Jennifer M. v. Redwood Women's Health Center

Appellant Jennifer M. appeals from a final judgment dismissing her action against respondent Redwood Women’s Health Center (Redwood), a private medical care provider, for violation of the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Civ. Code, § 1798 et seq.) 1 and public disclosure of private facts. Jennifer contends the Information Practices Act protected the confidentiality of her medical records because Redwood was providing medical services to low-income Californians pursuant to contract with the state Medi-Cal program; and she insists that the trial court erred in granting summary adjudication on the basis of its finding as a matter of law that Redwood was not an “agency,” as required by the act for purposes of its coverage. We conclude that the trial court’s reading of the Information Practices Act was correct, and therefore affirm the judgment.

Factual and Procedural Background

Redwood is a private medical clinic specializing in obstetrics and gynecology located in Humboldt County. In January 1999, appellant Jennifer came to suspect she had become pregnant by her boyfriend, Anthony Wolf. At the time, Wolf’s previous girlfriend, Kristi Garlinghouse, was also expecting a…