John Kinsella, Plaintiff-Respondent and Cross-Appellant v. Mary Kinsella, Defendant-Appellant and Cross-Respondent

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that pleading extreme cruelty does not waive the psychologist‑patient privilege, affirmed that the privilege remains intact for the marital‑tort claim, and remanded for the trial court to reconsider the privilege in the custody and visitation dispute. The Court applied the Kozlov three‑part test and emphasized the strong public policy protecting confidential therapeutic communications.