Harkey v. Abate
Harkey v. Abate
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff, individually and as next friend of her daughter, appeals from circuit court orders denying her motion to amend her complaint and granting summary judgment in favor of defendant.
Plaintiff’s original complaint, filed on August 28, 1981, alleged that plaintiff and her daughter were patrons at defendant’s roller-skating rink on April 19, 1979, and that, while on the premises, they had utilized the women’s restroom provided by defendant for his patrons. Plaintiff thereafter discovered that the defendant had installed see-through pan
Defendant moved for summary judgment pursuant to GCR 1963, 117.2(3), alleging there existed no genuine issue of fact. The motion was supported by an affidavit of defendant asserting he did not personally view the plaintiff and her daughter as alleged. Plaintiff conceded at the time of the hearing on the motion that there appeared to be no proof available which would establish that defendant had actually viewed plaintiff and her daughter in the restroom, but she asserted such proof is unnecessary to establish a prima facie case of invasion of privacy. The trial court apparently disagreed and granted summary judgment.
The legally protected right of privacy has been variously defined as:
"[T]he right of an individual to be let alone, or to live a life of seclusion, or to be free from unwarranted publicity, or to live without unwarranted interference by the public about matters with which the public is not necessarily concerned, or to be protected from any wrongful intrusion into an individual’s private life which would outrage or cause mental suffering, shame, or humiliation to a person of ordinary sensibilities.” 77 CJS, Right of Privacy, § 1, pp 396, 397.
The type of invasion of privacy alleged in this case may be characterized as an "unreasonable intrusion upon the seclusion of another”, 3 Restatement Torts, 2d, § 652A, p 376, or more specifically an
The Michigan Supreme Court acknowledged the concept of the right of privacy in the early case of De May v Roberts, 46 Mich 160; 9 NW 146 (1881). In that case, Mrs. Roberts gave birth in her home and the attending physician allowed a young man, who had accompanied him to carry his bags, to remain in the room during the delivery. In affirming a verdict in favor of Mrs. Roberts based on an invasion of privacy, the Court stated:
"It would be shocking to our sense of right, justice and propriety to doubt even but that for such an act the law would afford an ample remedy. To the plaintiff the occasion was a most sacred one and no one had a right to intrude unless invited or because of some real and pressing necessity which it is not pretended existed in this case. The plaintiff had a legal right to the privacy of her apartment at such a time, and the law secures to her this right by requiring others to observe it, and to abstain from its violation.” 46 Mich 165-166.
To our knowledge, the specific issue raised in this case has not been previously addressed by the courts of this state. The New Hampshire Supreme
The installation of viewing devices as alleged by plaintiff is a felony in this state. MCL 750.539d; MSA 28.807(4). Though this statute does not specifically impose civil liability for such conduct, nor does plaintiffs complaint assert liability based on its violation, it does constitute, at a minimum, a legislative expression of public policy opposed to such conduct.
The type of invasion of privacy asserted by plaintiff does not depend upon any publicity given to the person whose interest is invaded, but consists solely of an intentional interference with his or her interest in solitude or seclusion of a kind that would be highly offensive to a reasonable person. 3 Restatement Torts, 2d, § 652B, p 378. Clearly, plaintiff and her daughter in this case had a right to privacy in the public restroom in question. In our opinion, the installation of the hidden viewing devices alone constitutes an interference with that privacy which a reasonable person would find highly offensive. And though the absence of proof that the devices were utilized is relevant to the question of damages, it is not fatal to plaintiffs case.
Plaintiff also claims on appeal that the trial court erred in denying her motion to amend the complaint. After the applicable statute of limita
Reversed and remanded.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I respectfully dissent. Since plaintiff concedes that there appeared to be no proof available which would establish that defendant or anyone else actually used the mirror to view plaintiff and her daughter in the restroom, I fail to see how plaintiff and her daughter have been injured. Installation of the mirror, by itself, was insufficient to harm the plaintiff and her daughter. Any harm to plaintiff and her daughter would arise from use of the mirror to observe them in private acts.
The majority opinion’s reliance on De May v Roberts, 46 Mich 160; 9 NW 146 (1881), is misplaced. In that case, contrary to what occurred here, the young man actually observed plaintiff giving birth.
I would affirm the decision of the trial judge.
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