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Blanche Palfrey, the mother of "D.C. Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey, is asking a judge to stop the release of photos taken by the Tarpon Springs Police Department following her daughter's suicide.
The younger Palfrey committed suicide in a shed outside her mother's home in Tarpon Springs on May 1. Palfrey, who was 52, was facing six to eight years in federal prison after being convicted of racketeering and money laundering convictions while running a prostitution service.
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Pinellas County Circuit Court, Serbo Simeoni, the elder Palfrey's attorney, argued "the gratuitous disclosure" of the photographs by Tarpon Springs police is "inappropriate, unacceptable and personally harmful" to Blanche Palfrey. He said the disclosure constitutes an invasion of privacy, and "continuing intentional infliction of emotional distress."
The suit was filed in response to public records requests made by Internet bloggers and the St. Petersburg Times, Simeoni told a Times reporter Wednesday.
"She cries every day for her daughter, so this is something she feels very strongly about," Simeoni said.
Simeoni said Blanche Palfrey is not contesting the release of the written police reports, just the photos.
"Certainly the reports are newsworthy in the sense that they describe the scene, but the photos may go too far in invading her privacy," he said.
Tarpon Springs City Attorney Jim Yacavone was not available for comment Wednesday, but interim City Manager Mark LeCouris said Yacavone was aware of the lawsuit.
"From our opinion, the public records law states that we would release these things — unless we had a court order otherwise — when the case was over," LeCouris said.
The Police Department is finalizing a report about the investigation that should be released soon, LeCouris said.
Rita Farlow can be reached at (727) 445-4162 or farlow@sptimes.com.
[Last modified: Aug 11, 2008 04:15 PM]
Comments on this article
by Outraged Reader
Aug 11, 2008 4:15 PM
The court did not allow photos from the Dale Earnhardt death to be published. Can't that case be used as a precedent to protect Mrs. Palfrey's right to privacy. No one can understand her grief unless they've been in her shoes. Leave her alone!!!
by Ronnie
Aug 8, 2008 8:21 PM
Florida has very liberal public record laws. When the police close this investigation the photos are public records. LeCouris will not want to release the photos, but he will have no choice without a court order sealing them.
by Steve
Aug 7, 2008 9:01 PM
I think it would be an invasion of privacy to release photos of scenes in private property, if the area is normally hidden from public view. Sights outdoors that can usually be seen from public areas are different than those in private residences.
by Big Crank
Aug 7, 2008 3:08 PM
When will law enforcement stop waisting time and money prosecuting prostitution? This woman killed herself over something that shouldn't even be illegal or anyone's business. Aren't there real crimes to solve? Enough with the insanity!!
by shirley
Aug 7, 2008 11:03 AM
let the family alone/ no need for photo just a money thing
by derek
Aug 7, 2008 11:03 AM
There is no hope for humanity, do we really need to see a woman's body swinging from the rafters to know that she is deceased? I hope god has mercy on the soul of this woman, but not on the souls of anyone perverted enough to publish this atrocity!!!
by John
Aug 7, 2008 10:29 AM
I could not agree more that "...the gratuitous disclosure" of the photographs by Tarpon Springs police is "inappropriate,unacceptable...." These photos should fetch top dollar from one of any number of supermarket checkout rags.
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