Opinion
In action relating to accident defendant sought an order requiring minor plaintiff to appear in Milwaukee for purpose of being orally deposed, also moved to implead three new parties as third-party defendants, and further applied for a summary judgment which would strike a paragraph of complaint and quash any testimony with respect to claim for medical expenses and loss of services. The District Court, Myron L. Gordon, J., held that minor plaintiff would be required to appear in Milwaukee at his own expenses, that it would be inappropriate to bring in new parties at late date in proceedings, and that parent's right to recover for medical expenses is derivative, and thus parent's claim was preserved where action was started during pendency of a petition for approval of minor's settlement.
Granted in part, and denied in part.
Francis R. Bannen, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Richard A. McDermott, Milwaukee, Wis., for plaintiff.
Kluwin, Dunphy, Hankin & McNulty, by G. George Lawrence, Milwaukee, Wis., for defendants.
DECISION and ORDER
MYRON L. GORDON, District Judge.
There are three motions before the court. The defendants seek an order requiring the plaintiff Jeffrey Orton to appear in Milwaukee for the purpose of being orally deposed. The defendants also have moved to implead three new parties as third-party defendants. They have further applied for a summary judgment which would strike paragraph V of the complaint and quash any testimony with respect to the plaintiff Livingston's claim for medical expenses and loss of services.
The plaintiffs do not oppose the entry of an order requiring Jeffrey Orton to appear in Milwaukee, but they object to that portion of the motion requiring him to so appear at his own expense. The plaintiffs point out that Jeffrey Orton, a minor, did not voluntarily leave the eastern district of Wisconsin, and that compliance with the defendants' motion would be a financial burden upon him. In my opinion, the better exercise of the court's discretion is to grant the defendants' motion and require the plaintiff Jeffrey Orton to appear here, at his own expense. Costanza v. Monty, 50 F.R.D. 75 (E.D.Wis.1970).
With reference to the defendants' motion to implead three new parties, it is noted that the instant action relates to an accident which occurred on March 14, 1969, and the present lawsuit was commenced on March 16, 1973. In my opinion, it would be inappropriate to bring in new parties at this late date in the proceedings. Even though counsel for the proposed third party defendants has previously been alerted to this lawsuit, it is my opinion that the addition of new parties at this late date would irresistibly delay the disposition of this lawsuit for an excessively long period of time. The defendants' motion to add new parties will not be granted.
The motion of the defendants for summary judgment with reference to Sandra Livingston's claim for medical expenses and loss of services is based on the defendants' contention that her claim is barred under § 893.205 Wis. Stats. This statute requires the commencement of an action within three years to recover damages for injuries to the person. The mother's claim stems from the injuries sustained by her child, Jeffrey Orton. As noted above, the injury occurred on March 14, 1969, and the action was commenced on March 16, 1973; therefore, the defendants contend that the period of limitations forecloses her claim.
In my opinion, the parent's right to recovery for medical expenses is derivative. The parent's claim was preserved because the action was started during the pendency of a petition for the approval of a minor's settlement. Carey v. Dairyland Mutual Insurance Co., 41 Wis.2d 107, 118, 163 N.W.2d 200 (1968).
Therefore, it is ordered that the defendants' motion to require the plaintiff Jeffrey Orton to appear in Milwaukee at his own expense be and hereby is granted.
It is also ordered that the defendants' motion to implead three new parties be and hereby is denied.
It is further ordered that the defendants' motion for summary judgment to strike paragraph V of the complaint be and hereby is denied.