Stack
The parties in a suit over a woman's STD test results that were allegedly revealed by a romantic rival will be keeping mum about the case from now on.
Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack entered an agreed upon confidentiality order in the case Sept. 24 after plaintiff Jane Doe cited media coverage by the Madison County Record and other news outlets as potential embarrassments.
Jane Doe is suing Maureen Sackmann and Quest Diagnostics Inc. for allegedly releasing her positive herpes test results to a boyfriend.
Doe alleges that Sackmann was romantically involved with the man in question and fabricated a lab report after revealing Doe's test results to him.
Doe claims Quest is liable as Sackmann's employer.
The suit seeks damages of more than $350,000, attorney's fees and costs.
The defendants deny the claims.
Doe claimed in her plea for the protective order that Quest had requested information in discovery that, if made available in the case file, would be reported by the media.
She cited reports by the Record, the Alton Telegraph, and St. Louis television stations in her motion.
According to the protective order entered by Stack, the parties are not to disclose information about Jane Doe's identity, that of her family members, her financial, medical and employment information.
The order also protects information about Sackmann's finances and employment and Quest's patient records.
The parties are not to speak to the media either during or following the end of the litigation.
Some information is likely to be filed under seal, the order indicates.
Emily Johnson represents the plaintiff.
John Webster represents Sackmann.
Robert Bernstein represents Quest.
Stack took over the case from Madison County Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder.
The case is Madison case number 10-L-101.