Welfare & Institutions Code Section 5330(d) So Provides.
In Doe v. County of Orange, Case No. G064562 (4th Dist., Div. 3 Sept. 2, 2025) (published), the appellate court reminds us that Welfare & Institutions Code section 5330(d) allows a mentally disordered person to recover reasonable attorney’s fees, on a mandatory basis, by a court where there was a negligent or willful and knowing release of confidential records, to others, not entitled to lawfully see them. In this case, the appellate panel also interpreted the willful and knowing language under the same statutory scheme because it was an issue of first impression. Acting Presiding Justice Sanchez authored the 3-0 opinion.