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| [1] | IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION FIVE |
| [2] | No. B137678 |
| [3] | 2001.CA.0000024 <http://www.versuslaw.com> |
| [4] | January 17, 2001 |
| [5] | As modified January 29, 2001. There is no change in judgment. |
| [6] | AZUCENA SANCHEZ-SCOTT, PLAINTIFF AND APPELLANT, v. ALZA PHARMACEUTICALS ET AL., DEFENDANTS AND RESPONDENTS. |
| [7] | (Super. Ct. No. BC214585) |
| [8] | Martin M. Berman and Steven W. Murray for Plaintiff and Appellant. Arter
& Hadden, Michael C. Zellers, and Mollie F. Benedict for Defendants
and Respondents, Alza Pharmaceuticals and Robert Martinez. |
| [9] | The opinion of the court was delivered by: Turner, P.J. |
| [10] | CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION |
| [11] | APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Carolyn
Kuhl, Judge. |
| [12] | Affirmed in part; reversed in part. |
| [13] | I. Introduction |
| [14] | Plaintiff, Azucena Sanchez-Scott, a breast cancer patient, appeals from
a judgment dismissing her complaint after the trial court sustained without
leave to amend a demurrer to her cause of action for common law invasion
of privacy against defendants, Alza Pharmaceuticals, Alza Corporation, and
Robert Martinez. Plaintiff's claims arise out of the presence of Mr. Martinez,
a drug salesperson, during a breast and related examination of her by Dr.
Monty B. Polonsky, an oncologist. We reject defendants' arguments that the
complaint fails to state causes of action for the tort of intrusion which
is based on a violation of her common law right to privacy. We therefore
reverse the judgment of dismissal entered following the sustaining of defendants'
demurrers as to the first cause of action. *fn1 |
| [15] | II. Background |
| [16] | A. The Complaint |
| [17] | In reviewing the dismissal, all well-pleaded factual allegations must
be assumed as true. (Haggis v. City of Los Angeles (2000) 22 Cal.4th 490,
495; Aubry v. Tri-City Hospital Dist. (1992) 2 Cal.4th 962, 966-967.) The
complaint alleged that Dr. Polonsky is a licensed physician and is the employee
of Greene & Koehler, a medical partnership. Alza Pharmaceuticals and
Alza Corporation (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Alza")
are companies in the business of selling medicines, drugs, and medical devices
to physicians. Mr. Martinez is employed by Alza as a salesperson. Mr. Martinez's
sales territory includes the County of Los Angeles and his customers included
Dr. Polonsky and the Greene & Koehler partnership. The complaint contained
causes of action against all defendants for invasion of privacy (first)
and violation of Article I, section 1 of the California Constitution (second).
The complaint also contained a third cause of action against Dr. Polonsky
and the Greene and Koehler partnership for lack of informed consent. |
| [18] | The complaint alleged that, prior to October 1998, Alza created and promoted
a mentor program whereby its representatives, including Mr. Martinez, were
directed to participate in private medical activities of Alza's customers
who were health care providers. As part of this program, Mr. Martinez was
directed to participate in such a program in connection with plaintiff's
medical treatment. Prior to June 1997, plaintiff had been diagnosed as having
breast cancer. Dr. Polonsky became her treating oncologist. Her breast cancer
was treated with chemotherapy under Dr. Polonsky's direction, control, and
supervision. |
| [19] | On October 7, 1998, plaintiff went to the offices of the Greene and Koehler
partnership, for an appointment with Dr. Polonsky. She was taken into a
private examining room. At the time, she was wearing a skirt and blouse.
Dr. Polonsky entered the room with an unidentified man, who appeared to
be a professional. Dr. Polonsky introduced the man, who was ultimately identified
as Mr. Martinez, to her. The complaint alleges that Mr. Martinez was introduced
as "a person . . . who was looking at Dr. Polonsky's work." During
the examination, plaintiff began to feel extremely hot and flushed. She
carried a pocket fan with her for such occasions. She took the fan out of
her purse and began to fan herself to feel cooler. At this point, Dr. Polonsky
took the fan from plaintiff and gave it to Mr. Martinez. Mr. Martinez was
told, "[I]t would give him something to do." Mr. Martinez began
fanning plaintiff, who became extremely uncomfortable because Dr. Polonsky
and Mr. Martinez both started to laugh. Plaintiff told Mr. Martinez that
she would fan herself. But Mr. Martinez refused her request and continued
to fan her. |
| [20] | With Mr. Martinez still in the examination room, Dr. Polonsky then instructed
plaintiff to get up on the examining table. Dr. Polonsky told her that he
needed to examine her underarms. Plaintiff unbuttoned her blouse, which
was too tight for Dr. Polonsky to put his hands inside to conduct the examination.
In Mr. Martinez's presence, Dr. Polonsky told plaintiff to take off her
bra. This was because Dr. Polonsky needed to examine her breasts. Dr. Polonsky
also instructed her to lie down on her back, with her knees up, and to pull
down the waistband of her skirt so that he could also examine her abdomen.
Plaintiff remained nude from the abdomen up. While all of this occurred,
Mr. Martinez was in the examination room, sitting beside the examining table. |
| [21] | Mr. Martinez watched Dr. Polonsky examine plaintiff's breasts. As the
examination continued in Mr. Martinez's presence, plaintiff continued to
become more uncomfortable. As soon as the examination was concluded, plaintiff
got up and tried to cover herself because she was embarrassed and uncomfortable.
Dr. Polonsky told her she needed a mammogram and chest x-rays. Thereupon,
Dr. Polonsky and Mr. Martinez left the examination room. |
| [22] | Plaintiff dressed and asked a receptionist who Mr. Martinez was. The receptionist
responded that Mr. Martinez was a "drug salesman." Plaintiff related
what had happened in the examination room to the receptionist. Plaintiff
explained she had undressed in front of Mr. Martinez. The receptionist indicated,
"[T]hat wasn't right." After she left the office, plaintiff began
to cry from shame and anger. When she returned to her office, plaintiff
called Dr. Polonsky and asked who the man had been in the room during her
examination. Dr. Polonsky apologized for not explaining who Mr. Martinez
was. Plaintiff told Dr. Polonsky that he had violated the trust that she
placed in him. The next day, plaintiff telephoned the doctor's office and
asked the receptionist for Mr. Martinez's name. The receptionist transferred
the call to Dr. Polonsky, who apologized again and gave her the information
she requested. |
| [23] | A letter attached to the complaint prepared by Alza's corporate counsel
explained why Mr. Martinez was present in Dr. Polonsky's office. The letter
stated: "Mr. Martinez was at Dr. Polonsky's office on the date in question
because he was participating in an oncology mentorship program. A mentorship
program is a well-established and accepted method of providing training
to therapeutic sales specialists. This program involves the ALZA specialist
spending the day with an oncologist to better learn how an oncologist attends
to patients, manages medications, and generally oversees administrative
functions of the office." The letter further indicated: a "therapeutic
sales specialist" does not treat patients; the physician decides whether
to allow the drug salesperson to be present during an examination; it was
common for the physician to explain the "oncology mentorship program"
to the patient at the beginning of the office visit; and Mr. Martinez recalled
that this explanation was given to plaintiff before the examination. |
| [24] | B. The General Demurrer |
| [25] | Defendants, Alza and Mr. Martinez, filed a general demurrer to plaintiff's
common law privacy claim on the ground that there were insufficient facts
to constitute a cause of action against them. They argued that, as a matter
of law, the causes of action for invasion of privacy did not meet the standard
of intrusion that is highly offensive to a reasonable person. Defendants
further argued that there was no intrusion on plaintiff's seclusion because
she had no reasonable expectation of privacy given that she knew of Mr.
Martinez's presence. Defendants argued there was no emergency and plaintiff
could reasonably have objected to Mr. Martinez's presence in the room. Finally,
defendants asserted the trial court should make the determination that no
reasonable person would have found Mr. Martinez' presence to be highly offensive
and that this was nothing more than "a situation which she found socially
uncomfortable." Plaintiff opposed the demurrers on the ground that
the allegations in the complaint established the tort of intrusion as articulated
in: Sanders v. American Broadcasting Companies (1999) 20 Cal.4th 907, 911,
914-915; Shulman v. Group W. Productions, Inc. (1998) 18 Cal.4th 200, 214,
227-228, 231 [lead opn. of Werderger, J.]; Hill v. National Collegiate Athletic
Assn., supra, 7 Cal.4th at pp. 18, 24, 26; Miller v. National Broadcasting
Co. (1986) 187 Cal.App.3d 1463, 1481-1487; and De May v. Roberts (Mich.
1881) 9 N.W. 146, 147-149. |
| [26] | The trial court sustained the demurrers to the common law invasion of
privacy causes of action without leave to amend. The judgment dismissing
the complaint as to Alza and Mr. Martinez was entered on October 29, 1999.
This timely appeal followed. |
| [27] | III. Discussion |
| [28] | A. Standard of Review |
| [29] | An appellate court's "`. . . only task in reviewing a ruling on a
demurrer is to determine whether the complaint states a cause of action.'"
(People ex. rel. Lungren v. Superior Court (1996) 14 Cal.4th 294, 300; Moore
v. Regents of University of California (1990) 51 Cal.3d 120, 125.) The reviewing
court assumes the truth of allegations in the complaint which have been
properly pleaded and gives it a reasonable interpretation by reading it
as a whole and with all its parts in their context. (Stop Youth Addiction,
Inc. v. Lucky Stores, Inc. (1998) 17 Cal.4th 553, 558; People Ex. rel. Lungren
v. Superior Court, supra, 14 Cal.4th at pp. 300-301; Aubry v. Tri-City Hospital
Dist., supra, 2 Cal.4th at pp. 966-967.) However, the assumption of truth
does not apply to contentions, deductions, or conclusions of law and fact.
(Moore v. Regents of University of California supra, 51 Cal.3d at p. 125.)
Furthermore, any allegations that are contrary to the law or to a fact of
which judicial notice may be taken will be treated as a nullity. (Interinsurance
Exchange v. Narula (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1140, 1143; Fundin v. Chicago Pneumatic
Tool Co. (1984) 152 Cal.App.3d 951, 955-956.) The Supreme Court has held:
"On appeal from a judgment of dismissal entered after a demurrer has
been sustained without leave to amend, unless failure to grant leave to
amend was an abuse of discretion, the appellate court must affirm the judgment
if it is correct on any theory. [Citations.] If there is a reasonable possibility
that the defect in a complaint can be cured by amendment, it is an abuse
of discretion to sustain a demurrer without leave to amend. [Citation.]
The burden is on the plaintiff, however, to demonstrate the manner in which
the complaint might be amended. [Citation.]" (Hendy v. Losse (1991)
54 Cal.3d 723, 742; Goodman v. Kennedy (1979) 18 Cal.3d 335, 349.) For the
reasons stated below, we conclude the demurrer of Alza and Mr. Martinez
to the first cause of action for common law invasion of privacy should not
have been sustained. |
| [30] | B. The Demurrer Should Have Been Overruled |
| [31] | The first cause of action alleged defendants were civilly liable for the
tort of intrusion which is based on a violation of plaintiff's common law
privacy rights. California has recognized the four types of common law claims
for invasion of privacy which are identified in the Restatement Second of
Torts, section 652A: ". . . (a) unreasonable intrusion upon the seclusion
of another, as stated in § 652B; or, [¶] (b) appropriation of the other's
name or likeness, as stated in § 652C; or [¶] (c) unreasonable publicity
given to other's private life, as stated in § 652D; or [¶] (d) publicity
that unreasonably places the other in a false light before the public, as
stated in § 652E." (See Sanders v. American Broadcasting Companies,
supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 914; Shulman v. Group W Productions, supra, 18 Cal.4th
at pp. 230-231 (lead opn. of Werderger, J.); Hill v. National Collegiate
Athletic Assn., supra, 7 Cal.4th at pp. 23-27.) |
| [32] | The California Supreme Court has adopted the definition of the tort of
intrusion as set forth in Miller v. National Broadcasting Co., supra, 187
Cal.App.3d at page 1482 and in the Restatement Second of Torts section 652B.
(See Sanders v. American Broadcasting Companies, supra, 20 Cal.4th at pp.
914-915; Shulman v. Group W Productions, Inc., supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 231.)
Section 652B of the Restatement Second of Torts describes the intrusion
tort as follows, "One who intentionally intrudes, physically or otherwise,
upon the solitude or seclusion of another or his private affairs or concerns,
is subject to liability to the other for invasion of his privacy, if the
intrusion would be highly offensive to a reasonable person." (See Wilkins
v. National Broadcasting Co. (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 1066, 1075-1076; Fibreboard
Corp. v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. (1993) 16 Cal.App.4th 492,
514.) The definition of the intrusion tort consists of two elements, "(1)
the intrusion into a private place, conversation or matter, (2) in a manner
highly offensive to a reasonable person." (Sanders v. American Broadcasting
Companies, supra, 20 Cal.4th at pp. 914-915; accord, Shulman v. Group W
Productions, Inc., supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 231.) The Supreme Court has defined
the first element as follows, "[T]he plaintiff must show that the defendant
penetrated some zone of physical or sensory privacy surrounding, or obtained
unwanted access to data about, the plaintiff. The tort is proven only if
the plaintiff had an objectively reasonable expectation of seclusion or
solitude in the place, conversation or data source. [Citations.]" (Shulman
v. Group W Productions, Inc., supra, 18 Cal.4th at pp. 231-232; accord,
Sanders v. American Broadcasting Companies, supra, 20 Cal.4th at pp. 914-915.)
Whether a legally recognized privacy interest exists is a question of law
to be decided by the court. (Hill v. National Collegiate Athletic Assn.,
supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 40; Feminist Women's Health Center v. Superior Court
(1997) 52 Cal.App.4th 1234, 1245.) The issue of whether there is a reasonable
expectation of privacy under the circumstances is a mixed question of law
and fact. (Ibid.) |
| [33] | In Shulman v. Group W. Productions, supra, 18 Cal.4th at pages 230-231,
the lead opinion explained the intrusion tort as follows: "Of the four
privacy torts . . . , the tort of intrusion into private places, conversations
or matter is perhaps the one that best captures the common understanding
of an `invasion of privacy.' It encompasses unconsented-to physical intrusion
into the home, hospital room or other place the privacy of which is legally
recognized, . . . [Citation.] It is in the intrusion cases that invasion
of privacy is most clearly seen as an affront to individual dignity. `[A]
measure of personal isolation and personal control over the conditions of
its abandonment is of the very essence of personal freedom and dignity,
is part of what our culture means by these concepts. A man whose home may
be entered at the will of another, whose conversations may be overheard
at the will of another, whose marital and familial intimacies may be overseen
at the will of another, is less of a man, has less human dignity, on that
account. He who may intrude upon another at will is the master of the other
and, in fact, intrusion is a primary weapon of the tyrant.' [Citation.]"
(Ibid.) |
| [34] | In this case, the first element of intrusion into a private place, conversation,
or matter concerns whether the medical examination room was protected from
intruders. Under California law, the protection under the tort of invasion
of privacy covers "spheres" where an ordinary person in plaintiff's
position could reasonably expect that the particular defendant should be
excluded. (Sanders v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc, supra, 20 Cal.4th
at p. 916; Wilkins v. National Broadcasting Co., supra, 71 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1076; Dietemann v. Time, Inc. (9th Cir. 1971) 449 F.2d 245, 249.) As
the California Supreme Court stated in Sanders v. American Broadcasting
Companies, Inc, supra, 20 Cal.4th at pages 915-916: "[P]rivacy, for
purposes of the intrusion tort, is not a binary, all-or-nothing characteristic.
There are degrees and nuances to societal recognition of our expectations
of privacy: the fact that the privacy one expects in a given setting is
not complete or absolute does not render the expectation unreasonable as
a matter of law. Although the intrusion tort is often defined in terms of
`seclusion' [citations], the seclusion referred to need not be absolute.
`Like "privacy," the concept of "seclusion" is relative.
The mere fact that a person can be seen by someone does not automatically
mean that he or she can be legally forced to be subject to being seen by
everyone.' [Citations.]" In order for an expectation to be reasonable
in the intrusion context, it is not necessary that there be absolute or
complete privacy. (Id. at pp. 915-923 [employee who had no reasonable expectations
of privacy because of presence of co-workers may have an intrusion cause
of action premised on covert videotaping].) |
| [35] | In that respect, this case is very much like the 1881 seminal case of
De May v. Roberts, supra, 9 N.W. at pages 147-149 which first recognized
a tortious invasion of privacy. De May involved a third party intrusion
into a patient's home at the request of the physician. This occurred and
without objection because the patient believed that the intruder had medical
training. De May has been relied on by several California courts, including
the Supreme Court, in analyzing propositions concerning the intrusion tort.
(See Sanders v. American Broadcasting Companies, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p.
917; Miller v. National Broadcasting Co, supra, 187 Cal.App.3d at p. 1483;
People v. Brown (1979) 88 Cal.App.3d 283, 291, fn. 5.) |
| [36] | In De May, a physician took a nonprofessional male, identified by name
in the opinion only as a Mr. Scattergood to a patient's home to assist in
the delivery of a baby. The physician introduced the gentleman identified
only as Mr. Scattergood, to the patient's husband as "a friend."
The De May opinion describes these events as follows, "[The doctor]
said to him, `that I had fetched a friend along to help carry my things
. . . ." (De May v. Roberts, supra, 9 N.W. at p. 147.) Mr. Scattergood
had no knowledge about the practice of medicine. However, Mr. Scattergood
was allowed to assist in the delivery by taking the patient's hand and holding
her during a "paroxysm of pain." The Michigan Supreme Court concluded
that both the physician and Mr. Scattergood were liable for the intrusion.
De May held that the patient had the right to presume that a practicing
physician, would not take a person who is not connected in the medical profession
to assist in a child birth. (Id. at p. 147.) De May stated: "We are
of opinion that the plaintiff and her husband had a right to presume that
a practicing physician would not, upon an occasion of that character, take
with him and introduce into the house, a young man in no way, either by
education or otherwise, connected with the medical profession, and that
something more clear and certain as to his non-professional character would
be required to put the plaintiff and her husband upon their guard, or remove
such presumption, than the remark made by [the physician] that he had brought
a friend along to help carry his things. The plaintiff was not bound however
. . . strong it might be considered, but had a right to prove what she supposed
was the fact, and this she could do by showing anything said at the time
having such a tendency, or in the absence thereof what she actually believed
to be the fact." (Ibid.) |
| [37] | De May further concluded that the patient was not precluded from recovering
damages because she and her husband consented to the third party's presence
under the mistaken assumption that he was a physician. De May stated: "[The
physician] therefore took an unprofessional young unmarried man with him,
introduced and permitted him to remain in the house of the plaintiff, when
it was apparent that he could hear at least, if not see all that was said
and done, and as the jury might have found, under the instructions given,
without either the plaintiff or her husband having any knowledge or reason
to believe the true character of such third party. 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 the 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. The fact that at
the time, she consented to the presence of [Mr.] Scattergood supposing him
to be a physician, does not preclude her from maintaining an action and
recovering substantial damages upon afterward ascertaining his true character.
In obtaining admission at such a time and under such circumstances without
fully disclosing his true character, both parties were guilty of deceit,
and the wrong does thus done entitles the injured party to recover the damages
afterwards sustained, from shame and mortification upon discovering the
true character of the defendant. . . ." (De May v. Roberts, supra,
9 N.W. at pp. 148-149.) |
| [38] | It cannot be easily disputed that medical examinations involve private
matters. Indeed, with respect to conversations that occur between a physician
and patient, our colleague Associate Justice Patti S. Kitching, citing the
lead opinion in Shulman v. Group W Productions, Inc., supra, 18 Cal.4th
at page 239, wrote: "[A] patient's conversation with a provider of
medical care in the course of treatment, including emergency treatment,
carries a traditional and legally well-established expectation of privacy.
[Citations.]" (Wilkins v. National Broadcasting Co., supra, 71 Cal.App.4th
at p. 1078.) |
| [39] | Similarly, with respect to a hospital room, the Court of Appeal in People
v. Brown, supra, 88 Cal.App.3d at pp. 291-293, explained the expectations
of privacy a patient in a hospital room under the Fourth Amendment of the
United States Constitution, by comparing it to the tort of intrusion. Brown
concluded that no Fourth Amendment violation occurred when: shoes caked
with blood were discovered in the defendant's hospital room; the defendant
did not object to a visit by law enforcement officers; and defendant permitted
the officers to enter after the nurse explained they were there to see the
accused. (Ibid.) Brown stated: "Moreover, the question of privacy in
a hospital does not merely turn on a general expectation of privacy in use
of a given space, but to some degree depends on the person whose conduct
is questioned. Clearly, although by checking himself [or herself] into a
hospital, a patient may well waive his right of privacy as to hospital personnel,
it is obvious that he has not turned `his' [or her] room into a public thoroughfare.
Indeed, the classic example of tortious invasions of privacy involves a
hospital room. [¶] . . . The patient knows and expects that nurses, doctors,
food handlers, and others enter and leave `his' [or her] hospital room in
accordance with the medical needs of the patient and the hospital routine.
On the other hand, a hospital room is clearly not a public hall which anyone
in the building is free to use as needed. Thus, at least for certain purposes,
a hospital room is fully under the control of the medical staff; yet for
other purposes it is `the patient's room. . . .'" (Id. at pp. 290-291.) |
| [40] | Defendants do not cite to any authority which permits a male drug salesperson
to be present in an examination room during the examination of a partially
disrobed woman. A breast cancer patient who goes into an oncologist's office
to be examined does not, nor should she, take a risk that what goes on in
the examination room will be seen or heard by anyone other than medical
personnel. She does not take a risk that a drug salesperson will be a part
of the process during which her breasts will be examined. Therefore, the
mere presence of Mr. Martinez, a drug salesman, in the examination room
could be deemed by a trier of fact to be both a physical and sensory intrusion
into plaintiff's seclusion. Under such circumstances, we conclude that jurors
could conclude a breast cancer patient such as plaintiff had an objectively
reasonable expectation of privacy in the medical examination room of her
oncologist. No decisional authority supports a contrary conclusion. |
| [41] | Defendants argue though their conduct was not "highly offensive",
as a matter of law. There is a preliminary determination of "offensiveness"
which must be made by the court in discerning the existence of a cause of
action for intrusion. (Wilkins v. National Broadcasting Co. Inc., supra,
71 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1075-1076; Miller v. National Broadcasting Co., supra,
187 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1483-1484.) Defendants argue their conduct was not
highly offensive because plaintiff consented to Mr. Martinez's presence
in the examination room. However, the complaint alleges that Mr. Martinez's
status as a drug salesperson was never related to plaintiff. The maxim of
law that one "who consents to an act is not wronged by it" applies
to the tort of invasion of privacy. (Hill v. National Collegiate Athletic
Assn., supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 26; Civ. Code, § 3515.) In Hill, the Supreme
Court stated: "[T]he plaintiff in an invasion of privacy case must
have conducted himself or herself in a manner consistent with an actual
expectation of privacy, i.e., he or she must not have manifested by his
or her conduct a voluntary consent to the invasive actions of defendant.
If voluntary consent is present, a defendant's conduct will rarely be deemed
`highly offensive to a reasonable person' so as to justify tort liability.
[Citations.]" (Hill v. National Collegiate Athletic Assn., supra, 7
Cal.4th at p. 26.) However, in determining whether offensiveness exists,
a court must consider a variety of circumstances of the intrusion. (Ibid.;
Miller v. National Broadcasting Co., supra, 187 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1483-1484;
accord, Shulman v. Group W Productions, Inc., supra, 18 Cal.4th at p. 236.)
The factors include: (1) the degree of intrusion; (2) the context, conduct
and circumstances surrounding the intrusion; (3) the intruder's motives
and objectives; (4) the setting into which the intrusion occurs; and (5)
the expectations of those whose privacy is invaded. (Hill v. National Collegiate
Athletic Assn., supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 26; Miller v. National Broadcasting
Co., supra, 187 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1483-1484; accord, Shulman v. Group W
Productions, Inc., supra, 18 Cal.4th at pp. 236-237.) |
| [42] | Defendants contend that what transpired in the examination room was not
highly offensive. Defendants argue as follows: "Martinez is a professional
therapeutic sales specialist whose objective was to observe Dr. Polonsky's
treatment of patients, including Plaintiff, as part of an established mentoring
program. Martinez was introduced to Plaintiff by her physician, Dr. Polonsky,
at the onset of the examination as someone observing his work. Plaintiff
did not object to Martinez' presence or inquire further until after the
examination was completed. Given these circumstances, the court properly
concluded that Martinez' known presence could not be highly offensive to
a reasonable person." |
| [43] | The problem though with this argument is that it does not take into account
all of the pertinent circumstances. The complaint makes it clear that plaintiff,
a cancer patient, never consented to having an examination of her breasts
observed by a male drug salesperson. At no time did Dr. Polonsky explain
Mr. Martinez's true identity. Further, Mr. Martinez never explained his
true identity. Additionally, plaintiff used a pocket fan to cool herself.
When plaintiff began to use the fan in order to cool herself, it was taken
from her by Dr. Polonsky and handed to Mr. Martinez. Mr. Martinez was told
that this would give him something to do. Mr. Martinez began fanning plaintiff.
Mr. Martinez and Dr. Polonsky then began to laugh. Plaintiff asked if she
could fan herself; but Mr. Martinez refuse to hand the pocket fan back to
her. Thereafter, plaintiff was required to disrobe from the abdomen up and
was observed by Mr. Martinez during the breast examination. Later, Dr. Polonsky's
receptionist indicated that this conduct "wasn't right." Further,
Dr. Polonsky admitted he had not explained who Mr. Martinez was and twice
apologized to plaintiff. When the totality of the circumstances of the intrusion
are examined, not merely the selected facts identified by defendants, we
conclude that the complaint alleges highly offensive conduct involving a
cancer patient whose breasts were observed by a drug salesperson, whose
occupation was never disclosed, during an examination inside the confines
of a physician's office. It bears emphasis that there are specific allegations
that plaintiff was never advised as to Mr. Martinez's role, other than that
he was present to watch. |
| [44] | Further, the present case is different from the scenarios where courts
have found consent so as to avoid a privacy violation. The examples described
in Hill v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, supra, 7 Cal.4th at
page 26, while the Supreme Court was describing the highly offensive element
of the tort of intrusion, are as follows: "(Rest.2d Torts, § 652B,
com. c [no liability for public observation of plaintiff `since he is not
then in seclusion, and his appearance is public and open to the public eye'];
Gill v. Hearst Publishing Co. (1953) 40 Cal.2d 224, 230 [] [plaintiffs waived
any right to privacy by a `pose voluntarily assumed in a public market place'];
Aisenson v. American Broadcasting Co. (1990) 220 Cal.App.3d 146, 162 []
[`One factor relevant to whether an intrusion is "highly offensive
to a reasonable person" is the extent to which the person whose privacy
is at issue voluntarily entered into the public sphere.']; Melvin v. Reid
(1931) 112 Cal.App. 285, 290 [] [no right to privacy in matters publicized
with consent: `There can be no privacy in that which is already public.']
. . ." Later, in Hill, the court discussed the diminished expectation
of privacy of collegiate athletes as follows: "By its nature, participation
in intercollegiate athletics, particularly in highly competitive postseason
championship events, involves close regulation and scrutiny of the physical
fitness and bodily condition of student athletes. Required physical examinations
(including urinalysis), and special regulation of sleep habits, diet, fitness,
and other activities that intrude significantly on privacy interests are
routine aspects of a college athlete's life not shared by other students
or the population at large. Athletes frequently disrobe in the presence
of one another and their athletic mentors and assistants in locker room
settings where private bodily parts are readily observable by others of
the same sex. They also exchange information about their physical condition
and medical treatment with coaches, trainers, and others who have a `need
to know.' [¶] As a result of its unique set of demands, athletic participation
carries with it social norms that effectively diminish the athlete's reasonable
expectation of personal privacy in his or her bodily condition, both internal
and external. In recognition of this practical reality, drug testing programs
involving athletic competition have routinely survived Fourth Amendment
`privacy' challenges. Drug testing has become a highly visible, pervasive,
and well accepted part of athletic competition, particularly on intercollegiate
and professional levels. [Citation.] It is a reasonably expected part of
the life of an athlete, especially one engaged in advanced levels of competition,
where the stakes and corresponding temptations are high. [¶] The student
athlete's reasonable expectation of privacy is further diminished by two
elements of the NCAA's drug testing program-advance notice and the opportunity
to consent to testing. . . ." (Hill v. National Collegiate Athletic
Association, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 42, fn. omitted.) Although in this latter
quotation from Hill the issue involved the general issue of consent, rather
than specifically the element of highly offensive conduct, the factors in
the present case differ substantially from those where consensual activity
has been found so as to forestall a common law privacy claim. |
| [45] | We also disagree with defendants that they may escape liability because
they owed no duty to plaintiff. As stated above, the tort of intrusion involves
two elements: "(1) the intrusion into a private place, conversation
or matter, (2) in a manner highly offensive to a reasonable person. [Citation.]"
(Sanders v. American Broadcasting Companies, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 914;
Miller v. National Broadcasting Co., supra, 187 Cal.App.3d at p. 1482.)
Mr. Martinez allegedly intruded into a medical examination room in a highly
offensive manner as part of his company's mentor program. The allegations
for invasion of privacy against Mr. Martinez and for agency against his
employer were sufficient to state a cause of action and to withstand a demurrer.
(Skopp v. Weaver (1976) 16 Cal.3d 432, 437; Noble v. Sears, Roebuck &
Co. (1973) 33 Cal.App.3d 654, 663.) |
| [46] | IV. Disposition |
| [47] | The judgment of dismissal and the order sustaining the demurrer to the
first cause of action are reversed. The judgment of dismissal and order
sustaining the demurrer to the second cause of action is affirmed. Plaintiff,
Azucena Sanchez-Scott, is to recover her costs on appeal from defendants,
Alza Pharmaceuticals, Alza Corporation, and Robert Martinez. |
| [48] | CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION |
| [49] | We concur: |
| [50] | GRIGNON, J. |
| [51] | GODOY PEREZ, J. |
|
|
|
| Opinion Footnotes | |
|
|
|
| [52] | *fn1 Defendants specifically
demurred on the ground that plaintiff's second cause of action for a violation
of her constitutional right of privacy premised on article I, section 1
of the California Constitution failed to state sufficient facts. (See Loder
v. City of Glendale (1997) 14 Cal.4th 846, 887; Hill v. National Collegiate
Athletic Assn. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 1, 39- 49.) In the demurrer opposition,
plaintiff made no effort to argue the merits of her state constitutional
claim. On appeal, plaintiff failed to raise any contention in the opening
and reply briefs as to the second cause of action based on the constitutional
privacy claim. Hence, any issue concerning the second cause of action has
been waived. (Tiernan v. Trustees of Cal. State University & Colleges
(1982) 33 Cal.3d 211, 216, fn. 4; Johnston v. Board of Supervisors (1947)
31 Cal.2d 66, 70, disapproved on another point in Bailey v. County of Los
Angeles (1956) 46 Cal.2d 132, 139.) |
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