Lawsuit Moves from Federal to State Court
Corpus Christi News: Councilwoman Sylvia Campos has sued KRIS TV and the City of Corpus Christi for allegedly violating her medical privacy. Originally filed in federal court, the case now moves to state court after a judge dismissed the federal claims.
Attorney Matt Manning, representing Campos, claims the station and city unlawfully disclosed her private health information. He seeks a restraining order, injunction, and depositions to investigate the disclosure and possible legal violations.
KRIS TV Story at the Center of Controversy
The dispute centers on a KRIS TV story about a March 4 City Hall incident, where Campos reportedly had a private medical event after meeting with the city manager.
Court filings say staff let Campos use Zanoni’s restroom for a medical issue before she left. The HR report included “salacious” claims later reported by KRIS TV.
Campos’ legal team contends that the publication had no legitimate connection to her public duties and was intended solely to embarrass her. The station’s editorial acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter. Still, it maintained that the story was newsworthy due to its impact on city operations.
Federal Judge Denies Claims, Cites Lack of ADA Grounds
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales dismissed the federal portion of the complaint earlier this week, noting that the case lacked a strong foundation under federal law, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Rehabilitation Act. Morales stated that the core of the lawsuit focused on state-level privacy violations rather than any concrete ADA-related claims.
This dismissal “without prejudice” cleared the path for Campos to pursue her case through state court channels. Manning promptly refiled nearly identical claims with a Texas court.
City’s Statement Under Scrutiny
Complicating the case, the city released a statement calling Campos’ March 4 behavior “grossly inappropriate,” despite acknowledging a medical issue.
Campos now seeks to remove this statement from the city’s website. City officials, however, have refused, saying the post corrects misinformation and does not infringe upon Campos’ privacy rights.
“The city has been careful to avoid violating anyone’s potential privacy rights,” city spokesman Robert Gonzales emphasized in a statement to local media. He added there are no current plans to take the post down.
KRIS TV Stands Firm While Acknowledging Sensitivity
Corpus Christi News: KRIS TV declined to comment on the lawsuit due to pending litigation but defended its coverage in an editorial by senior media director Jim Bob Breazeale. He acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue but said avoiding specifics could have led to harmful speculation.
“We genuinely sympathize with Councilwoman Campos,” he wrote, “but transparency was necessary given her public role and the use of city resources.”
KRIS TV chose not to release the full HR report and highlighted Campos’ perspective to avoid sensationalizing the incident.
Legal Actions Continue in State Court
Although Sylvia Campos serves as an elected official, she is pursuing the lawsuit in her capacity. Manning’s filings now request depositions from several cities and KRIS-TV staff to assess the extent of internal communication regarding the event.
Specifically, Campos’ legal team asks the court to order the production of text messages, emails, and memos—stored on either city-issued or personal devices—regarding the incident, Campos, and City Manager Peter Zanoni. They request records spanning from March 4 to March 28, 2025.
Campos’ legal team seeks depositions to decide on a civil lawsuit and uncover possible medical privacy violations.
Looking Ahead
As the case unfolds in state court, it raises concerns about privacy, media ethics, and public interest. Campos seeks accountability for the release of her private health information and its impact on public officials.