News
6/12/2006 - Psychiatrist Wins Breach of Confidentiality Suit in Dothan
DOTHAN--A Houston County jury returned a verdict for a Dothan psychiatrist in a case involving allegations that the psychiatrist violated the standard of care in the method of disposal of an office computer. The computer was obtained by an individual with motives to harm the psychiatrist who then wrote an anonymous letter to approximately 1,000 patients reporting that their confidential information from the psychiatrist’s office had been abandoned.
Two of the patients who received the letter filed suit and alleged that their fragile psychiatric conditions were exacerbated by this incident. This claim was supported by the patient’s treating psychiatrist who also practiced in Dothan. The trial lasted five days. Gordon Pate and Julia T. Cochrun of Pate & Cochrun in Birmingham, Alabama and Banks T. Smith of Hall & Smith in Dothan represented the plaintiffs. Rushton, Stakely shareholders Patrick M. Shegon and Fred W. Tyson represented the defendant psychiatrist and were assisted by Dothan attorney, Taylor Flowers.