Watkins v. Sergeant M. Bigwood et al

Filing 96

ORDER granting in part and denying in part 82 Defendants' Motion to Overrule Eric Watkins' Objection to Subpoena Duces Tecum. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jared M. Strauss on 11/17/2020. See attached document for full details. (osd)

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 1 of 10

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 18-CV-63035-BLOOM/STRAUSS
ERIC WATKINS,
Plaintiff,
v.
SERGEANT M. BIGWOOD, et al.,
Defendants.
/
ORDER ON DEFENDANTS MOTION TO OVERRULE
ERIC WATKINS’ OBJECTION TO SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court upon Defendants’ Motion to Overrule Plaintiff, Eric
Watkins’ Objection to Subpoena Duces Tecum (the “Motion”). (ECF No. 82). U.S. District Judge
Beth Bloom has referred discovery matters to the undersigned. (ECF No. 27; ECF No. 92). The
undersigned has reviewed the Motion and Plaintiff’s Response (ECF No. 86), and being otherwise
fully advised in the matter, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion is GRANTED IN
PART.
I.

BACKGROUND

This action arises out of Plaintiff’s involuntary commitment in the Florida Medical Center
for a mental health evaluation on December 15, 2014. See generally (ECF No. 76). On August
24, 2020, Plaintiff filed a four-count Third Amended Complaint, alleging First and Fourth
Amendment violations against the Individual Defendants and the City of Lauderhill (the “Third
Amended Complaint”). Id. Plaintiff asserts, inter alia, that he was “in bad faith arrested and
seized . . . pursuant to Florida statute 394.463 (the Baker Act) in spite of the fact that no mental
health professional certified that [he] met the criteria for involuntary examination. There was no
1

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 2 of 10

other valid of viable reason(s) to believe that Plaintiff had a mental illness which caused him to
refuse voluntary examination . . .” (Id. ¶ 9). Plaintiff claims that “[p]rior to December 15, 2014,
no mental health professional ever certified that Plaintiff met the criteria for involuntary
examination.” (Id. ¶ 47). In his claim for damages, Plaintiff contends that he “suffered humiliation
and embarrassment” and that “the whole incident, arrest and Baker acting caused Plaintiff
emotional stress and anguish for four days” in which Plaintiff was “frightened and worried.” (Id.
¶¶ 48 – 49). In his prayer for relieve, Plaintiff requests monetary relief for “Baker Acting [him]
on false fabricated reasons and without probable cause,” and for the “mental distress, anguish and
hardships [he] suffered” because of it. (Id. ¶¶ 62).
On September 15, 2020, Defendants issued a Rule 45 subpoena duces tecum to the Florida
Medical Center, seeking production of “[a]ny and all documents relating to [Plaintiff],” including
his medical records. (ECF No. 82-1, Ex. A). Plaintiff verbally advised the records custodian of
the Florida Medical Center that he did not want his records produced, which Florida Medical
Center construed as a constructive objection to production. (ECF No. 82-4 at 1). The instant
motion by Defendants followed. (ECF No. 82).
II.

DISCUSSION

Defendants contend that this Court should overrule Plaintiff’s objections to the production
of his medical records because it is a “critical question in this matter [ ] whether . . . [Defendants]
reasonably perceived probable cause to subject Plaintiff to an involuntary examination under the
Baker Act.” (ECF No. 82 at 2) (quoting Greer v. Hillsborough Cty. Sheriff's Office, No. 806-CV213-T-23MSS, 2006 WL 2535050, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 31, 2006)). Defendants assert that
“Plaintiff has waived the psychotherapist-patient privilege by placing his mental state at issue”
when “asserting that his December 14, 2015 [sic] Baker Act was not legally supported,” and that
the medical records “go directly to that claim and Defendants’ affirmative defenses.” Id. at 2-3.
2

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 3 of 10

In addition, Defendants allege that “Plaintiff has directly placed his mental state at issue by
asserting that he suffers “mental anguish” from the actions of Defendants. Id. at 2. Defendants
also argue that records relating to treatment before and after the actual arrest on December 15,
2014 are relevant because they “may tend to support Defendants’ position that there was, in fact,
reason to believe that a mental health examination was necessary for Plaintiff’s wellbeing and/or
that of others.” Id. at 2-3.
Plaintiff contends that Defendants’ seeking of his medical records violates the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), arguing that Defendants were
required to provide Plaintiff with a HIPAA release of medical records before contacting the Florida
Medical Center and that, upon his objection, Defendants should have filed a motion to compel
instead of the instant motion to overrule Plaintiff’s objections. Plaintiff further argues that the
documents are not relevant to the issues in the instant litigation, as Plaintiff did not put his mental
state at issue. Finally, Plaintiff asserts that the Defendants’ request is overbroad and must be
narrowed specifically to Plaintiff’s medical records that pertain to the involuntary examination in
the context of the happenings on December 15, 2014. See generally (ECF No. 86).
A. The Motion to Overrule Objection is Appropriate
Initially, this Court finds unpersuasive Plaintiff’s claim that the issuance of a subpoena
duces tecum and the filing of the instant Motion to overrule his objection to such subpoena were
procedurally inappropriate. The Court similarly finds that HIPAA does not bar Defendants from
obtaining the requested records even without Plaintiff’s consent. In Heimler v. Walgreen Co., No.
14-14043-CIV, 2014 WL 12774849 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 22, 2014) (Marra, D.J.), the court described
more specifically discovery of medical records under HIPAA:
HIPAA provides three mechanisms for discovery of health care information in civil
litigation. These are: (1) patient authorization; (2) court order; and (3) certain types
of subpoenas or discovery requests. The regulations to HIPAA state that health care
3

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 4 of 10

providers may not “disclose protected health information except as permitted or
required by this subpart or by subpart C of the part 160 of this subchapter.” 45
C.F.R. § 164.502(a). With respect to judicial or administrative proceedings, HIPAA
regulations permit disclosure by an order from a court or administrative tribunal.
45 C.F.R. 164.512(e)(1).
In response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process that is not
accompanied by an order of a court or administrative tribunal, private health care
information may only be disclosed if reasonable efforts have been made to ensure
that the individual who is the subject of the protected health information has been
given notice of the request or a qualified protective order has been obtained. 45
C.F.R. 164.512(e)(1)(ii).
Id. at *3. Here, on September 15, 2020, Defendants issued a subpoena duces tecum to the Florida
Medical Center. (ECF No. 82-1 at 1). While Plaintiff might have preferred to receive a request
for prior authorization, it is not the only option under HIPAA. Defendants’ method of obtaining
information through a subpoena duces tecum is just as viable under 45 C.F.R. 164.512(e)(1)(ii), as
long as Plaintiff is sufficiently notified. Plaintiff clearly had sufficient notice, as he was able to
file his objections prior to disclosure.
If the notified Plaintiff objects to the release of the requested documents, a motion to
overrule such objection is a feasible way to try to get access to the documents. Indeed, it is the
appropriate procedural tool in the context of third-party discovery, where (as here) the third party
(Florida Medical Center) is generally willing to provide the documents but prevented to do so due
to the party’s objection. See, e.g., Matter of Bavelis, No. 17-CV-61269, 2020 WL 4003496, at *3
(S.D. Fla. July 15, 2020) (granting motion to overrule objections to subpoena duces tecum
overruling defendants objection to plaintiff’s discovery requests to third party bank); see also
Engelhardt v. Svensk Mgmt., Inc., No. 08-62063-CIV, 2009 WL 10667463, at *3 (S.D. Fla. June
9, 2009) (ultimately denying motion to overrule plaintiff’s objections to subpoena duces tecum to
produce medical records as overbroad). Thus, the Court finds that Defendants’ approach to
addressing Plaintiff’s objections is proper.

4

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 5 of 10

Furthermore, contrary to Plaintiff’s position, HIPAA does not prevent disclosure of his
medical records if he does not consent. As previously detailed, disclosure may occur by subpoena
or by Court order. Moreover, as discussed below, disclosure is appropriate if the records are
relevant and proportional.
B. Whether the Medical records are Relevant and Discoverable1
Under Rule 26, parties may discover “... any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to any
party’s claim or defense and proportional to the needs of the case...” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1).
Courts have generally concluded that “[a] defendant is entitled to the production of medical records
that have ‘a logical connection to the Plaintiff's claim of injuries.’” Sherlock v. Fontainebleau,
229 F. Supp. 3d 1277, 1282 (S.D. Fla. 2017) (citation omitted). There is no doubt that Plaintiff’s
mental condition has a logical connection to his claim that he was involuntarily committed in a
mental health facility without probable cause. The Court also finds that Plaintiff’s claim has placed
his mental state at issue, and thus Plaintiff has waived any psychotherapist-patient privilege
regarding the requested records.
First, the records are relevant because, as Defendants assert, Plaintiff’s Florida Medical
Center records may tend to support that Baker Acting Plaintiff, under Fla. Stat. 394.463, was
necessary. (DE 82 at 2-3). Florida Statute 394.463 states in pertinent part:

394.463 Involuntary examination.—
(1) CRITERIA.—A person may be taken to a receiving facility for involuntary
examination if there is reason to believe that the person has a mental illness and
because of his or her mental illness:
Plaintiff argues that that the medical records requested by Defendants are not “relevant” and that
the “medical records in no way can show that the [D]efendants had probable cause or arguable
probable cause to involuntary [sic] Baker Act [him].” (ECF No. 86 at 4). Plaintiff explains that
the records are not relevant because the medical facility personnel were not at the park to witness
his behavior in order to justify that there was probable cause for Baker Acting him. Id. at 4-5.
Because Plaintiff is a pro se filer, the Court construes Plaintiff’s explanations accordingly.
1

5

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 6 of 10

(a)1. The person has refused voluntary examination after conscientious explanation
and disclosure of the purpose of the examination; or
2. The person is unable to determine for himself or herself whether examination is
necessary; and
(b)1. Without care or treatment, the person is likely to suffer from neglect or refuse
to care for himself or herself; such neglect or refusal poses a real and present threat
of substantial harm to his or her well-being; and it is not apparent that such harm
may be avoided through the help of willing family members or friends or the
provision of other services; or
2. There is a substantial likelihood that without care or treatment the person will
cause serious bodily harm to himself or herself or others in the near future, as
evidenced by recent behavior.
Fla. Stat. § 394.463(1). Because Defendants claim that they had probable cause under the Baker
Act for Plaintiff’s involuntary commitment due to their perception that, due to mental illness, he
would harm himself or others without care or treatment, the medical records from that involuntary
commitment are relevant and should be produced. In addition, Plaintiff’s history of mental health,
to the extent evidence of such exists, is relevant to whether Defendants likely observed (or not)
sufficient indication of mental illness to provide probable cause for the complained-of Baker Act
arrest. Therefore, Plaintiff’s objection on the basis of relevance, is OVERRULED.
Second, Plaintiff’s medical records are discoverable because Plaintiff has waived any
psychotherapist-patient privilege regarding the requested records by placing his mental health at
issue. “Federal evidentiary privileges in federal question litigation arising in federal court are
governed by federal law.” Jordan v. Comm'r, Miss. Dep't of Corr., 947 F.3d 1322, 1336 (11th Cir.
2020). Plaintiff filed suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that Defendants, acting under color of
state law, deprived him of constitutionally protected rights. Consequently, because federal
question jurisdiction applies, he must rely on privileges developed by the federal courts.
Although no federal statute or federal rule expressly protects psychotherapist records from
6

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 7 of 10

disclosure, the Supreme Court recognized a federal common law psychotherapist-patient privilege
under Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Jaffee v. Redmond, 518 U.S. 1, 15 (1996). The
Jaffee Court further noted that the psychotherapist-patient privilege can be waived, although it did
not decide what would constitute a waiver. Id. at 15 n. 14. “Since the Supreme Court decided
Jaffee, most courts have held that a party waives the psychotherapeutic-patient privilege by placing
his or her mental condition at issue.” Chase v. Nova Se. Univ., Inc., No. 11-61290-CIV, 2012 WL
1936082, at *1–2 (S.D. Fla. May 29, 2012) (citing Gaines–Hanna v. Farmington Pub. Sch., No.
04–CV–74910–DT, 2006 WL 932074, at *8 (E.D.Mich. April 7, 2006) (“Case law is clear that a
party waives the federal common law psychotherapist-patient privilege by placing his or her
mental condition at issue.”)). District courts in the Eleventh Circuit “routinely hold that a party
waives the psychotherapist privilege by alleging that he suffers from a mental impairment, or by
bringing a claim that requires proof of a mental impairment.” Jacobson v. City of W. Palm Beach,
No. 16-CV-81638, 2017 WL 11549934, at *1 (S.D. Fla. Jan. 12, 2017).
Plaintiff placed his mental condition at issue by bringing a claim under 42 U.S.C. 1983
alleging that his involuntary commitment in a mental hospital occurred without probable cause.2

Plaintiff’s mental condition was not put at issue when he made demands for relief based on mental
pain and suffering. (ECF No. 76 ¶ 49, 62). Courts have consistently held that a “garden-variety”
claim of mental anguish, i.e., “ordinary or common place emotional distress” which is “simple or
usual” is not sufficient to place the mental condition at issue. See, e.g., Chase, 2012 WL 1936082
at *4 (citations omitted). To assist with the final determination on whether a Plaintiff who is
seeking damages for mental pains and suffering, courts usually apply the “Turner-test,” analogous
to, and generally consistent with, the analysis conducted when a Rule 35(a) examination is
requested. Id. The party seeking to subpoena medical records must demonstrate that the party to
be examined has claimed emotional distress and the presence of one or more of the following with
respect to the proposed examinee: (1) a claim for intentional or negligent infliction of emotional
distress, (2) an allegation of a specific mental or psychiatric injury or disorder caused by the alleged
conduct, (3) a claim of “unusually severe” emotional distress, (4) an intent to offer expert
testimony regarding the claimed emotional distress, or (5) a concession that the mental condition
is “in controversy.” Turner v. Imperial Stores, 161 F.R.D. 89, 95 (S.D. Cal. 1995)). Because none
of the Turner-factors are present in the instant case, Plaintiff’s “mental condition” has not been put
2

7

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 8 of 10

Plaintiff argues in the Third Amended Complaint that he was “without probable cause . . . in bad
faith arrested and seized . . . pursuant to Florida statute 394.463 (the Baker Act) in spite of the fact
that no mental health professional certified that [he] met the criteria for involuntary examination.
There was no other valid or viable reason(s) to believe that Plaintiff had a mental illness which
caused him to refuse voluntary examination . . .” (ECF No. 76 ¶ 9).” However, the mental state
of a person is a significant factor for the evaluation of “involuntary examination” and commitment
under the “Baker Act.” Indeed, the “reason to believe” that a person has a mental illness, and the
surrounding incapacity to make necessary decisions, or the potential to harm themselves,
ultimately permits or prohibits examination and commitment under such law. Fla. Stat. § 394.463.
The documents requested – by either confirming that Plaintiff does suffer from a mental illness or
by documenting potential signs of mental illness that the Plaintiff may exhibit – thus may tend to
support Defendants’ position that they had reason to believe that a mental health examination was
necessary to prevent harm to Plaintiff and/or others.
In addition, Defendants also raise various affirmative defenses that permit inspection of the
mental state of Plaintiff at and before December 15, 2014. For example, Defendants allege in their
Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Third Amended Complaint that “the Officers had probable
cause and/or arguable probable cause to Baker Act Plaintiff” (Sixth Affirmative Defense), and that
“disability, trauma, or injuries alleged by Plaintiff are the result of one or more preexisting
conditions, or were caused by one or more subsequent injuries, and were not caused or aggravated
by any of the alleged acts or omissions of the Officers” (Twelfth Affirmative Defense). (ECF No.
77). Consequently, the medical records go directly to that claim and Defendants’ affirmative

at issue by his garden variety mental anguish-claim.
8

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 9 of 10

defenses. Plaintiff’s mental condition is squarely at issue in the instant case, and by bringing the
case Plaintiff has waived the psychologist-patient privilege.
C. The Request is Overbroad
Plaintiff next contends that the records sought by Defendants are overbroad and must be
narrowed specifically to medical records that pertain to the involuntary examination at Florida
Medical Center in the context of the December 15, 2014 admission.3 See ECF No. 86 at 2. While
the Court disagrees that Defendants’ request must be limited strictly to records of Plaintiff’s
December 15, 2014 commitment, the Court agrees that the request should be narrowed in terms of
time and scope. See, e.g., Bortolotti v. Gracepoint, No. 8:19-CV-1072-T-24AAS, 2019 WL
6173173, at *4 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 20, 2019) (granting motion to compel information about treatment
for mental health or substance abuse for a five-year period).
Here, the arrest underlying Plaintiff’s claims occurred in December of 2014. Defendants
claim in their twelfth affirmative defense that the “disability, trauma, or injuries alleged by Plaintiff
are the result of one or more preexisting conditions, or were caused by one or more subsequent
injuries, and were not caused or aggravated by any of the alleged acts or omissions of the Officers.”
(ECF No. 77 at 10). Thus, the Court concludes that medical records going back as far as 5 years
before the incidents (to December 14, 2009) and after that incident are appropriate.
However, nothing in the case indicates that Defendants should have access to information
beyond the medical records. In their subpoena, Defendants request, for example, clothing and

Plaintiff’s Response refers in places to an April 15, 2015 Baker Acting (ECF No. 86 at 3);
however, Plaintiff’s Response also references a December 15, 2014 Baker Acting consistent with
his allegation in the Third Amended Complaint. (ECF No. 76 at 3). See ECF No. 86 at 5
(discussing Defendants’ “quest for [Plaintiff’s] medical records” and Plaintiff’s “one encounter
with the Florida Medical Center . . . on Dec. 15, 2014 [–] the day of the Baker Acting”). The Court
construes Plaintiff to be referencing his arrest and involuntary commitment on December 15, 2014.
3

9

Case 0:18-cv-63035-BB Document 96 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/17/2020 Page 10 of 10

valuable inventory lists, office records, billing records, and all other written documents
whatsoever. In addition, Defendants request “notification of the existence of all records of drug
testing and all other documents of a confidential nature,” yet do not allege that Plaintiff abuses
drugs. The Court finds these request for these categories of records overbroad in scope and will
limit the request to the medical records of Plaintiff, during the stay succeeding the involuntary
admission on December 15, 2014, since that stay, and the five years preceding the stay.
III.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Defendants’ Motion to Overrule Plaintiff’s Objections to Subpoena Duces
Tecum is GRANTED IN PART. (ECF No. 82). The Florida Medical Center is ORDERED to
produce Plaintiff's medical records (as described in Attachment A to the subpoena duces tecum,
with the exception of clothing and valuable inventory lists, office records, billing records, and drug
testing records) to Defendants within ten (10) days from the date of this Order.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this 17th day of
November, 2020.

cc: U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom
All counsel of record

10