Davis v. Ross
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
107 F.R.D. 326 (S.D.N.Y. 1985)
Davis (plaintiff), a former employee of Ross (defendant), sued for defamation over a letter suggesting Davis was fired for unsatisfactory work or personal habits, seeking damages including for mental pain and anguish; on remand after an earlier dismissal was reversed, Ross moved to discover Davis's psychiatric treatment records from her employment period, while Davis separately moved to discover Ross's net worth, her attorney's specific fee amounts (to show bias, since the attorney was also a witness), and the names of other employees who had complained about Ross.
Whether evidence of a plaintiff's mental health is discoverable in a suit where the plaintiff is seeking to recover for mental pain and anguish.