Legal Question in Constitutional Law in California

Privacy Laws and/or Rights

Thank you for taking this question.

I recently learned that a nice, elderly hospital volunteer is the man who assaulted a good friend of mine 2 years ago. A police report was made concerning the incident, but no charges or convictions have been filed to my knowledge. Since the incident, he has done this to another woman and we have found out that he has assaulted nearly every female family member and friend the past 25 years.

What he has done in all incidents is to forcefully hold the woman by the back of the head and push his tongue into her mouth. With his daughter-in-law, who was a victim 22 years ago, he made sexual advances as well. Not all victims have contacted police.

My question is, am I free to contact the hospital with this cautionary information as an anonymous phone call, or do I face criminal charges due to privacy laws/rights that protect him, if it is ever discovered that I made the call? Does it violate his Consitiutional rights? I do not want to break any laws, but I feel a moral obligation to tell the hospital a predator volunteers there and may have access to potential victims. It is verified that he does activly volunteer there and police reports verify the incidents.

Thank you.


Asked on 5/31/05, 7:32 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: Privacy Laws and/or Rights

You would not be violating this man's Constitutional rights by reporting him. No one has privacy rights about assaults they commit against others, so you don't need to worry about this either. The only other area that might come up is defamation but, provided that your information is correct, you will not be defaming him. He might sue you for defamation anyway if he finds out you're the one who blew the whistle, but he would quickly lose such a case.

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Answered on 5/31/05, 8:12 pm


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