In re the Marriage of Folise
In re the Marriage of Folise
Opinion of the Court
— Pursuant to the parenting plan set forth in their dissolution decree, Michael Folise and Lisa Ann
I
Michael Folise and Lisa Wichman were previously married and have had joint and individual decision-making authority in their daughter M.W.’s health care matters since 1994. Pursuant to a May 2000 order which provided for M.W. to receive counseling, the parents selected Lorena Lewis at SMH, who was already counseling the child.
Lewis later made two reports to CPS concerning possible abuse by Folise. CPS closed each investigation as “unfounded.” Folise claims that by monitoring his daughter’s records in each case he was able to substantiate that the reports were based on false allegations of abuse originating with M.W.’s mother, Wichman. In a June 2000 order, the court found that, “Ms. Wichman has made repeated suggestions to various authorities of abuse to the child by the father when there is no evidentiary basis to do so. If this behavior continues, it will be harmful to the child.” The
In February 2001, Lewis met with M.W. after not seeing her for two months. M.W. was experiencing stomachaches, confusion, disorientation and irritability, and was reported to be withdrawn at school. Lewis made another report to CPS following the session.
Shortly after Lewis’ report to CPS, Folise requested M.W.’s records. Lewis provided him with only the dates of counseling and treatment summaries. Folise countered by rescinding his previous authorization for Lewis to continue as M.W.’s counselor, and again made a records request. SMH refused the request and moved for a protective order. In its motion, SMH opined that allowing Folise access to M.W.’s records would have a deleterious effect on M.W.’s health and well-being. It also stated that permitting access to the records would not be in M.W.’s best interests. Specifically, it argued that Folise would confront M.W. regarding her statements and thus M W. would not feel safe in therapy. Further, SMH alleged that because of substantial conflict between the parents and allegations of abuse, disclosing the records would put M.W. directly in the middle of her parents’ continuing conflict. Folise argued that he used M.W.’s records from SMH to “correct information when [Lewis] has been supplied with incorrect information.”
The court granted SMH’s motion in part:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that Seattle Mental Health’s Motion for Protective Order is GRANTED in part: RCW 70.02.090 requires SMH to segregate those portions of the record that would be injurious to patient’s health and disclose the rest. Further those portions segregated shall be provided to another qualified professional. Parties shall agree on who this professional will be who may advise court if protective order [is] need[ed].
After considering Folise’s motion for reconsideration, the court added that if Folise and Wichman cannot agree on another qualified professional, then the segregated records
II
As a threshold issue, SMH argues that Folise’s appeal should be dismissed because it was not taken from a final judgment. It is true that the court’s order below was not a final judgment because it contemplated further action: (1) the selection of a third party provider, (2) review of the segregated records by the selected third party, and (3) reporting to the court by the third party provider regarding the protective order. Nonetheless, we conclude that discretionary review
In Neel v. Luther Child Center,
But in Neel it was the father who moved to compel disclosure of the records pursuant to chapter 26.09 RCW. Here, SMH moved for a protective order under RCW 26.09.225(1). SMH was jointly selected by M.W.’s parents to provide counseling to M.W. It was not appointed by the court, nor does it have any prerogative to act as a guardian for M.W. SMH therefore had no legal standing to move for a protective order. The trial court should have dismissed SMH’s motion. Instead, it denied the requested relief and purported to order compliance with the Act.
In attempting to order compliance with the Act, the court acted outside its authority by requiring Folise to secure the agreement of his former spouse in selecting another professional. RCW 70.02.090(3) clearly states that “[i]f a health care provider denies a patient’s request for examination and copying, in whole or in part, under subsection (l)(a) or (c) of this section, the provider shall permit examination and copying of the record by another health care provider, selected by the patient.” In Neel we emphasized this point, “if the health care provider refuses to disclose the records for one of the above reasons, the health care provider must agree to make the records available to another licensed or certified health care provider chosen by the patient or the patient’s representative.”
Both parties seek attorney fees based upon RCW 70.02.170(2). Because this action was not initiated under the Act but rather chapter 26.09 RCW, we do not award fees.
Reversed.
Grosse, J., concurs.
Ch. 70.02 RCW.
Wichman did not participate in the proceeding below or in this appeal.
RAP 5.1(c) provides, “[a] notice of appeal of a decision which is not appealable will be given the same effect as a notice for discretionary review.”
RAP 2.3(b)(3).
98 Wn. App. 390, 989 P.2d 600 (1999).
RCW 26.09.225(1) reads: “Each parent shall have full and equal access to the education and health care records of the child absent a court order to the contrary. Neither parent may veto the access requested by the other parent.”
Neel, 98 Wn. App. at 392-93, 395.
Neel, 98 Wn. App. at 393.
Neel, 98 Wn. App. at 393.
Neel, 98 Wn. App. at 392.
Neel, 98 Wn. App. at 394.
Concurring in Part
(concurring in part and dissenting in part) — Though Seattle Mental Health (SMH) commenced the proceeding under the health care provisions of RCW 26-.09.225, they did so to defeat Folise’s request for health care information under chapter 70.02 RCW. SMH asserts in their briefing, and Folise agrees, that the prevailing party is entitled to reasonable attorney fees under RCW 70.02.170(2). I agree and would award fees to Folise both before the trial court and on appeal. In all other respects I concur with the majority.
Reconsideration denied December 9, 2002.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.