Stafford
Stafford v. Social Security Admin.
Opinion
Opinion
Laporte, J.
ORDER GRANTING IN PART PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
I. INTRODUCTION
During the course of a child abuse investigation, a Social Security Administration (“SSA”) employee disclosed confidential medical information regarding Donna Stafford to a Marin County Child Protective Services (“CPS”) employee without Stafford’s authorization. Stafford sued the SSA under the Privacy Act. See 5 U.S.C. § 552a(g)(l)(D) (2006). The parties then filed cross motions for summary judgment. For the reasons set forth below, the Court grants in part and denies in part Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment, and denies Defendant’s motion for summary judgment.
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Throughout the 1990s, Marin County CPS investigated a number of allegations that Plaintiff was abusing her daughter, G.S. See Declaration of Jonathan U. Lee (“Lee Decl.”), Ex. D at No. 9. One of these referrals resulted in G.S. being removed from Plaintiffs home and placed in foster care. See id. at No. 13. On February 24, 2003, G.S. met with Lisa Ahrens, a guidance counselor at her school. Id., Ex. L at 118. G.S. showed Ahrens the scars G.S. had made by cutting…