California Court of Appeal Sep 16, 2016 No. D068978Unpublished
Filed 9/16/16 D.P. v. L.A. CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
D.P., D068978
Appellant, (Super. Ct. No. D496034) v.
L.A.,
Respondent.
APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Gerald C.
Jessop, Judge. Reversed in part, affirmed in part and remanded with instructions.
Law Office of Dawn Dell'Acqua and Dawn M. Dell'Acqua for Appellant.
No appearance by Respondent.
D.P. (Father) appeals from two orders concerning a conjoint therapist appointed
by the court in a long-standing custody dispute between Father and L.A. (Mother), the
mother of his two children. Father argues the court erred by: (1) determining there was
no psychotherapist-patient privilege between the children and the conjoint therapist; (2)
failing to remove the conjoint therapist from the case; (3) restricting the testimony of the
children's individual therapist regarding the conduct of the conjoint therapist; and (4)
sanctioning Father for failing to comply with the court's prior orders regarding conjoint
therapy. We conclude the court erred in determining that there is no psychotherapist-
patient privilege between the conjoint therapist and the children, but that Father waived
the privilege on behalf of the children in a limited manner with respect to the conduct of
the conjoint therapist during certain therapy sessions. We affirm the remaining orders.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
This appeal arises from two orders addressing competing requests for orders filed
by Mother and Father in a long-standing custody dispute. The record on appeal includes
two requests for orders filed by Mother and one request for orders filed by Father, various
pleadings and declarations in support of the requests, the transcripts of two hearings
addressing the requests, and the written orders issued following the two hearings. The
record also includes three prior orders from two other judges addressing custody,
visitation and conjoint therapy, and a detailed Family Court Services (FCS) mediation
report. The record does not include all of the court's prior orders on custody and
visitation or the transcripts of hearings, requests for orders, or associated pleadings
related to prior orders addressing custody, visitation, or conjoint therapy. We base our
factual summary on the record before us in this appeal. (See, e.g., Aguilar v. Avis Rent A
Car System, Inc. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 121, 132.)
Mother and Father were never married but had two children together. After their
relationship ended in 2006, a dispute arose regarding custody and Mother and Father
attended an FCS mediation session. Following mediation, FCS recommended Mother
2
and Father share legal and physical custody of the children with Mother providing the
children's primary residence. Mother and Father returned for a second FCS mediation
and the mediator recommended they share physical custody of the children evenly.1 In
2009, the court granted Father primary physical custody of the children with Mother
retaining parenting time on alternating weekends and one evening a week. At some point
thereafter Father filed an ex parte motion alleging Mother sexually abused the children
and, in late December 2010, the court issued an order precluding Mother from having
contact with the children, at least temporarily, and referred Mother and Father to FCS for
a third mediation.
The mediation occurred a few days later and the mediator's report indicates Child
Welfare Services (the Agency) and law enforcement were involved due to the children's
disclosure of abuse and Father stated the Agency had instructed him to file the request for
the no-contact order against Mother. Accordingly, the FCS mediator spoke with the
Agency several times over the next several months. The Agency worker informed the
mediator the children had made consistent statements about the alleged abuse but Mother
had denied the allegations, "passed" a polygraph test regarding the alleged abuse, and
consistently asserted Father was manipulating the children into making false allegations.
Ultimately, the Agency closed the referral as inconclusive, concluding it was unclear if
there was actual abuse as opposed to issues surrounding Mother's parenting or
understanding of appropriate boundaries, and it was possible Father had coached or
1 The record indicates the second mediation occurred in October 2010 but it appears this may be a typographical error given the timing of the abuse allegations and the 2009 custody orders. 3
manipulated the children. Because Father had primary physical custody of the children,
the Agency did not open a case for services. The Agency emphasized the children
needed counseling but was "comfortable" with Mother having professional or
therapeutically supervised contact with them.
In its report to the court dated March 28, 2011, FCS indicated Mother needed
individual therapy, the children each needed individual therapy, and "the mother's contact
with the children [should] be limited to therapeutic contact with a third therapist, to act in
the role of conjoint therapist by guiding the mother's reintroduction to the children." The
report concluded with formal recommendations to the court, including that the court
award sole legal custody of the children to Father, with Mother retaining access to their
medical and school records. FCS also recommended the court award Mother
"therapeutically supervised visitation with the children up to four hours each week" and
award Father all other parenting time.
Finally, as relevant here, FCS recommended the court order Mother and the
children to each participate in individual counseling, Mother and the children to
"participate in conjoint counseling with a licensed mental health practitioner or agency,"
and both Mother and Father to "cooperate and participate in the conjoint children's
therapy at the discretion of the therapist." The recommendations specified the issues to
be addressed in therapy included reestablishing the relationship between Mother and the
children, sexual abuse, trauma, separation, healthy boundaries and relationships, and
coping skills. The court (Judge Huguenor) adopted these recommendations, along with
others not relevant here.
4
A year later, the same FCS mediator submitted a revised set of recommendations.2
FCS again recommended the court award sole legal custody to Father, with Mother
retaining the right to access medical and school records, and the children to remain
primarily under Father's care. But in this report, FCS recommended Mother's parenting
time be therapeutically supervised "if and when the conjoint therapist feels the children
are ready for such contact." FCS also recommended Mother and both children participate
in individual counseling, and "mother and children shall participate in conjoint
counseling with Lori Pele, LCSW, if and when the conjoint therapist believes that the
mother and children are ready for such contact." In July 2012, Judge Huguenor adopted
these recommendations as the court's order.
Two years later in April 2014, Mother filed a request for order and a declaration in
support of the request. In the declaration,3 Mother alleged Pele had been unresponsive
and, as a result of Pele's delays, conjoint therapy had not begun despite the children being
ready and Mother had not had any contact with the children in over three years. Mother
also informed the court she had requested therapy records from Pele but did not receive
them for over two months (and only after she filed a complaint against Pele) and that Pele
had agreed to withdraw as the conjoint therapist. Mother therefore asked the court to
replace Pele with Marc J. Davidoff, Psy.D., whom her individual therapist had
2 The record does not indicate what prompted this mediation and does not include a report of what occurred during the mediation.
3 The record on appeal includes Mother's declaration in support of the request for order, but does not include the request for order itself or any associated briefing. 5
recommended. Mother also alleged Father was not complying with the court's previous
orders that he provide her information and access to the children's medical and school
records. After a hearing, the court (Judge Parker) granted Mother's request and appointed
Dr. Davidoff as the new conjoint therapist, replacing Pele.4
Judge Parker's May 2014 order states, in part:
"1. The Court appoints Dr. Mark Davidoff as the new conjoint therapist in this matter replacing Lori Pele.
"2. Dr. Davidoff shall determine whether the minor children and [Mother] are ready to commence conjoint therapy with each other.
"3. The Court does not order commencement of supervised visitation between [Mother] and the minor children, but rather leaves the decision to commence supervised visitation to Dr. Davidoff.
"4. The children's therapist, Judith Hahn, [LCSW,] may consult with Dr. Davidoff and inform him of whether she believes the minor children are ready for the commencement of conjoint therapy. Dr. Davidoff, however, shall make the decision as to whether conjoint therapy may begin."
The order also required all parties to sign releases to ensure Dr. Davidoff could
obtain all necessary information from Pele, Hahn, and Mother's individual therapist.
Finally, the order required Father to keep Mother informed regarding the children's
schools, doctors, and extracurricular activities and to inform the children's school and
doctors that Mother was entitled to request and receive information regarding the
children.
Thereafter, Dr. Davidoff met with Father, both children, and Mother individually,
and conducted three joint sessions between Mother and the younger child. The older
4 It does not appear as though the parties participated in mediation in connection with this request for orders. 6
child was not yet ready for conjoint therapy with Mother. During the third conjoint
session with Mother and the younger child in September 2014, Dr. Davidoff allowed the
child's maternal grandmother to enter the room. A few days later, Father e-mailed Dr.
Davidoff complaining about the visit and copied Mother's attorney. In the e-mail Father
asserted Dr. Davidoff had not informed him or asked his permission before allowing the
maternal grandmother to join the last session, the younger child was "crying, upset, and
confused" after the session, and neither of the children wanted to continue therapy with
Dr. Davidoff. Father stated he was aware of the court's orders but intended to respect the
decisions of his children.
Mother had no further contact with the children following Father's e-mail. In early
January 2015, Mother filed a request for orders asking the court to compel Father to obey
the prior orders regarding conjoint therapy, including a previous order that Father pay
half the associated costs, and seeking sanctions for Father's refusal to do so. Mother also
asked the court to waive the psychotherapist-patient privilege between Dr. Davidoff and
the children, or to rule Father waived the privilege by copying Mother's counsel on his e-
mail to Dr. Davidoff. Mother argued waiver was necessary so Dr. Davidoff could
properly respond to Father's allegations and so the court could have all information
necessary to protect the best interests of the children. Mother and her attorney filed
declarations supporting the request for orders and Mother's declaration attached a copy of
the e-mail Father had sent to Dr. Davidoff and copies of the court's previous orders
concerning custody and conjoint therapy.
7
Later that same month, Father filed his own request for orders seeking
reappointment of minors' counsel and asking the court to remove Dr. Davidoff as the
conjoint therapist. Father's briefing focused primarily on the request to appoint minors'
counsel. However, Father also filed a declaration including allegations Dr. Davidoff
never spoke with Pele or Hahn and never sought his approval before bringing the
grandmother into the session. Father stated the children's therapist, Hahn, was not happy
that Dr. Davidoff had done so and, as a result, the children refused to return to therapy
with Dr. Davidoff. Shortly thereafter, Mother filed a declaration from Dr. Davidoff in
which he asserted Father had persistently resisted conjoint therapy between the children
and Mother and now refused to bring the children to any further sessions. The
declaration did not include any details regarding the therapy sessions Dr. Davidoff had
conducted.
In late March 2015, Mother filed a subsequent request for an order stating "the
psychotherapist-patient privilege does not operate to either shield from disclosure, or to
bar admission in evidence, any communications between the [children] and
Dr. . . . Davidoff relevant to what has transpired in conjoint therapy sessions nor any
communications between the [children] and any therapist relevant to the purported
factual basis for the allegation of sex abuse against [Mother]." Both Mother and Dr.
Davidoff filed additional declarations in support of the request. Dr. Davidoff stated he
was prepared to testify in greater detail about what occurred in his therapy sessions with
the children should the court order the privilege did not bar such disclosure, but again did
not provide any details regarding any of the sessions he had conducted.
8
Mother and Father each filed an opposition to the other's requests for orders and
Mother filed additional supporting declarations from herself and Dr. Davidoff. In this
third declaration, Dr. Davidoff again stated he was prepared to testify in greater detail
regarding what had transpired during therapy if the court allowed it, but also disputed
particular statements Father had made in his moving papers regarding his approach and
the sessions he had conducted. Also in response to Father's allegations, Dr. Davidoff
explained why he did not contact Pele. Finally, Dr. Davidoff asserted he was not aware
of any order precluding him from including the grandmother in a session if he thought
doing so would be therapeutic.
Mother also filed a reply to Father's opposition alleging that Father had continually
tendered the issues of Dr. Davidoff's conduct during therapy sessions and the allegations
of sexual abuse. Mother also asserted the court appointed Pele, and subsequently Dr.
Davidoff, to examine the children such that their communications during sessions were
not privileged in accordance with Evidence Code section 1017, subdivision (a).
The court (Judge Jessop) scheduled two hearings in response to the competing
requests for orders. The first hearing, set for April 14, 2015, was to address Father's
request for appointment of minors' counsel and Mother's request to waive the
psychotherapist-patient privilege with respect to Dr. Davidoff. The second hearing was
to address Father's request for orders removing Dr. Davidoff as the conjoint therapist and
Mother's request for sanctions.
The day before the first hearing, Mother submitted a declaration from her attorney
and a declaration from Dr. Davidoff (in lieu of personal testimony) in support of her
9
request for orders. In his declaration, Dr. Davidoff asserted Father had not been paying
his share for the therapy sessions and described in detail his difficulty in obtaining
Father's cooperation with scheduling therapy sessions. Dr. Davidoff also discussed the
final conjoint therapy session, explaining the child had been comfortable with Mother
during the session, had discussed other family members and expressed a desire to see
them again and, based on the child's response when asked about seeing the grandmother,
Dr. Davidoff had allowed the grandmother to enter and participate in the session for
approximately 15 minutes. Dr. Davidoff opined the session was therapeutic and no one
involved was upset, and that he was ready and willing to testify more fully as to the basis
for those opinions. Finally, Dr. Davidoff recommended each of the children, Mother, and
Father continue with individual therapy with him and the younger child and Mother
continue with conjoint therapy with him.
At the start of the first hearing, the court noted it had reviewed large portions of
the file in preparation for the hearing. The court commented it was not clear what the
function of a "conjoint therapist" was and that it was the court's view that Dr. Davidoff
was appointed as a "recommender," someone who recommended to the court when to
commence visitation. The court noted the parties signed waivers so Dr. Davidoff could
consult with the other therapist in making such a recommendation, that FCS would
typically be presenting recommendations to the court regarding visitation and, in the
court's view, Judge Parker appointed Dr. Davidoff to make such recommendations in
place of FCS.
10
In response, Father argued the court appointed Dr. Davidoff as a conjoint
therapist, and that a conjoint therapist is not a recommending counselor. Counsel
emphasized the prior orders showed the court had appointed Dr. Davidoff for the purpose
of counseling or therapy, and thus the privilege applied. The court rejected the argument
and concluded Dr. Davidoff, as a "recommender," was not subject to the psychotherapist-
patient privilege.
The court then addressed Mother's request that Hahn's communications with the
children were not subject to the psychotherapist-patient privilege. The court noted she
was a psychotherapist, the scope of her appointment did include treatment of the children,
and the reason FCS recommended the children seek individual counseling was to help
them cope with the circumstances surrounding the custody dispute. The court concluded
Hahn's communications with the children were subject to the psychotherapist-patient
privilege. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court expressed its hope the parties would
try to engage in "Dr. Davidoff's conjoint therapy" and acknowledged Judge Parker's
previous order appointing Dr. Davidoff as the conjoint therapist.
Before the second hearing, Mother filed a fifth, more detailed declaration from Dr.
Davidoff. In this declaration, Dr. Davidoff provided greater detail regarding his
individual therapy sessions with the children and his conjoint sessions with the younger
child and Mother, including the final conjoint session in which the maternal grandmother
was present.
At the second hearing, Father, on behalf of the children, waived the privilege with
respect to Hahn. Mother objected to Hahn's testifying, arguing her testimony would be
11
hearsay as to what the children told her, and the children could instead testify directly as
to their feelings about therapy with Dr. Davidoff. Father stated Hahn would testify
regarding the children's progress in therapy, their statements regarding conjoint therapy,
and her conversations with Dr. Davidoff. Mother continued to object on relevancy
grounds.
The court allowed Hahn to testify but sustained a number of objections during
questioning, effectively limiting her testimony to the request for her records, the
children's nonverbal response to her questions regarding continued therapy with Dr.
Davidoff, and her discussions with Dr. Davidoff regarding his conduct. At the
conclusion of the hearing, the court denied Father's request to remove Dr. Davidoff. The
court explained although the children may have a fear of going back to Dr. Davidoff, the
record indicated otherwise, there had been a long history of Father frustrating the conjoint
therapy by refusing to cooperate, it had been years since the abuse allegations surfaced
with little progress towards reunification, and there was not sufficient evidence to remove
Dr. Davidoff. The court also concluded sanctions were appropriate due to Father's lack
of cooperation.
Ultimately, the court issued written orders regarding both hearings. The first order
denied Father's request to reappoint minors' counsel and found Dr. Davidoff was not
subject to the psychotherapist-patient privilege because his purpose was to advise the
parents and the court how to proceed with visitation. The order explained Father's
attempt to use the privilege to prevent the introduction of contrary evidence was
12
disingenuous and the court precluding Dr. Davidoff's testimony would impermissibly
allow the privilege to be used as both a sword and a shield.
The second order denied Father's request to replace Dr. Davidoff and reiterated Dr.
Davidoff was to take the lead in determining the appropriateness of conjoint therapy and
the scheduling of the same. It also specified the children were to meet with Dr. Davidoff
weekly. The order explained it was unclear why the children no longer wanted to
participate in conjoint therapy with Dr. Davidoff and Father had not made an adequate
showing of bias to disqualify Dr. Davidoff. Finally, the order awarded sanctions in the
amount of $8,000 against Father under Family Code section 271 for failing to comply
with the court's previous orders by not cooperating with Dr. Davidoff and the conjoint
therapy process.
On appeal, Father disputes several aspects of both orders. Father argues the court
erred in determining there was no psychotherapist-patient privilege with respect to Dr.
Davidoff; the court should have removed Dr. Davidoff from the case; the court should
have allowed Hahn to testify more fully; and the sanctions against him were not
appropriate. Because Mother did not file a responsive brief, and Father waived oral
argument, we decide this appeal based on the record and Father's opening brief. (Cal.
Rules of Court, rule 17(a).)
DISCUSSION
I. General Legal Principles Regarding Custody Disputes
The County of San Diego is a recommending county with respect to custody and
visitation disputes. (Super. Ct. San Diego County, Local Rules, rule 5.10.2.) Typically,
13
when a custody dispute arises, the court refers the parties to FCS for mediation. (Ibid.) If
the parties do not reach an agreement during the FCS mediation, the FCS counselor will
submit a comprehensive written report to the court, including custody and visitation
recommendations. (Ibid.) Unless a party objects, the court will consider the entire FCS
report and may use the report as a basis for its custody and visitation orders. (Ibid.) The
parties may also stipulate to use a private counselor, rather than FCS mediation, at their
own expense. (Id., rule 5.10.4.)
When a court awards primary physical custody to one parent, it must award
reasonable visitation rights to the other parent unless such visitation would be detrimental
to the best interests of the child. (Fam. Code, § 3100, subd. (a); Camacho v. Camacho
(1985) 173 Cal.App.3d 214, 218.) Although the court has broad discretion in fashioning
custody and visitation orders, parents have fundamental rights in the relationship with
their children and the court should attempt to preserve some visitation where possible.
(Hoversten v. Superior Court (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 636, 641; Marriage of Birdsall
(1988) 197 Cal.App.3d 1024, 1028.) Supervised visitation is one available option when
questions arise regarding the safety of the children in the care of the parent. If the court
determines child abuse has occurred and supervision is therefore necessary, the court
must also determine whether to require supervision by a professional or nonprofessional
provider based on the best interests of the child. (Fam. Code, § 3200.5.)
II. Standard of Review
We review orders relating to custody and visitation as well as orders relating to the
admissibility of evidence, including the admissibility of communications subject to the
14
psychotherapist-patient privilege, for an abuse of discretion. (In re Marriage of Burgess
(1996) 13 Cal.4h 25, 32 (Burgess); In re Cole C. (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 900, 911 (Cole
C.).) We also review orders awarding sanctions under Family Code section 271 for an
abuse of discretion, taking into account the restriction that the award may not constitute
an unreasonable financial burden. (Robert J. v. Catherine D. (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th
1500, 1520 (Robert J.).) A court abuses its discretion only when its decision exceeds the
bounds of reason. (Cole C., at p. 911.)
III. Analysis
A. Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege Applies but Father Waived Privilege
Father argues the court erred by finding Dr. Davidoff was not subject to the
psychotherapist privilege. For the reasons set forth more fully below, we agree but also
conclude Father waived the privilege, in a limited manner, with respect to the conduct of
Dr. Davidoff during the third conjoint therapy session, and the children's mental state in
response thereto. Although the court viewed Dr. Davidoff as a "recommender," who
would advise the court concerning the appropriateness of conjoint therapy and visitation,
the court—both orally and in its written order—confirmed he was also acting as a
psychotherapist with respect to the court-ordered therapy. As such, Dr. Davidoff's
communications, during therapeutic sessions, with Mother, Father, and the children were,
and remain, subject to the psychotherapist-patient privilege.
15
1. The Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege Applies to Communications Occurring During Therapeutic Sessions with Dr. Davidoff
The psychotherapist-patient privilege allows a patient to refuse to disclose, and to
prevent another from disclosing, confidential communications between the patient and a
psychotherapist. (Evid. Code, § 1014; Simek v. Superior Court (1981) 117 Cal.App.3d
169, 173 (Simek).) Because effective psychotherapy often depends on the patient
revealing intimate and embarrassing personal details, the psychotherapist-patient
privilege is expansive and provides greater protection to the patient than other privileges,
such as the physician-patient privilege. (Nielsen v. Superior Court (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th
1150, 1153-1154; Senate Com. on Judiciary com., 29B Pt. 3B West's Ann. Evid. Code
(2009 ed.) foll. § 1014, p. 18; see also People v. Webb (1993) 6 Cal.4th 494, 518 [there is
a "strong policy of protecting a patient's treatment history"].) For the same reasons, the
privilege is liberally construed in favor of protecting the patient's confidential
communications. (In re Lifschutz (1970) 2 Cal.3d 415, 437 (Lifschutz).)
Evidence Code section 1010 defines a psychotherapist to include anyone who is,
or whom a patient reasonably believes to be, a licensed clinical social worker or a
licensed marriage and family therapist. Evidence Code section 1011 defines a patient to
include a person who consults a psychotherapist for the purpose of treatment of a mental
or emotional condition. The privilege applies in a group setting—or "conjoint therapy"
such as marital, family, or group therapy—where communications with other participants
in the therapy are reasonably necessary for the accomplishment of the purpose of the
therapy. (Farrell L. v. Superior Court (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 521, 527; see also
16
Grosslight v. Superior Court (1977) 72 Cal.App.3d 502, 506 [communications between
parent and hospital made to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of the minor did not
waive privilege].)
Dr. Davidoff is a licensed marriage and family therapist and thus meets the
definition of psychotherapist under Evidence Code section 1010. In 2011, Judge
Huguenor appointed Pele,5 the prior conjoint therapist whose role Dr. Davidoff later
assumed, at least in part, as a therapist for the purpose of treating Mother, the children
and, to the extent Pele thought necessary, Father. In making this order, the court adopted
the FCS recommendations that specified Mother and the children were to participate in
"conjoint counseling" with a licensed mental health professional and listed specific areas
to be addressed in counseling. The specified areas included sexual abuse, trauma, and
coping skills, exactly the types of issues a therapist would focus on during a therapeutic
session as opposed to a purely information gathering session.
The recommendations the court adopted a year later also specified Mother and the
children were to participate in "conjoint counseling" with a licensed professional. While
the order placed the determination of when to commence conjoint therapy on the then
current therapist, Pele, it also appointed Pele to act as a psychotherapist with respect to
any therapy that did occur. Similarly, in 2014, Judge Parker issued an order appointing
Dr. Davidoff as the new "conjoint therapist." Although the order left the determination of
when to commence conjoint therapy between Mother and the children to Dr. Davidoff, he
5 Pele, whom Dr. Davidoff replaced, is a licensed social worker and thus met the definition of a psychotherapist under Evidence Code section 1010 as well. 17
was to prepare the parties for conjoint sessions and conduct those sessions when
appropriate.6 The court underscored his role as a conjoint therapist when it orally
instructed the parties to comply with the court's standing orders and continue conjoint
therapy with Dr. Davidoff. Thus, Dr. Davidoff was a psychotherapist engaged in
treatment and the psychotherapist-patient privilege applied to his communications with
the children, Mother, and Father during therapeutic sessions.
Although it is apparent Judge Parker's order required Dr. Davidoff to recommend
to the court when supervised visitation or conjoint therapy should commence, his role as
a "recommender" does not destroy the psychotherapist-patient privilege with respect to
his role as a therapist. Evidence Code section 1017, subdivision (a) states "[t]here is no
privilege . . . if the psychotherapist is appointed by order of a court to examine the
patient." However, this is a limited exception, typically employed in criminal cases.
(See, e.g., In re Eduardo A. (1989) 209 Cal.App.3d 1038, 1042 (Eduardo A.) [explaining
the limited nature of the exception]; People v. Lines (1975) 13 Cal.3d 500, 511-512
[discussing the exception in the context of a criminal defendant pleading not guilty by
reason of insanity].) As courts have noted in juvenile dependency cases, matters more
analogous to the present case than criminal cases, court-ordered counseling to assist in
understanding and addressing, for example, a past molestation, is quite different from the
6 The 2014 order also specifies that Dr. Davidoff was to determine when to commence supervised visitation. The record on appeal does not include the transcript of the hearing associated with this order and it is not clear whether the court intended the determinations regarding conjoint therapy and supervised visitation to be separate or whether the court was using the terms interchangeably. Regardless, the prior orders and the use of the term "conjoint therapist" throughout the 2014 order indicate that the court appointed Dr. Davidoff, at least in part, as a psychotherapist. 18
information gathering function addressed by Evidence Code section 1017. (Eduardo A.,
at pp. 1041-1042.)
Where, as here, a court-appointed therapist serves dual purposes—gathering
information to make recommendations to the court regarding the child's welfare going
forward and conducting therapeutic treatment—Evidence Code section 1017 does not
apply and communications during therapeutic sessions remain privileged. (Eduardo A.,
supra, 209 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1041-1042; In re Mark L. (2001) 94 Cal.App.4th 573, 584
(Mark L.); Cole C., supra, 174 Cal.App.4th at p. 912; People v. Gonzalez (2013) 56
Cal.4th 353, 375-376 (Gonzalez).) In such situations, the therapist may provide limited
information to allow the court to make reasoned decisions regarding the welfare of the
child so long as the therapist does not disclose the details of the therapeutic sessions.
(Gonzalez, at pp. 375-376, 379, fn. 10.) Accordingly, Dr. Davidoff could provide limited
information in connection with his recommendations to the court but was, and still is,
subject to the psychotherapist-patient privilege with respect to the details of his
therapeutic sessions with Mother, Father, and the children.
2. Father Waived the Privilege in a Limited Manner
Although the court erred in concluding the privilege was inapplicable, we agree
that Father waived the privilege, in a limited manner, with respect to communications
concerning Dr. Davidoff's conduct during the conjoint sessions with Mother and the
In a custody dispute between parents, the child, or the holder of the privilege on
behalf of the child, may claim, or waive, the psychotherapist-patient privilege. (Simek,
19
supra, 117 Cal.App.3d at pp. 173-174.) A patient, or the holder of the privilege on behalf
of the patient, waives the privilege by disclosing a significant part of the confidential
communication to a third party without coercion. (Evid. Code, § 912, subd. (a);
Lifschutz, supra, 2 Cal.3d at p. 430; Inabnit v. Berkson (1988) 199 Cal.App.3d 1230,
1238.) A patient, or the holder of the privilege on behalf of the patient, also waives the
privilege by tendering a mental condition of the patient as an issue in a proceeding.
(Evid. Code, § 1016; Roberts v. Superior Court (1973) 9 Cal.3d 330, 340 (Roberts); San
Diego Trolley, Inc. v. Superior Court (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 1083, 1092 (San Diego
Trolley).) Here, it is undisputed Father, who had sole legal custody of the children, was
the holder of the privilege on their behalf and could either assert the privilege or waive it.
(Evid. Code, § 1013; Fam. Code, § 3006.) By disclosing a significant portion of the
privileged communications and tendering the mental state of the children, Father waived
the privilege in a limited manner.
Father sent an e-mail to Dr. Davidoff, and copied Mother's attorney, a third party.
In that e-mail, he disclosed significant portions of the privileged communications with
respect to a number of therapy sessions, including most notably the second and third
conjoint therapy sessions. Father argues the e-mail could not have contained confidential
communications because he was not included in the sessions but, as Father admits, he
sent the e-mail on behalf of the children and discussed communications during sessions
the children had purportedly disclosed to him. Father also asserts there was no waiver
because he sent the e-mail to Dr. Davidoff on behalf of the children, all of whom were
subject to the privilege. This argument fails to account for the fact that he copied
20
Mother's attorney, a third party having no direct relationship to the children or their
treatment. (Evid. Code, § 912, subd. (a); Lifschutz, supra, 2 Cal.3d at p. 430 [privilege
waived by disclosure during deposition]; In re Clergy Cases I (2010) 188 Cal.App.4th
1224, 1241 [privilege waived by disclosure to third party not reasonably necessary for the
purpose of diagnosis or treatment].)
Moreover, in support of his request for orders, Father filed a declaration making
various allegations regarding the conduct of therapy to date, the reaction of the children
to that conduct, and the children's purported desire not to undergo further therapy with
Dr. Davidoff as a result. As such, Father also tendered, on behalf of the children, their
mental condition with respect to continued therapy with Dr. Davidoff and the court
properly permitted Dr. Davidoff to respond to the allegations under a limited waiver.
(Evid. Code, § 1016; Roberts, supra, 9 Cal.3d at p. 340; San Diego Trolley, supra, 87
Cal.App.4th at p. 1093.)
Relying on the cases addressing therapist serving a dual purpose as a
recommender and therapist, Father asserts the court could permit the disclosure of limited
information " 'reasonably necessary for . . . the accomplishment of the purpose for which
the psychotherapist is consulted' " pursuant to Evidence Code section 1012. (See Cole
C., supra, 74 Cal.App.4th at p. 912; Mark L., supra, 94 Cal.App.4th at pp. 583-584; In re
Kristine W. (2001) 94 Cal.App.4th 521, 527.) However, the California Supreme Court
recently clarified that, although a psychotherapist serving a dual purpose may provide
very limited circumscribed information to the court regarding the progress of the patient,
Evidence Code section 1012 does not destroy the privilege or permit broad disclosures.
21
(Gonzalez, supra, 56 Cal.4th at pp. 375-376.) Thus, in his dual role, Dr. Davidoff could
provide circumspect information regarding the progress of therapy and recommendations
regarding custody and visitation without a waiver, but the details of his therapeutic
sessions with the children, Mother, and Father remained subject to the privilege, and
Father's disclosures and tender resulted in a limited waiver of that privilege.
The scope of the waiver, however, is limited; it does not destroy the privilege with
respect to all communications between the children, Mother, Father, and Dr. Davidoff. A
patient is not required to sacrifice all privacy in order to seek redress for a specific injury
or mental condition and, as such, the scope of this type of waiver extends only to the
mental condition in question. (Britt v. Superior Court (1978) 20 Cal.3d 844, 849, 863-
864; see also San Diego Trolley, supra, 87 Cal.App.4th at p. 1092; Lifschutz, supra, 2
Cal.3d at p. 435.) Stated another way, privileged communications not directly relevant to
the specific mental condition at issue remain privileged, even if they may otherwise be
relevant to the litigation. (Britt, at pp. 863-864.)
Typically, as the patient is the one putting the specific mental condition at issue,
"the burden rests upon the patient initially to submit some showing that a given
confidential communication is not directly related to the issue he has tendered to the
court." (Lifschutz, supra, 2 Cal.3d at p. 436.) Here, because the court concluded there
was no privilege in the first instance, Father, on behalf of the children, has not yet had a
full opportunity to address the scope of the mental condition put at issue. If any party
asserts the waiver in further proceedings in this matter, the court should permit Father—
or whoever holds the privilege at the relevant time—to address the appropriate scope of
22
the waiver.7 We note as well the trial court may utilize additional protective measures at
its disposal, such as a protective order, in future proceedings to avoid unwarranted
disclosures outside of the relevant proceedings of any particularly personal
communications. (Lifschutz, at pp. 431, 437.) Such protections may be particularly
necessary where, as here, a parent waived the privilege on behalf of minor children.
B. The Court Did Not Err in Refusing to Remove Dr. Davidoff
The trial court's primary concern in fashioning custody and visitation orders is the
child's best interests and the test on appeal is whether any rational trier of fact could
conclude the order advances the child's best interests. (Burgess, supra, 13 Cal.4th at
p. 32; In re Robert L. (1993) 21 Cal.App.4th 1057, 1067.) The moving party has the
burden of proving the trial court's determination was not in the child's best interests and
was thus an abuse of discretion. (Frizzell v. Frizzell (1958) 158 Cal.App.2d 652, 655.)
Here, the court expressed concern at the lack of progress in therapeutic
reunification between Mother and the children, and found Father had consistently
impeded the conjoint therapy. The court found Father presented insufficient evidence of
the need to remove Dr. Davidoff and ultimately concluded, given the long history of slow
progress, removing Dr. Davidoff would not be in the best interests of the children. The
court's findings support that conclusion and the court did not abuse its discretion in
refusing Father's request to remove Dr. Davidoff.
7 Similarly, if raised by any party in future proceedings, the court should permit the holder of the privilege at the time to address the extent to which, if at all, allegations of sexual abuse were included in the waiver. 23
Father's claims the court abused its discretion lack merit. First, Father argues Dr.
Davidoff violated his duty to maintain the children's privacy but, as discussed, ante,
Father waived the privilege on behalf of the children.8 Second, Father argues Dr.
Davidoff violated Family Code section 216, which precludes ex parte communications
between counsel for any party and a court-appointed evaluator or mediator absent a
stipulation by the parties to the contrary, because he spoke with Mother's attorney
without Father or his counsel present. California Rules of Court, rule 5.235 defines a
mediator or evaluator in this context as "a superior court employee or a person under
contract with a superior court who conducts child custody evaluations or mediations" and
there is no indication Dr. Davidoff, despite his role as a "recommender," falls under this
definition. Third, Father argues Dr. Davidoff improperly provided confidential
documents to Mother and her attorney without consent, but Father does not identify what
confidential documents he is referring to or provide any evidence supporting his claims.
Father refers to Dr. Davidoff's discussion of Hahn's therapy notes, but the court had
previously ordered the parties provide Dr. Davidoff releases with respect to Hahn's
therapy with the children, the record does not indicate how Dr. Davidoff obtained the
notes, and Hahn testified that the legal department had produced some of her records.
Finally, we note Dr. Davidoff's declaration was before the court when it denied
Father's request to remove Dr. Davidoff. Although Father did not have the opportunity to
8 To the extent Father now seeks to rely on purported HIPAA violations in support of this argument, he did not raise any such allegations before the trial court and we decline to consider them now. (See DiCola v. White Brothers Performance Products, Inc. (2008) 158 Cal.App.4th 666, 676 [reviewing court need not consider arguments not advanced in the trial court].) 24
argue the declaration went beyond the scope of the limited waiver, the court's
determination not to remove Dr. Davidoff does not rest on the information or statements
in Dr. Davidoff's declaration, but instead on Father's failure to put forth sufficient
affirmative evidence establishing bias or any other reason requiring his removal.
C. The Court Properly Sustained Objections During Hahn's Testimony
Father also contends the court erred by unduly restricting Hahn's ability to testify,
insofar as the court sustained various relevance objections and a narrative objection.
However, Father waived these arguments by failing to raise them at the time and,
regardless of the waiver, the court acted within the bounds of reason in sustaining the
objections and permitted Hahn to provide at least some of the testimony in response to
additional questions in any event.
Father asserts the court erred in sustaining various relevance objections to
questions eliciting testimony about the children's reactions to therapy with Dr. Davidoff
and Dr. Davidoff's access to Hahn's therapy records. In each instance Father identifies,
he failed to explain the relevance of the question and the information sought to the trial
court and therefore waived the issue. (Evid. Code, § 354, subd. (c); People v. Coleman
(1970) 8 Cal.App.3d 722, 729, 731.)
Additionally, even if Father had not waived the issue, we would not conclude the
court exceeded the bounds of reason by determining the information was not relevant.
With respect to the children's reactions to therapy with Dr. Davidoff, Father had already
submitted a declaration asserting the children were upset and did not want to return to
therapy and the issue before the court was not whether they wanted to continue, but rather
25
whether doing so was in their best interests. Moreover, the court did permit Hahn to
testify the younger child was upset after the conjoint session with his maternal
grandmother. With respect to Hahn's testimony regarding Dr. Davidoff's ability to access
her records, any such testimony would not have been relevant as it would not have
established how he actually obtained the notes, nor did Father make any offer of proof in
that regard.
Father also asserts the court erred by sustaining a narrative objection to Hahn's
testimony regarding whether there was reason to replace Dr. Davidoff. Father does not
assert the response was not narrative, but instead argues the objection was in error based
on Evidence Code sections 700 and 800, which deal with proper testimony regarding
personal knowledge and lay opinions. In sustaining the narrative objection, the court did
not preclude Hahn from offering the testimony, albeit in an alternative form. Father
could have asked additional questions eliciting such testimony but opted not to do so.
We therefore conclude the court did not abuse its discretion in sustaining the
various objections asserted during Hahn's testimony.
D. The Court Did Not Err in Awarding Sanctions
Father argues the court erred in granting Mother's request for sanctions under
Family Code section 271. Family Code section 271 permits an award of attorney fees
and costs as a sanction where the conduct of a party frustrates the policy of the law to
reduce the cost of litigation by encouraging cooperation between the parties, among other
reasons. The court has broad discretion to award sanctions and the reviewing court will
overturn the order only if "considering all of the evidence viewed most favorably in its
26
support and indulging all reasonable inferences in its favor, no judge could reasonably
make the order." (Parker v. Harbert (2012) 212 Cal.App.4th 1172, 1177.) However, the
court must consider whether the award constitutes an unreasonable financial burden.
(Robert J., supra, 171 Cal.App.4th at p. 1520.)
Mother asked the court to order Father to reimburse legal fees and costs in excess
of $50,000, which she argued she incurred as a result of Father's refusal to abide by the
court's orders, or to communicate with her or her counsel. The court awarded sanctions
in the amount of $8,000 pursuant to Family Code section 271, payable in monthly
installments of $100. The court explained sanctions were appropriate because Father
failed to communicate with Dr. Davidoff and completely and continually failed to
cooperate with Mother, her counsel, and the various therapists with regard to the court-
ordered conjoint therapy process in general. We conclude the court did not abuse its
discretion in awarding sanctions based on its factual findings regarding Father's conduct.
Father's arguments to the contrary are unavailing. Father claims he was torn
between following the court-ordered conjoint therapy or respecting the wishes of the
children and their individual therapist, but the record indicates Father's lack of
cooperation started long before the therapy session he claims upset the children. Further,
Father could have filed his own request for an order removing Dr. Davidoff but, instead,
refused to follow the court's previous orders, leaving Mother with the choice to either
forego the court-ordered conjoint therapy with her children or file her request for an order
compelling Father to follow the court's orders. Father also claims the sanctions award
was improper because the court did not address his ability to pay when making the award,
27
but the award is far less than the total amount Mother originally sought and the court
ordered Father pay in monthly installments of the exact amount his counsel requested
upon the court's inquiry.
DISPOSITION
We remand with instructions to the court to vacate its order finding that there is no
psychotherapist-patient privilege between Dr. Davidoff and the children and to enter a
new order finding that there is a psychotherapist-patient privilege but that Father, as
holder of the privilege, waived the privilege in a limited manner with respect to
communications concerning Dr. Davidoff's conduct during conjoint sessions with Mother
28
and the children's purported distress resulting therefrom. We affirm the remaining
orders.
HALLER, J.
WE CONCUR:
HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.
O'ROURKE, J.
29
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court erred in ruling that the conjoint therapist was not subject to the psychotherapist-patient privilege, as the therapist's role included providing treatment; however, the father waived this privilege in a limited manner by disclosing communications to third parties. The court's remaining orders, including the denial of the motion to remove the therapist and the imposition of sanctions, were affirmed.
Issues
Whether the psychotherapist-patient privilege applies to a court-appointed conjoint therapist.
Whether the father waived the psychotherapist-patient privilege regarding the conjoint therapist's conduct.
Whether the court abused its discretion in denying the motion to remove the conjoint therapist.
Whether the court abused its discretion in imposing sanctions under Family Code section 271.
Disposition. Reversed in part, affirmed in part and remanded.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“The court also concluded sanctions were appropriate due to Father's lack of cooperation.”