Khale Lenhart of Hirst Applegate recently obtained a victory before the Wyoming Supreme Court in favor of Hirst Applegate’s client in a defamation case. The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed the district court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of a counselor who had reported suspected abuse to law enforcement. The counselor was treating a child patient, and the patient told her about conduct by the patient’s father that the counselor suspected may constitute child abuse. The counselor reported her suspicion to law enforcement, who then performed an investigation. Charges were not brought against the father, and the father sued the counselor for defamation arising out of her report. Hirst Applegate obtained summary judgment for the counselor, and the father appealed to the Wyoming Supreme Court. The Supreme Court affirmed the district court, holding that the Child Protective Services Act was properly applied by the district court and that the counselor was entitled to immunity for her good faith report.
