New York Times Co. v. Superior Court

796 P.2d 811, 51 Cal. 3d 453, 273 Cal. Rptr. 98, 18 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1145, 1990 Cal. LEXIS 4359

• Court: California Supreme Court
• Decided: September 27, 1990
• Docket: S006709
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion

EAGLESON, J.

We are asked to decide in this case whether the California newspersons’ shield law (Cal. Const., art. I, § 2, subd. (b); Evid. Code, § 1070) provides a newspaper publisher with immunity from contempt for its refusal to comply with a civil subpoena for unpublished photographs of an automobile accident on a public highway. The threshold question is whether the term “unpublished information” in the shield law includes information not obtained by a newsperson in confidence.¹ When we granted review in this case, the Courts of Appeal were in sharp conflict on the question. We recently resolved that conflict in Delaney v. Superior Court (1990) 50 Cal.3d 785 [268 Cal.Rptr. 753, 789 P.2d 934] (hereafter Delaney), a criminal prosecution in which we unanimously held the shield law’s protection is not contingent on a showing that a newsperson’s unpublished information was obtained in confidence.

There remains in this case the question of whether the shield law’s protection can be overcome in a civil action by a litigant’s showing of need for the newsperson’s unpublished information. The shield law on its face provides an absolute immunity. In Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, we held that, in a criminal proceeding, our state’s shield law may nevertheless be overcome by the defendant’s showing that nondisclosure would deprive him of his federal constitutional right to a fair trial. There is no similar right in this personal injury action sufficient to overcome the shield law.

This case also raises the procedural issue of whether a newsperson can seek extraordinary writ relief from an adverse trial court ruling under the shield law before a judgment of contempt is entered. As we will explain, the shield law by its own terms provides only an immunity from contempt, not a privilege. Thus, a newsperson’s petition for extraordinary relief is premature until a judgment of contempt is entered.

The third issue is whether the shield law allows a trial court to impose sanctions other than contempt, including monetary sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure section 1992. We conclude they are allowed because the unambiguous language of the shield law precludes only the sanction of contempt.

Facts

Jerome Sortomme and Joyce Sortomme, while traveling in a Volkswagen van, were involved in an automobile accident with another vehicle on a public highway in Santa Barbara County. A news photographer for the Santa Barbara News-Press (the News-Press), acting within the scope of his employment, took several photographs of the accident scene.² The News-Press does not contend its photographer promised anyone involved in the accident that the photographs would be kept in confidence. Two were published in the newspaper; the remainder were not published.

The Sortommes filed a product liability action against real party in interest Volkswagen of America, Inc. (Volkswagen), seeking recovery for personal injuries, including the loss of one of Jerome’s legs. The Sortommes also filed an action against the State of California, alleging negligent highway design.

Volkswagen served the News-Press with a subpoena for production of “all photographs, negatives, notes, [and] letters” in the possession of the News-Press that related to the accident. The trial court quashed the subpoena but ordered the News-Press to compare its unpublished accident photographs with 15 photographs that had been taken by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to determine if the News-Press photographs contained any pertinent information not revealed by the CHP photographs. The News-Press did so and informed Volkswagen that the unpublished photographs did contain pertinent information, some of which was not in the CHP photographs. The News-Press concluded, however, that its photographs were of “very little . . . additional value” beyond the CHP photographs and refused to provide copies to Volkswagen.

Volkswagen moved to compel production of the photographs. The News-Press opposed the motion, arguing that, because it is not a party to the action, its unpublished photographs are absolutely privileged under California’s shield law. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 2, subd. (b); Evid. Code, § 1070.) The trial court concluded the News-Press held only a qualified privilege under the shield law and, in an attempt to weigh the interests of all affected parties, ordered the News-Press to produce its photographs for an in camera inspection so that the court could determine whether the claim of privilege was outweighed by Volkswagen’s right to discover relevant information³

The News-Press petitioned the Court of Appeal for an extraordinary writ and stay of the trial court’s order. The Court of Appeal issued a writ of mandate directing the trial court to set aside its memorandum of decision ordering an in camera inspection and to enter a new order denying Volkswagen’s motion to compel. The Court of Appeal held the shield law provides “absolute protection to nonparty journalists in civil litigation from being compelled to disclose unpublished information.”

Discussion

A. The News-Press's petition to the Court of Appeal was premature.

Before turning to the substantive issue of whether Volkswagen is entitled to the unpublished photographs, we must first resolve a procedural matter. The question is whether a newsperson can seek extraordinary writ relief from an adverse trial court ruling under the shield law before the newsperson is adjudged in contempt. In this case, the trial court ordered the News-Press to produce its unpublished photographs for in camera inspection. On the court-ordered date for the inspection, the News-Press sought relief from the trial court’s order. In practical effect, the News-Press’s petition to the Court of Appeal was an attempt to avoid the possibility of being adjudged in contempt by the trial court. The petition was premature.

Article I, section 2, subdivision (b) of the California Constitution states that newspersons "shall not be adjudged in contempt ... for refusing to disclose any unpublished information obtained or prepared in gathering, receiving or processing of information for communication to the public.”⁴ (Italics added.) The provision’s statutory counterpart, Evidence Code section 1070, contains a virtually identical provision. In Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, we reviewed this unambiguous language and the equally clear legislative history of the shield law and concluded that “ . . . the shield law provides only an immunity from contempt, not a privilege.” (Id., at p. 797, fin. 6.) We also disapproved all prior decisions to the contrary. (Ibid.) Because the shield law provides only an immunity from contempt, there is nothing from which to seek relief until a newsperson has been adjudged in contempt.

The effect of the immunity-privilege distinction was correctly explained in KSDO v. Superior Court (1982) 136 Cal.App.3d 375 [186 Cal.Rptr. 211] (hereafter KSDO), in which a radio station and its reporter, defendants in a libel action, sought a writ to prevent the trial court from enforcing an order requiring them to disclose unpublished information. The Court of Appeal explained, “The California shield law ... is unique in that it affords only limited protection. It does not create a privilege for newspeople, rather it provides an immunity from being adjudged in contempt. This rather basic distinction has been misstated and apparently misunderstood by members of the news media and our courts as well.” (Id., at pp. 379-380.) The KSDO court held the shield law did not apply because the defendants had not been threatened with or cited for contempt. As we noted in Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, 797, footnote 6, we agree with the KSDO court, and we reiterate that the shield law provides only an immunity from contempt, not a privilege. Allowing relief before a judgment of contempt would violate the unambiguous language of the shield law.⁵

Precontempt relief would also have undesirable practical effects. Such relief would deprive trial courts of the opportunity to decide in the first instance whether the shield law applies to the facts of a case. As we explained in Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, a newsperson claiming the shield law’s protection must establish that he meets all the law’s requirements. (Id., at pp. 805, fn. 17, & 806, fn. 20.) Premature writ petitions would frustrate, and perhaps preclude, this determination. The reviewing courts, in turn, would be hampered. The role of a reviewing court is “ ‘merely to ascertain whether there was sufficient evidence before the trial court’ ” to support a contempt adjudication. (In re Buckley (1973) 10 Cal.3d 237, 247 [110 Cal.Rptr. 121, 514 P.2d 1201, 68 A.L.R.3d 248], quoting In re Ciraolo (1969) 70 Cal.2d 389, 394 [74 Cal.Rptr. 865, 450 P.2d 241].) Premature interference in trial court proceedings would deprive reviewing courts of adequate factual records for making this determination. Premature relief would also allow newspersons to avoid the responsibility of choosing between disclosing information or being held in contempt. A newsperson would have no incentive to make that choice until after a decision by a reviewing court. The result would be an increased burden on reviewing courts.

We hold that a newsperson’s petition for extraordinary relief is premature until a judgment of contempt has been entered.⁶ To conclude otherwise would be inconsistent with our decision in Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, that the shield law is unambiguous and means what it says. The Court of Appeal in this case erred by granting relief before the newsperson was held in contempt.⁷

Although the unambiguous language and explicit legislative history of the shield law and sound judicial policy mandate our conclusion that a judgment of contempt is a prerequisite for writ relief, we are not unmindful of the need to avoid unnecessary confinement of a newsperson who is seeking the protection of a specific constitutional guaranty under article I, section 2(b). To avoid confinement under a judgment of contempt that may subsequently be set aside, a trial court should stay its judgment of contempt to allow the contemner newsperson sufficient time in which to seek writ relief if the trial court believes there is any colorable argument the newsperson can make against the contempt adjudication. If the trial court nevertheless declines to issue a stay, a reviewing court should do so pending its decision whether to issue an extraordinary writ.⁸

Although the Court of Appeal’s issuance of mandate in this case was premature, we nevertheless proceed to the merits of the dispute without suggesting any exception to the rule that a judgment of contempt is a prerequisite for writ relief. Volkswagen, the party seeking discovery, does not object to the prematurity of the News-Press’s petition for appellate relief. More important, we simultaneously granted review in this case and in Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, to decide important issues as to the scope and operation of the shield law. Under these circumstances, no purpose would be served by remanding the case to the trial court merely for the purpose of entering a contempt judgment.

B. The shield law provides an absolute rather than a qualified immunity.

The primary issue addressed by the parties in this court is whether the shield law applies to unpublished information that was not obtained by a newsperson in confidence. We recently answered that question in Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, in which we unanimously held the shield law’s protection is not contingent on a showing that a newsperson’s unpublished information was obtained in confidence. (Id., at p. 805.) In light of Delaney, the unpublished photographs at issue in this case are clearly within the scope of the shield law. There remains, however, the question of whether they are nevertheless discoverable, that is, whether the shield law immunity is qualified rather than absolute.

In Mitchell, supra, 37 Cal.3d 268, we explained that “Since contempt is generally the only effective remedy against a nonparty witness, the California enactments [article I, section 2(b) and Evidence Code section 1070] grant such witnesses virtually absolute protection against compelled disclosure.” (Id., at p. 274, italics added.)⁹ We implicitly reached the same conclusion in Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, in which we held that a criminal defendant’s federal constitutional right to a fair trial may in some cases overcome a claim of immunity under the state shield law. (Id., at p. 805.) If the shield law itself provided for a balancing approach, i.e., a qualified immunity, there would have been no need for us to turn to the federal Constitution. We remain of the same view. We find nothing in the shield law’s language or history to suggest the immunity from contempt is qualified such that it can be overcome by a showing of need for unpublished information within the scope of the shield law.¹⁰

This is a typical personal injury action for damages, in which a party seeks discovery of photographs taken by a nonparty newsperson in a public place. On the facts of this case, we are not aware of any federal or state constitutional right of Volkswagen (the party seeking discovery) sufficient to overcome the News-Press’s claim of immunity under the state shield law. Volkswagen admits it knows of no authority that would support such a constitutional right but asks us to create one in this case for the first time. The facts of this case do not support such a drastic innovation. This case is unlike Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, in which there was a need to balance a newsperson’s interest against a criminal defendant’s well established federal constitutional right to a fair trial.¹¹

C. The shield law does not preclude statutory sanctions other than contempt.

Volkswagen contends that, even if the shield law applies to the News-Press’s unpublished photographs, the newspaper is subject to sanctions other than contempt. Volkswagen relies on Code of Civil Procedure section 1992, which states, “A witness disobeying a subpoena also forfeits to the party aggrieved the sum of five hundred dollars ($500), and all damages which he may sustain by the failure of the witness to attend, which forfeiture and damages may be recovered in a civil action.” The question is whether the shield law precludes monetary sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure section 1992.¹²

The answer follows from our holding that the shield law provides only an immunity from contempt, not a privilege. (Ante, at pp. 458-459; Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d 785, 797, fn. 6.) The practical effect of the distinction between an immunity and a privilege depends on whether the newsperson relying on the shield law is a party to the action in which discovery is sought. As we explained in Mitchell, supra, 37 Cal.3d 268, “A party to civil litigation who disobeys an order to disclose evidence . . . may be subject to a variety of other sanctions [besides contempt], including the entry of judgment against him .... Neither Evidence Code section 1070 nor article I, section 2, subdivision (b) protects a party against such sanctions.” (Id., at p. 274.) Our observation made clear that the shield law provides only an immunity from contempt. A privilege would prohibit all sanctions, not just contempt, but we explained that other sanctions are available when the newsperson is a party to the action in which he is resisting discovery.

The court in Mitchell, supra, 37 Cal.3d 268, did not squarely address the slightly different question, now before us, of whether a nonparty newsperson can also be subject to sanctions other than contempt. (The newspersons in Mitchell were parties, and the scope of sanctions as to nonparties would have rendered any discussion of that issue dictum.) The linchpin of our reasoning, however, was that the shield law provides only an immunity from contempt. It necessarily follows from that conclusion that other sanctions, including those under section 1992, are not precluded. Our statement that “ . . . contempt is generally the only effective remedy against a nonparty witness ...” was merely an observation that other sanctions are ineffective, not a conclusion that they are impermissible. (37 Cal.3d at p. 274, italics added.)

The News-Press contends that, as a policy matter, the immunity should extend to all sanctions because, otherwise, the policy of protecting unpublished information would be subverted. This argument is unpersuasive. What the shield law should do is beyond our authority. (Delaney, supra, 50 Cal.3d at pp. 804-805.) The unambiguous language of the law refers only to an immunity from contempt.¹³ Section 1992 was enacted in 1872, long before the shield law came into existence. We must presume the Legislature was well aware of section 1992 when it first enacted the shield law. To construe the shield law as restricting the operation of section 1992 would be tantamount to finding a repeal of the latter by implication. There is no indication the Legislature intended that result. “ ‘[A]ll presumptions are against a repeal by implication.’ ” (Western Oil & Gas Assn. v. Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control Dist. (1989) 49 Cal.3d 408, 419 [261 Cal.Rptr. 384, 777 P.2d 157], quoting Flores v. Workmen’s Comp. Appeals Bd. (1974) 11 Cal.3d 171, 176 [113 Cal.Rptr. 217, 520 P.2d 1033].) If the Legislature wishes to preclude sanctions other than contempt, it can act accordingly. (Brown v. Kelly Broadcasting Co. (1989) 48 Cal.3d 711, 740 [257 Cal.Rptr. 708, 771 P.2d 406] [deferring to the Legislature to broaden the scope of a statute].) A judicially created immunity from all sanctions would blur the distinction between a privilege and an immunity, a distinction expressly declared by the Legislature (Evid. Code, § 1070) and adopted by the voters (art. I, § 2(b)). (Ante, at pp. 458-459.)

Moreover, the News-Press’s objection to section 1992 is largely academic. As we noted in Mitchell, supra, 37 Cal.3d 268, 274, “contempt is generally the only effective remedy against a nonparty witness.” The monetary sanctions under section 1992 are not effective as a practical matter. The maximum sanction is a $500 forfeiture plus actual damages, and the party aggrieved by the failure to make discovery can recover the sanctions only by bringing an independent civil action. It would likely be a rare case in which a civil litigant would impose on himself the additional burden of a separate suit to recover a mere $500. The simple economics of modern litigation essentially preclude such an action. It is also doubtful that a litigant could prove substantial damages as a result of a newsperson’s refusal to provide discovery. (Perhaps that is why there are only four reported decisions under the statute in the 118 years since it was enacted.) In short, monetary sanctions under section 1992 are virtually ineffectual. This refutes the News-Press’s argument that the operation of section 1992 would frustrate the purpose of the shield law.

We hold the shield law does not preclude an award of sanctions under section 1992. Volkswagen is therefore entitled to bring an independent civil action under section 1992 to recover the sanctions and damages allowed under that statute.

Disposition

The unpublished photographs sought by Volkswagen are subject to the shield law. Because the immunity from contempt in this case is absolute, there is no need for the trial court to conduct an in camera inspection of the photographs.

The judgment of the Court of Appeal is affirmed.

Lucas, C. J., Broussard, J., Panelli, J., Kennard, J., and Arabian, J., concurred.

1 We use the term “newsperson” for convenience to refer to all the categories of persons identified in the shield law. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 2, subd. (b); Evid. Code, § 1070.)

2 The News-Press is owned by petitioner the New York Times Company.

3 The trial court found the News-Press’s photographs “go to the heart of the plaintiff’s claim” and that, although there are alternate sources of information (including the CHP photographs), the “photographs are needed by the plaintiff.” Because the photographs were not taken in confidence, the court also found that “there is not an overriding importance in protecting the confidentiality of the information at hand.”

4 For convenience and brevity we refer in the remainder of this opinion to the constitutional provision as article I, section 2(b). It states in its entirety: “A publisher, editor, reporter, or other person connected with or employed upon a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, or by a press association or wire service, or any person who has been so connected or employed, shall not be adjudged in contempt by a judicial, legislative, or administrative body, or any other body having the power to issue subpoenas, for refusing to disclose the source of any information procured while so connected or employed for publication in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication, or for refusing to disclose any unpublished information obtained or prepared in gathering, receiving or processing of information for communication to the public.

“Nor shall a radio or television news reporter or other person connected with or employed by a radio or television station, or any person who has been so connected or employed, be so adjudged in contempt for refusing to disclose the source of any information procured while so connected or employed for news or news commentary purposes on radio or television, or for refusing to disclose any unpublished information obtained or prepared in gathering, receiving or processing of information for communication to the public.

“As used in this subdivision, ‘unpublished information’ includes information not disseminated to the public by the person from whom disclosure is sought, whether or not related information has been disseminated and includes, but is not limited to, all notes, outtakes, photographs, tapes or other data of whatever sort not itself disseminated to the public through a medium of communication, whether or not published information based upon or related to such material has been disseminated.”

5 The observation by the court in KSDO, supra, 136 Cal.App.3d 375, 379-380, that the California shield law is atypical, appears to be correct. The language of other states’ shield laws generally either states a privilege or protects against disclosure without any reference as to the types of sanctions prohibited. The clear implication is that all sanctions are prohibited. (See, e.g., Ala. Code § 12-21-142; Alaska Stat. § 09.25.150; Ind. Code § 34-3-5-1; Md. Ann. Code art. 35, § 2; Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 49.275; NJ. Stat. Ann. § 2A:84A-21; N.D. Cent. Code § 31-01-06.2; Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2739.04; Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-1-208.) These other statutes demonstrate that our Legislature or voters could have worded California’s shield law more broadly if they had intended to provide more than an immunity from contempt.

6 We disapprove of the contrary holding in CBS, Inc. v. Superior Court (1978) 85 Cal.App.3d 241, 247 [149 Cal.Rptr. 421],

7 Because the shield law provides only an immunity from contempt rather than a privilege, this case is unlike those in which writ relief was granted to review a trial court order compelling the disclosure of privileged information. (See, e.g., Roberts v. Superior Court (1973) 9 Cal.3d 330, 336 [107 Cal.Rptr. 309, 508 P.2d 309].)

8 Justice Mosk’s concurring and dissenting opinion states that precontempt writ relief should be allowed when a reporter asserts a qualified privilege under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution rather than an immunity under this state’s shield law. Perhaps so, but the reason is that a newsperson’s protection under the First Amendment is characterized as a privilege. (Mitchell v. Superior Court (1984) 37 Cal.3d 268, 274-279 [208 Cal.Rptr. 152, 690 P.2d 625] (hereafter Mitchell).) In the present case, the newsperson relies on the shield law, which by its terms provides only an immunity from contempt, not a privilege. Moreover, no First Amendment issue is before us. Because we hold the information in this case is absolutely protected under the shield law (post, at pp. 461-462), the News-Press has obtained all the relief it seeks. We therefore need not and do not decide whether unpublished information not obtained in confidence is subject to a qualified privilege under the First Amendment. Discussion of that issue would be mere dictum. The dissent’s raising of the issue is premature.

9 The reference in Mitchell, supra, 37 Cal.3d 268, 274, to “virtually” absolute protection did not mean the shield law itself provides for a balancing of competing interests. The reference was in the context of the court’s discussion of the difference between parties and nonparties in regard to the sanctions that can be imposed for failure to comply with a discovery order.

10 By contrast, some states’ shield laws specifically provide for a balancing approach. (Alaska Stat. § 09.25.220; Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 110, par. 8-907; La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 45:1459; Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. Code Ann. § 9-112; Minn. Stat. § 595.023; N.D. Cent. Code § 31-01-06.2; Tenn. Code Ann. § 24-1-208.)

11 We do not foreclose the possibility that in a future case a civil litigant seeking discovery from a nonparty newsperson might have either a state or federal constitutional right that would have to be weighed against a claim of immunity under the shield law. A trial court in such a case, however, should carefully consider whether the asserted constitutional right is sufficiently clear and important to overcome a newsperson’s claim of immunity, which is grounded in a specific constitutional provision—article I, section 2(b).

12 All section references in the remainder of this opinion are to the Code of Civil Procedure unless otherwise stated.

13 The News-Press is inconsistent in arguing that the shield law should be construed literally with regard to its definition of “unpublished information” (i.e., to include nonconfidential information as to public events), while at the same time arguing that the law should not be construed literally with regard to the types of sanctions it prohibits. The News-Press cannot have it both ways. Either the shield law means what it says, or it does not. We adopt the former view.