Rosemond v. Markham

135 F. Supp. 3d 574, 44 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1006, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134214, 2015 WL 5769091
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Kentucky
DecidedSeptember 30, 2015
DocketCiv. No: 13-42-GFVT
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 135 F. Supp. 3d 574 (Rosemond v. Markham) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rosemond v. Markham, 135 F. Supp. 3d 574, 44 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1006, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134214, 2015 WL 5769091 (E.D. Ky. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER

Gregory F. Van Tatenhové, United States District Judge ’

For nearly forty years, John Rosemond has written a newspaper column on parenting. No other newspaper column written by a single author has run longer.

Now, in an exercise of regulatory zeal, the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology seeks to prohibit Rosemond from publishing his column in Kentucky while referring to himself as a “family psychologist.” In an effort to avoid the State’s enforcement of K.R.S. § 319.005, the State’s statute regulating the practice of psychology, Rosemond protectively filed this action in which he asks that the-Board be permanently, enjoined from interfering with the publication of his column. Resolution of the, case requires balancing the State’s interest in regulating the practice of psychology with constitutional protections of speech. As Rosemond’s speech deserves the highest level of constitutional protection, and because the State .has failed to articulate compelling reasons for regulating that speech, the Board will be enjoined from further interfering with the publication of Rosemond’s column. .

I

Mr. Rosemond’s newspaper column offers advice on parenting techniques and appears in over 200 newspapers across the country, including the Lexington Herald-Leader. [R. 25-3 at ¶ 6 (Rosemond Declaration).] Rosemond’s column is often presented in a question-answer format, which he refers to as a “Dear Abby-style advice column[ ].” [Id. at ¶ 10.] The questions he answers are selected from “a variety of sources, including people who email [him] directly, people who attend [his] parenting seminars, and people who submit questions to [him] via [his] website.” [Id. at ¶ 7.] Rosemond has explained his process for choosing questions and also his lack of contact with the person who submits the question as follows:

I select questions for my column based on my judgment that they present common problems relevant to many of my readers. I usually do not know the names of people who send me questions, or any other identifying information, such as where they live. To the extent that a reader’s question reveals personal information that may identify that reader, I omit such details from my column. After answering a question in my column, I do not provide any follow up, and I have no way of knowing whether the parents whose question I used read my column or followed my advice. I do not pay people for questions and they do not pay me to answer questions in my column.

[Id. at ¶ 8.] Rosemond is not a licensed psychologist in Kentucky, but holds a master’s degree in psychology and is a licensed “psychological associate” in North Carolina. [Id. at ¶ 2-3.]

On February 12, 2013, the Herald-Leader ran one of Rosemond’s columns entitled “Living with Children.” [R. 1-5 at 2.] In the piece, Rosemond advised that, the teen[579]*579ager in question, who he referred to as a “highly spoiled underachiever,” was “in dire need of a major wake-up call.” [M] He. proceeded to describe what actions might be taken to inspire this “wake-up call,” including taking away electronics and suspending him of privileges until he improved his grades. [Id.] The article bore the tagline: “Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions on his website at www.rosemond.com.” [Id.] This is typical of the taglines affixed to Rosemond’s articles. [R. 25-3 at ¶ 9 (Rose-mond Declaration).] After Rosemond’s February 12 article ran, a complaint was filed with the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology (“the Board”). [R. 25-2 at, 4.] The complainant, a formerly licensed Kentucky psychologist, took issue with Rosemond’s advice, characterizing it as “unprofessional and unethical.” [Id.] He further expressed concern that Rosemond was holding himself out to be a psychologist in Kentucky when he was not so licensed. [Id.]

As in many states, the Commonwealth has developed a statutory framework for regulating the practice of psychology. The crux of that framework is K.R.S. § 319.005:

No person shall engage in the practice of psychology as defined in KRS 319.010 or hold himself or herself out by any title or description of services which incorporates the words “psychological,” “psychologist,” or “psychology”, unless licensed by the board. No person shall engage in the practice of psychology in a manner that implies or would reasonably be deemed to imply that he or she is licensed, unless he or she holds a valid license issued by the board.

K.R.S. § 319.005. The statute, further defines the “practice of psychology” as:

rendering to individuals, groups, organizations, or the public any psychological service involving the application of principles, methods, and procedures of understanding, predicting, and influencing behavior, such, as the principles pertaining to learning, perception, motivation, thinking, emotions, and interpersonal relationships; the methods and procedures of interviewing, counseling, and psychotherapy; and psychological testing in constructing, administering, and interpreting tests of- mental abilities, aptitudes, interests, attitudes,' personality characteristics, emotion, and motivation. The application of said principles in testing, evaluation, treatment, use of psy-chotherapeutic techniques, and other methods includes, but is not limited to: diagnosis, prevention, and amelioration of adjustment problems and emotional, mental, nervous, and addictive disorders and mental health conditions of individuals and groups; educational and vocational counseling; the evaluation and planning for effective work and learning situations; and the resolution of interpersonal and social conflicts;

K.R.S. § 319.010(7). Finally, the statute defines a “psychologist” as:

any person who holds himself or herself out by any title or description of services incorporating the words “psychologic,” “psychological,” “psychologist,” “psychology,” “psychopractice,” or any other term or terms that imply he or she is trained, experienced, or an .expert in the field of psychology.

K.R.S. § 319.010(9). In the Commonwealth, if an unlicensed person engages in the practice of psychology or .uses the word “psychologist” to describe themselves, then they are subject to punishment of up to six months .imprisonment and/or a $500 fine. K.R.S. §§ 319.005; 319.990. The Board also has the authority to bring separate civil proceedings pursuant to the Psychology Practice Act, K.R.S. § 319.118(2). . . '

[580]*580On May 7, 2013, the Board and Kentucky’s Attorney General jointly issued a “Cease and Desist Affidavit and Assurance of Voluntary Compliance” to Rosemond, hoping that he would-agree to cease publishing .his advice column in Kentucky as they alleged that he was engaged in -the unlawful practice of psychology. [R. 1-4.] Rosemond refused to sign. Instead, on July 16, Rosemond sued, alleging the threat to end the publication of his column violated his First Amendment Rights' to free speech.1 .[R. 1.] Soon thereafter, the Board and the Attorney General agreed not to exercise. their statutory powers against Rosemond during the pendency of this suit. [R. 11. at 2.] Since that time, and also by agreed order, the Attorney General has been dismissed from the suit. [R. 17 at 2.] , ■

The facts are not in dispute.

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Bluebook (online)
135 F. Supp. 3d 574, 44 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1006, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134214, 2015 WL 5769091, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rosemond-v-markham-kyed-2015.