Carrie Jaffee, Special Administrator for Ricky Allen, SR., Deceased v. Mary Lu Redmond et al. (518 U.S. 1)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided June 13, 1996 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 518 U.S. 1 · 116 S. Ct. 1923
- Decided
- June 13, 1996
- Term
- October Term 1995
- Vote
- 7–2
- Majority author
- Justice Stevens
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party lost
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
Opinion excerpt
Justice Stevens delivered the opinion of the Court. After a traumatic incident in which she shot and killed a man, a police officer received extensive counseling from a licensed clinical social worker. The question we address is whether statements the officer made to her therapist during the counseling sessions are protected from compelled disclosure in a federal civil action brought by the family of the deceased. Stated otherwise, the question is whether it is appropriate for federal courts to recognize a “psychotherapist privilege” under Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. I Petitioner is the administrator of the estate of Ricky Allen. Respondents are Mary Lu Redmond, a former police officer, and the Village of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, her employer during the time that she served on the police force. Petitioner commenced this action against respondents after Redmond shot and killed Allen while .on patrol duty. On June 27,1991, Redmond was the first officer to respond to a “fight in progress” call at an apartment complex. As she arrived at the scene, two of Allen’s sisters ran toward her squad car, waving their arms and shouting that there had been a stabbing in one of the apartments. Redmond testified at trial.that she relayed this information to her dispatcher and requested an ambulance. She then exited her car and walked toward the apartment building. Before…
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