FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, et al., Petitioners v. STANMORE CAWTHONFactsStanmore Cawthon Cooper was a pilot who contracted HIV while serving for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); At the time he was diagnosed, the FAA did not issue medical certificates, which are a prerequisite for flying a plane to people with HIV. Subsequently, Mr. Cooper applied to the Social Security Administration to receive benefits based on his diagnosis and subsequently renewed his pilot's certificate six times without disclosing his medical condition or the medications he was taking before to be discovered by the government. The Department of Transportation (DOT) opened a joint criminal investigation with the Social Security Administration to target medically unfit individuals who had obtained medical clearances. The investigation included an exchange of information between the two agencies, specifically the DOT issued a sheet with the names of licensed pilots and in return the SSA provided a spreadsheet with the names of those receiving benefits. Cooper's name was on the list provided by the SSA along with the names of all pilots who were receiving benefits, leading the DOT to target the investigation in which Cooper admitted to intentionally withholding medical information from the FAA to each time he renewed his medical certificate. As a result of Cooper's confession, the FAA revoked his pilot's license and he was charged with intentionally lying to a government agency, a charge to which he pleaded guilty, resulting in a fine and probation. Cooper felt that the actions taken by the FAA were not only unfair to him but, more importantly, illegal, leading him to file...... middle of paper ...... the government, the plaintiff was properly warned that the agency did not issue medical certificates to HIV-positive individuals, he intentionally withheld information for six consecutive renewals, knowing the consequences. On the other hand, in plaintiff's defense, it was illegal for his information to have been disclosed in such a way as to cause intentional harm, in which case the government is at fault.References"FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, Et Al., Petitioners v. STANMORE CAWTHON COOPER.” Academic Lexis Nexis. [U.S. Supreme Court Cases, Lawyers' Edition], nd Web. April 2, 2014. http://www.lexisnexis.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/"THE PRIVACY ACT OF 1974, 5 USC § 552a -- As amended." THE PRIVACY ACT OF 1974, 5 USC § 552a – as amended. Np, and Web. April 2, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/opcl/privstat.htm