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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

January 2001 Term

FILED
May 15, 2001
RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

RELEASED
May 16, 2001

__________ No. 28743 __________

RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

LAURA MANNS, Plaintiff Below, Appellee v. CITY OF CHARLESTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND JERRY RIFFE, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS CHIEF OF POLICE, Defendants Below, Appellants

__________________________________________________________________ Appeal from the Circuit Court of Kanawha County Honorable A. Andrew McQueen, III, Judge Civil Action No. 97-C-249 REVERSED __________________________________________________________________ Submitted: March 20, 2001 Filed: May 15, 2001 John R. Teare, Jr., Esq. Bowles, Rice, McDavid, Graff & Love Charleston, West Virginia Attorney for Appellants

Jason E. Huber, Esq. Forman & Crane

Charleston, West Virginia Attorney for Appellee _______________ Amicus Brief Dennis R. Vaughan, Jr., Esq. James V. Kelsh, Esq. West Virginia Municipal League, Inc. The Opinion of the Court was delivered PER CURIAM. JUSTICE STARCHER concurs and reserves the right to file a concurring opinion.

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

1.

"Where the issue on an appeal from the circuit court is clearly a question of law or

involving an interpretation of a statute, we apply a de novo standard of review." Syllabus Point 1, Chrystal R.M. v. Charlie A.L., 194 W.Va. 138, 459 S.E.2d 415 (1995). 2. "The primary purpose of the invasion of privacy exemption to the Freedom of

Information Act, W.Va.Code, 29B-1-4(2) [1977], is to protect individuals from the injury and embarrassment that can result from the unnecessary disclosure of personal information." Syllabus Point 6, Hechler v. Casey, 175 W.Va. 434, 333 S.E.2d 799 (1985). 3. "Under W.Va.Code, 29B-1-4(2) [1977], a court must balance or weigh the

individual's right of privacy against the public's right to know." Syllabus Point 7, Hechler v. Casey, 175 W.Va. 434, 333 S.E.2d 799 (1985). 4. "In deciding whether the public disclosure of information of a personal nature under

W.Va.Code

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West Virginia Law