Opinion
21-CV-1996 (CS)
07-13-2021
ELIZABETH HARDING WEINSTEIN, Plaintiff, v. VILLAGE OF BRIARCLIFF MANOR, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
CATHY SEIBEL, U.S.D.J.
WHEREAS Plaintiff Elizabeth Harding Weinstein's submissions in this matter have raised the issue of her competency by, among other things, challenging a commitment order allegedly issued by Village Justice Howard T. Code on March 9, 2021, (see Doc. 5), and her alleged involuntary commitment at St. Vincent's Hospital Westchester from March 9, 2021 to April 2, 2021, (see id.; Doc. 6; Doc. 10 ¶¶ 33-38, 50); and
WHEREAS the Court finds it appropriate given the circumstances to conduct an inquiry into Plaintiff's competency and whether it would be appropriate to appoint a guardian ad litem pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c), see Lewis v. Newburgh Hous. Auth., 692 Fed.Appx. 673, 674-75 (2d Cir. 2017) (summary order), as amended (July 6, 2017), or take other appropriate measures; and
WHEREAS Plaintiff's appeals from the Court's previous orders seeking information regarding competency have been dismissed by the Second Circuit, see Order, Weinstein v. Village of Briarcliff Manor, No. 21-1099 (2d Cir. July 8, 2021), ECF No. 58; Order, Weinstein v. Village of Briarcliff Manor, No. 21-1127 (2d Cir. July 8, 2021), ECF No. 43; and
WHEREAS, after reviewing Plaintiff's records from St. Vincent's Hospital Westchester, (Doc. 21), the Court finds that Plaintiff's mental health records from Family Services of Westchester are needed to aid in the Court's required determination of Plaintiff's competency, and therefore “the interests of justice significantly outweigh the need for confidentiality, ” N.Y. Mental Hyg. Law § 33.13(c)(1); and
WHEREAS a health care provider may disclose protected health information in the course of a judicial proceeding in response to a court order, see 45 C.F.R. 164.512(e)(1)(i); and
WHEREAS to the extent that the Court seeks these documents for in camera review, their confidentiality shall be maintained, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Family Services of Westchester shall, no later than July 21, 2021, submit to the Court for in camera review any and all mental health records relating to Plaintiff Elizabeth Harding Weinstein for the period March 9, 2021 to the present.
The records shall be delivered directly to my chambers via mail, fax, or personal delivery at the Hon. Charles L. Brieant Jr. Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 300 Quarropas Street, White Plains, New York 10601.
SO ORDERED.