvania State Police v. Grove, 161 A.3d 877
(Pa. 2017).13 In Grove, an individual requested dashcam videos from the
Pennsylvania State Police. The Pennsylvania State Police denied the request
and argued that disclosing dashcam video recordings violated CHRIA. Our
Supreme Court disagreed in part. It noted that dashcam videos “are created
when a light or siren is activated, and capture many events, including routine
traffic stops, patrol vehicle travel[,] and any other event a state trooper deems
appropriate to record.” Id. at 895 (citation omitted). Thus, dashcam videos
12 There is no allegation in this case that the records sought by Issuers is
treatment information.
13 The parties before us cite numerous Commonwealth Court cases decided
prior to Grove in support of their arguments that the entire investigative file
was or was not protected by CHRIA. While the guidance included in those
cases is helpful to our resolution of the issues before us, we rely foremost on
our Supreme Court’s decision in Grove to define the scope of CHRIA, as we
are duty-bound to effectuate that decision. See Walnut St. Assocs., Inc. v.
Brokerage Concepts, Inc., 20 A.3d 468, 480 (Pa. 2011) (citations omitted).
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“are created in many instances that plainly do not involve criminal activity,
and may ultimately be used in civil proceedings, administrative
enforcement[,] and disciplinary actions.” Id. (citation omitted). Our Supreme
Court therefore held that “the question of whether information captured on a
particular [dashcam video] is to be excluded from public access under CHRIA
must be determined on a case-by case basis.” Id. (footnote omitted).
Ultimately, our Supreme Court determined that the video portions of the
dashcam videos were not investigative information protected by CHRIA;
however, the audio portions of the dashcam videos were investigative
information protected by CHRIA because they contained recordings of witness
interviews. See id.14
Under Grove, the term “investigative information” in CHRIA
encompasses only information that is created for the purpose of investigating
suspected criminal activity. Otherwise, disclosure of dashcam video of routine
traffic stops or police traveling down the road with lights and sirens activated
would be barred under CHRIA. Our Supreme Court emphasized that disclosing
14 Toyota correctly notes that no party addressed the audio portion of the
dashcam videos before our Supreme Court. See Toyota’s Brief at 16 n.12.
Our Supreme Court, however, explicitly held that the Commonwealth Court
“correctly determined the only potential investigative information on these
[dashcam videos] is contained in the audio portion.” Grove, 161 A.3d at 896
(cleaned up). Hence, even if the parties did not raise the issue, the opinion
of our Supreme Court addressed it. The basis for the court’s refusal to compel
or permit disclosure was that witness interviews, i.e., information gathered as
a result of an investigation into criminal activity, were included in the audio
recording. See id.
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certain information, such as the dashcam video at issue in Grove, collected
by police for use in possible civil, administrative, or other adjudicatory
proceedings is not barred by CHRIA. In other words, non-investigative
information is discoverable under Rule 4003.1 of the Rules of Civil Procedure.
The plain language of the statute supports this reading. CHRIA limits
the scope of the term “investigative information” to those materials gathered
“as a result” of an investigation “into a criminal incident or an allegation of
criminal wrongdoing[.]” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9102 (emphasis added). The plain
language of CHRIA does not bar disclosure of information gathered during a
noncriminal investigation. Moreover, CHRIA permits disclosure of criminal
history record information to any individual or non-criminal justice agency
upon request (not just subpoena). See 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9121(b). That
information is generally comprised of publicly available information, such as a
charging document or an arrest record. Hence, our General Assembly enacted
a statutory scheme that permits dissemination of information that is generally
available to the public upon request, permits disclosure of non-investigative
information not generally available to the public when subpoenaed, and
categorically bars disclosure of investigative information (except to criminal
justice agencies in limited circumstances).15
15This statutory scheme comports with the realities of law enforcement in the
twenty-first century. Police often conduct noncriminal investigations. See
Commonwealth v. Gary, 91 A.3d 102, 127 (Pa. 2014) (McCaffery, J.,
opinion announcing the judgment of the court), quoting Cady v.
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Toyota argues that in order for information to be protected by CHRIA,
the district attorney “must actively direct the police investigation.” Toyota’s
Brief at 14. This argument conflicts with our Supreme Court’s holding in
Grove that certain information that was gathered by police, not at the active
direction of the district attorney, was protected by CHRIA. See Grove, 161
A.3d at 895-896. Moreover, nothing in the plain language of CHRIA supports
Toyota’s assertion that the district attorney must direct investigative actions
to draw information within the protective scope of CHRIA.
We also reject Toyota’s argument that past practice indicates that most
governmental agencies in the Commonwealth have complied with similar
subpoenas. See Toyota’s Brief at 19. Erroneous interpretation of CHRIA is
not binding (or even persuasive) with respect to our straightforward
application of Grove and the plain language of the statute. Instead, it merely
reflects the reality that governmental agencies may be unwilling or unable to
allocate the resources and effort expended by DA’s Office in this case.
Dombrowski, 413 U.S. 433, 441-442 (1973) (“local and state police officers
have ‘extensive, and often noncriminal contact with automobiles’ due to the
extensive regulation of motor vehicles, the frequency with which they can
become disabled or involved in an accident on public roads, and the need for
officers to investigate automobile accidents”). Hence, not all police
interactions with automobile occupants are a result of investigation into
criminal activity. Our Supreme Court recognized this fact in Grove by
enumerating a list of circumstances a police officer may interact with a
motorist which are not a result of an investigation into possible criminal
activity, e.g., routine traffic stops.
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Mielcarz also advances a constitutional argument in support of her
interpretation of CHRIA. She contends that if we adopt DA’s Office’s
interpretation of CHRIA, it would result in violations of Brady v. Maryland,
373 U.S. 83 (1963). Mielcarz’ Brief at 5. This argument ignores the
Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. Pursuant to the
Supremacy Clause, criminal justice agencies must turn over any information
favorable to a criminal defendant even if protected by CHRIA. See
Pennsylvania v. Ritchie, 480 U.S. 39, 58 (1987) (explaining that under
Supremacy Clause police and prosecutors must comply with Brady even when
doing so violates a state statute).
Mielcarz attempts to argue that public policy also requires that we adopt
her interpretation of CHRIA. See Mielcarz’ Brief at 20-21. Again, “[w]hen the
words of a statute are clear and free from all ambiguity, the letter of it is not
to be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its spirit.” 1 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 1921(b). In this case, the words of CHRIA are clear and free of ambiguity.
Thus, we may not rely on public policy arguments to override our General
Assembly’s intent as evidenced by this unambiguous language. Accordingly,
we conclude that a criminal justice agency must produce materials when
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subpoenaed if those materials were not gathered as a result of an investigation
into criminal activity or wrongdoing.16
We also find support for our interpretation of CHRIA through comparison
with the Right-to-Know Law (“RTKL”). Both CHRIA and RTKL deal with
disclosure of information by government agencies. Pursuant to the Statutory
Construction Act, “we construe statutes dealing with the same subject matter
as in pari materia[.]” Commonwealth v. Anderson, 169 A.3d 1092, 1102
(Pa. Super. 2017), citing 1 Pa.C.S.A. § 1932. Thus, the two statute must be
read in pari materia.
RTKL does not grant public access to “record[s] of an agency relating to
a noncriminal investigation[.]” 65 P.S. § 97.708(b)(17). It similarly does not
grant public access to “record[s] of an agency relating to or resulting in a
criminal investigation[.]” 65 P.S. § 97.708(b)(16). Hence, in RTKL, our
General Assembly explicitly addressed both criminal investigative information
and noncriminal investigative information. In CHRIA, however, our General
Assembly precluded dissemination only of information pertaining to criminal
investigations. By comparing these related statutes, we can infer by this
omission that our General Assembly meant only to protect criminal
investigative information under CHRIA. With CHRIA, our General Assembly
16As we conclude that the plain language of CHRIA is clear and unambiguous,
we need not reach the parties’ additional arguments about other tools of
statutory interpretation.
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made a policy choice to permit disclosure of noncriminal investigative
information by criminal justice agencies when served with a lawful subpoena
under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure17 or Pennsylvania Rules of Civil
Procedure. See Commonwealth v. Kauffman, 605 A.2d 1243, 1246 (Pa.
Super. 1992) (government is required to turn over subpoenaed documents in
state court civil action even if disclosure is not required by RTKL). Accordingly,
a comparison of CHRIA to RTKL supports the conclusion that noncriminal
investigative information is not protected by CHRIA.
Having set forth the proper scope of CHRIA’s prohibition on releasing
investigative information, we turn to the specific facts of this case. Issuers’
subpoenas sought DA’s Office’s investigative file, which they contend contains
measurements and photographs of the accident scene, blood alcohol test
results, and other information.18 Some of this information is protected by
17 We note that most district courts in the Third Circuit have held that CHRIA
does not apply in cases pending in federal court involving at least one federal
claim. E.g. D.N. ex rel. Nelson v. Snyder, 2009 WL 1874032, *1 (M.D. Pa.
June 26, 2009), citing Curtis v. McHenry, 172 F.R.D. 162, 164 (W.D. Pa.
1997). These courts have held that CHRIA only applies in federal court cases
when the court’s jurisdiction is based solely on diversity of citizenship.
18 At oral argument, Issuers averred that the police in this case handed over
the materials related to their investigation to DA’s Office and, therefore,
Issuers could not serve a subpoena on the police seeking that information.
We note that it is immaterial whether the police or DA’s Office possess the
information for purposes of CHRIA’s investigative information provision.
CHRIA has a specific section addressing criminal agencies working together
on a case. That section provides that:
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CHRIA as it was gathered as a result of an investigation into Pietzsch’s motor
vehicle offenses. Specifically, blood alcohol tests are not conducted during
routine police action. Instead, they are only performed if there is reason to
believe that a driver was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of
alcohol and/or drugs. In other words, blood test results are the consequence
of investigation into criminal activity. Hence, we conclude that the trial court
erred in denying DA’s Office’s motions to quash with respect to the portions
of the subpoenas seeking blood test results.
As to the remaining materials in the investigative file, we conclude that
the record is insufficient to determine whether they constitute investigative
information as defined by CHRIA. For example, the record is unclear regarding
whether police took measurements and photographs as a result of an
A criminal justice agency which possesses information protected
by this section, but which is not the source of the information,
shall not disseminate or disclose the information to another
criminal justice agency but shall refer the requesting agency to
the agency which was the source of the information. This
prohibition shall not apply if the agency receiving the
information is investigating or prosecuting a criminal
incident in conjunction with the agency possessing the
information. Agencies receiving information protected by
this section assume the same level of responsibility for the
security of such information as the agency which was the
source of the information.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9106(d) (emphasis added). Moreover, as evidenced by Grove,
police files may contain both investigative information and non-investigative
information. Thus, in this case, DA’s Office must disclose the information in
its possession as long as disclosure does not violate CHRIA.
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investigation into possible criminal activity or whether those measurements
and photographs were taken as part of a typical accident investigation. 19 If
taken during the course of an investigation into possible criminal activity,
CHRIA bars their disclosure. If they were taken during a routine investigation
into an automobile accident, CHRIA does not prohibit their disclosure.20
For purposes of the trial court’s inquiry, it is immaterial whether “the
prosecution of [Pietzsch] is wholly dependent” on the investigative file. DA’s
Brief at 30. It is similarly irrelevant whether the materials “are absolutely
critical to [Mielcarz] being able to prosecute the claims brought in the
underlying lawsuit,” Mielcarz’ Brief at 5, or if the “criminal case is closed[.]”
Id. at 17. CHRIA neither prohibits nor permits disclosure of information on
those bases. Instead, as noted above, CHRIA protects information based on
the circumstances under which it was gathered. Information obtained as a
result of an investigation into criminal activity is protected. Information
19 Grove shows that DA’s Office’s averment that these measurements and
photographs were “unquestionably” taken as a result of an investigation into
possible criminal activity, DA’s Office’s Brief at 21, is incorrect. DA’s Office’s
interpretation would mean that CHRIA prohibits disclosing dashcam videos of
traffic stops. Grove, however, specifically held that such dashcam videos are
not protected by CHRIA. Grove, 161 A.3d at 895.
20 DA’s Office argues that remand is inappropriate because Issuers failed to
meet their burden to prove the documents were not protected under CHRIA.
In Grove, however, our Supreme Court held that the agency asserting that
disclosure would violate CHRIA bears the burden of proof. Grove, 161 A.3d
at 895 n.19. Remand is appropriate so that the trial court can make the
necessary factual determinations.
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gathered as a result of a different inquiry or for a different reason is not
protected.
The trial court must undertake this analysis for the remaining materials
in the investigative file. In other words, after receiving the full investigative
file from DA’s Office, the trial court must determine whether those materials
were created during the course of an investigation into possible criminal
activity. Although the trial court may review the relevant materials in camera,
it must provide Issuers an opportunity to challenge evidence that DA’s Office
offers to satisfy its burden of proof. For example, if DA’s Office offers an
affidavit from a police officer regarding the normal process of investigating an
automobile accident, Issuers may seek to depose that police officer and/or
offer an affidavit from a different police officer.21 Hence, although the review
of the investigative file may be in camera, the proceedings may not be
conducted ex parte. We leave it to the sound discretion of the trial court to
fashion an appropriate mechanism by which to conduct this review.
We emphasize that even if the trial court finds that police suspected
Pietzsch was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time they took the
21 DA’s Office argues that this practice is “unsound.” DA’s Office’s Brief at 35.
In Grove, our Supreme Court explicitly relied on affidavits from the
Pennsylvania State Police when determining if information were protected
under CHRIA. See Grove, 161 A.3d at 895 (citing an affidavit discussing the
general practices of the Pennsylvania State Police’s regarding dashcam
videos). Therefore, the idea is not unsound. Instead, it is endorsed by our
Supreme Court.
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measurements and photographs, that is not dispositive of whether the
measurements and photographs were taken during the course of an
investigation into possible criminal activity. Instead, the trial court must
determine whether the measurements and photographs were taken in order
to further such an investigation or whether police routinely take such
measurements and photographs while investigating accidents and did so
because of that routine practice.
In sum, we conclude that CHRIA only bars disclosure of those portions
of an investigative file gathered or created during the course of an
investigation into criminal wrongdoing. Applying this rule to the facts of this
case, we conclude that CHRIA bars disclosure of the blood test results. We
further conclude that remand is necessary to determine if CHRIA bars
disclosure of the remaining portions of the investigative file. Accordingly, we
reverse in part, vacate in part, and remand for further proceedings consistent
with this memorandum.
Order reversed in part and vacated in part. Case remanded. Jurisdiction
relinquished.
P.J.E. Stevens concurs in the result of the memorandum.
Judge Panella files a dissenting statement.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 6/22/18
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