Opinion
Case No. 12cv1316-W (BLM)
07-10-2014
MARIE CONFORTO, Plaintiffs, v. RAYMOND E. MABUS AND DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT'S
MOTION TO COMPEL THE
INDEPENDENT PSYCHIATRIC
EXAMINATION OF PLAINTIFF
[ECF NO. 24]
Currently before the Court is Defendant's June 23, 2014 Motion to Compel the Independent Psychiatric Examination of Plaintiff [ECF No. 24-1 ("MTC")], Plaintiff's June 27, 2014 opposition [ECF No. 25 ("Oppo.")], and Defendant's July 1, 2014 Reply [ECF No. 26 ("Reply")]. For the reasons set forth below, Defendant's motion is GRANTED.
BACKGROUND
The above-entitled matter was initiated on June 1, 2012 when Plaintiff filed a complaint for gender and age discrimination and retaliation. ECF No. 1. Defendant filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiff's complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure ("FRCP") 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) on October 19, 2012 [ECF No. 6] which was withdrawn on May 31, 2013. ECF Nos. 12 and 13. On November 26, 2013, Defendant answered the complaint [ECF No. 14] and the Court held an Early Neutral Evaluation Conference on December 20, 2013 [ECF No. 17]. After a January 27, 2014 telephonic Case Management Conference, the Court issued a Case Management Conference Order Regulating Discovery and Other Pretrial Proceedings. ECF No. 20.
On June 19, 2014, the parties jointly contacted the Court regarding a discovery dispute brought by Defendant concerning Plaintiff's objections to Defendants' request for an Independent Psychiatric Evaluation of Plaintiff. ECF No. 23. After the call, the Court issued a briefing schedule [id.] and the parties filed their pleadings in accordance with it. See MTC, Oppo., and Reply.
LEGAL STANDARD
FRCP 35(a) allows the Court to order a party "to submit to a physical or mental examination by a suitably licensed or certified examiner" when that party's mental or physical condition is in controversy. FRCP 35(a). The order "(A) may be made only on motion for good cause and on notice to all parties and the person to be examined; and (B) must specify the time, place, manner, conditions, and scope of the examination, as well as the person or persons who will perform it." Id.
DISCUSSION
Defendant argues that because Plaintiff has "alleged a whole host of emotional distress related damages against the Navy," is seeking monetary damages for emotional distress, and has "designated three health care providers to opine on the toll her supervisors' alleged improper conduct has taken on her mental state and emotional condition," its retained expert, Dr. Alan Abrams, M.D., J.D., FCLM, should be permitted to conduct an Independent Psychiatric Examination ("IPE") of Plaintiff. MTC at 2; ECF No. 242, Declaration of Dianne Schweiner ("Schweiner Decl.").
Plaintiff argues that Defendant's motion should be denied as the request is overbroad and untimely. Oppo. at 1-2. In addition, Plaintiff contends that Defendant has failed to show there is good cause for an IPE and that since Plaintiff's claims of emotional distress are "garden variety[,]" there is no evidence that her mental state is actually "in controversy." Id. at 6-7. Counsel notes that the Notice requires Plaintiff to travel from her residence in Idaho to Southern California. Id. at 8. Finally, Plaintiff contends that the motion should be denied because Defendant did not make a good faith effort to secure the IPE by stipulation and because Dr. Abrams has already submitted his report and the only purpose of the examination would be to support an opinion that he has already provided or to change it all together "render[ing] illusory the report that was due on June 13, 2014." Id. at 9. Plaintiff requests that if the Court does grant the motion, her counsel be permitted to attend the IPE and the order be narrowly tailored and include
(1) the clinical name of each test to be conducted; (2) the amount of time required for each test; (3) the clinical purpose and basis for each test; (4) the specific subject parameters of the oral examination and the time that will be required to complete the oral portion of the examination; (5) whether the examination will be recorded; and (6) the clinical nature of all paper and pencil tests.Id. at 8.
Defendant replies that it is "disingenuous" for Plaintiff to allege that Defendant's conduct caused her anxiety, depression, elevated blood pressure, and a general deterioration of Plaintiff's health, and then claim that those conditions "merely constitute 'garden variety' emotional distress." Reply at 2. Defendant argues that its expert should have the same opportunity that Plaintiff's experts were given to examine Plaintiff and determine if any causation exists. Id. Defendant notes that its request is not overbroad and that since Plaintiff chose to file her complaint in the Southern District of California, she cannot avoid an IPE simply because she chose to move to Idaho. Id. at 3. Defendant further argues that since Plaintiff will be in San Diego on July 22, 2014 for her deposition, requiring Plaintiff to attend an IPE on July 21, 2014 would not require any additional travel by Plaintiff. Id. Defendant highlights the fact that the scope of the IPE as outlined in the Notice is standard and that Plaintiff's counsel has failed to show "special circumstances" necessary for the court to issue an order permitting counsel to attend to IPE or to have the IPE recorded. Id. at 3-5. Finally, Defendant argues that its request for an IPE was timely and that defense counsel "has exhausted her efforts to obtain this IPE by stipulation." Id. at 6-7. I. "In Controversy" and "Good Cause"
Here, Plaintiff's mental condition is in controversy and there is good cause for Plaintiff to be examined. "Although the Ninth Circuit has not addressed the 'in controversy' requirement, a court in this district announced a test in Turner v. Imperial Stores, 161 F.R.D. 90 (S.D.Cal. Apr. 7, 1995), that has been regularly applied by district courts." Nguyen v. Qualcomm Inc., 2013 WL 3353840, *3 (S.D. Cal. July 3, 2013) (citing Montez v. Stericycle, Inc., 2013 WL 2150025, at *3 (E.D. Cal. May 16, 2013); Tamburri v. SunTrust Morg. Inc., 2013 WL 942499, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Mar.11, 2013); Sanders v. Holdings, 2012 WL 2001967, at *2 (S.D. Cal. June 4, 2012); Hongwei Zhang v. United Technologies Corp., 2011 WL 3890262, at *1 (S.D.Cal. Sept. 2, 2011)). According to Turner, courts will order IPEs where a plaintiff alleges emotional distress and one or more of the following is present:
1) a cause of action for intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress; 2) an allegation of a specific mental or psychiatric injury or disorder; 3) a claim of unusually severe emotional distress; 4) plaintiff's offer of expert testimony to support a claim of emotional distress; and/or 5) plaintiff's concession that his or her mental condition is "in controversy" within the meaning of Rule 35(a)Turner, 161 F.R.D. at 95.
In assessing whether "good cause" exists, courts have considered "the possibility of obtaining desired information by other means, whether plaintiff plans to prove her claim through testimony of expert witnesses, whether the desired materials are relevant, and whether plaintiff is claiming ongoing emotional distress." Juarez v. Autozone Stores, Inc., 2011 WL 1532070, *1 (S.D. Cal. April 21, 2011) (quoting Impey v. Office Depot, Inc., 2010 WL 2985071, at *21 (N .D. Cal. July 27, 2010) (citation omitted)). Regardless of the results of the good cause inquiry, a court has discretion to determine whether to order an examination. Nguyen, 2013 WL 3353840 at *4 (citing Williams v. Troehler, 2010 WL 121104, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Jan.7, 2010) ("even if good cause is shown, it is still within the court's discretion to determine whether to order an examination."); Kob v. County of Marin, 2009 WL 3706820, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Nov.3, 2009) (since the defendant failed to show good cause, "it remained within the court's discretion whether to grant the Rule 35(a) order."); and Hodges v. Keane, 145 F.R.D. 332, 334 (S.D. N.Y. Jan.6, 1993) (since defendant does not allege ongoing suffering, "a Rule 35(a) order lies soundly within the court's discretion.")).
Plaintiff has not alleged a cause of action for intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress or conceded that her mental state is in controversy, but she has alleged that Defendants' activity caused her to suffer "anxiety, panic attacks, depression, stress, daily crying spells, sleeplessness, increased or decreased appetite causing fluctuations in her weight, elevated blood pressure that included an increase in her blood pressure medication, and general overall deterioration of her health." ECF No. 1 at 4. Additionally, Plaintiff has designated three non-retained experts to testify as to her mental state. Schweiner Decl. at Exh. B. The Court finds that this is sufficient to show that Plaintiff's mental health is in controversy for purposes of FRCP 35. The Court also finds that the motion is made for good cause as the desired information is relevant, Plaintiff has designated three experts to discuss her mental health, Plaintiff is claiming ongoing emotional distress, and there is no other way for Defendant to obtain the necessary information. See Juarez, 2011 WL 1532070 at *1; see also ECF No. 1 at 6-9 ("Plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer . . . . embarrassment, humiliation and mental anguish").
II. Securing the IPE by Stipulation/Timeliness
The Court rejects Plaintiff's argument that Defendant's motion should be dismissed for failing to put forth a good faith effort to secure the IPE through stipulation. The parties met and conferred on the issue in person and participated in a telephonic conference call with the Court. Schweiner Decl.; see also ECF No. 23. Despite these efforts, the parties were unable to reach an agreement. The fact that the formal request for the IPE was made the day before expert reports were due does not change the Court's position as Plaintiff was aware of the potential request for an IPE as early as January 2014, when Defendant included it in the parties' joint discovery plan. Joint Discovery Plan at 3. Defendant's request is not untimely.
III. IPE Location
Plaintiff filed this case in San Diego and her decision to move to Idaho does not "relieve [Plaintiff] of her duties to participate in discovery in this forum." Reply at 3; see also McDonald v. Southworth, 2008 WL 2705557, *6 (S.D. Ind. July 10, 2008)(stating that "[t]he general rule is that a plaintiff who brings suit in a particular forum may not avoid appearing for examination in that forum. In the case of a physical examination, this rule ensures that the examining doctor is available as a witness at trial" )(quoting Levick v. Steiner Transocean Ltd., 228 F.R.D. 671, 672 (S.D. Fla. 2005)); see also Ornelas v. Southern Tire Mart, LLC, 292 F.R.D. 388, 399-400 (S.D. Tex. 2013). The burden is on Plaintiff to show that "traveling to the examination poses undue burden or hardship." McDonald, 2008 WL 2705557 at *6. Plaintiff makes no effort to prove that the travel is unduly burdensome. See Oppo. at 8. Moreover, Defendant apparently has noticed Plaintiff's deposition for July 22, 2014 in San Diego which means that Plaintiff already will be traveling to San Diego. Reply at 3. The additional day in San Diego does not create an undue burden or hardship. Id.
IV. Scope of the IPE Notice
The IPE Notice states:
The date and time for the examination shall be Monday, July 21, 2014, commencing at 9:00 a.m., and continuing up to four hours of clinical interview plus two hours for psychological testing (excluding breaks and lunch) as reasonably required. The scope of the examination will entail an assessment of the nature and extent of Plaintiff's claimed emotional distress and/or psychological/psychiatric injuries, and specifically including an oral interview, a comprehensive history of the Plaintiffs psychological development, and psychological testing such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Dr. Abrams also reserves the right to administer any other types of testing that Plaintiffs non-retained treating physicians or retained experts may administer to the Plaintiff.Schweiner Decl. at Exh. H.
Plaintiff requests that if the Court grants Defendant's motion, the order require a more adequate description of the IPE including:
(1) the clinical name of each test to be conducted; (2) the amount of time required for each test; (3) the clinical purpose and basis for each test; (4) the specific subject parameters of the oral examination and the time that will beOppo. at 8. The Court finds the Notice to be sufficient. Defendant is not required to spell out the name of every test to be conducted, specify how long each individual test will take, the clinical purpose and basis for each test, the subject parameters of the oral examination, or the clinical nature of all paper and pencil tests. The examination will not be recorded. Nguyen, 2013 WL 3353840 at *9 (stating that "third parties -whether human or electronic-cannot sit in on physical and mental examinations under FRCP 35").
required to complete the oral portion of the examination; (5) whether the examination will be recorded; and (6) the clinical nature of all paper and pencil tests.
V. Counsel's Attendance at the IPE/ Recording the IPE
Finally, Plaintiff's counsel's request to attend and/or record the IPE is DENIED. "Federal courts have determined that third parties -whether human or electronic- cannot sit in on physical and mental examinations under FRCP 35 unless special circumstances require it." Nguyen, 2013 WL 3353840 at *9 (quoting Stefan v. Trinity Trucking, LLC, 275 F.R.D. 248, 250 (N.D. Ohio, July 12, 2011) and (citing Hertenstein v. Kimberly Home Health Care, Inc., 189 F.R.D. 620, 629 (D. Kan. June 14, 1999) (finding that plaintiff did not establish good cause to overcome general rule that counsel has no right to be present during a mental or physical examination); Ragge v. MCA/Universal Studios, 165 F.R.D. 605, 609-10 (C.D. Cal. 1995) (disallowing a third party observer per plaintiff's request due to "the potential for a third party observer to interfere with, or even contaminate, a mental examination.")). Here, Plaintiff's counsel has failed to demonstrate that there are special circumstances sufficient to break the general rule against third party attendees at IPEs. Instead, Plaintiff merely states that counsel should be present "to prevent unduly burdensome and probative questioning, and to prevent questioning on the substantive merits of the case." Oppo. at 8. Plaintiff's counsel's desire to prevent questions that he feels are unduly burdensome or probative does not constitute a "special circumstance."
For all of the reasons explained above, Plaintiff's motion to compel and IPE of Plaintiff is GRANTED.
CONCLUSION
Plaintiff Marie Conforto is ORDERED to submit to an mental examination on July 21, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at 3551 Front Street, San Diego, California 92103. The examination will involve "up to four hours of clinical interview plus two hours for psychological testing (excluding breaks and lunch)." Schweiner Decl. at Exh. H. The scope of the examination "will entail an assessment of the nature and extent of Plaintiff's claimed emotional distress and/or psychological/psychiatric injuries, and specifically including an oral interview, a comprehensive history of the Plaintiff's psychological development, and psychological testing such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)" and "any other types of testing that Plaintiffs non-retained treating physicians or retained experts may administer to the Plaintiff." Id. The examination will be performed by Alan Abrams, M.D., J.D., FCLM, a board certified psychiatrist. Plaintiff's counsel is not permitted to attend the IPE and the IPE is not to be recorded.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
__________
BARBARA L. MAJOR
United States Magistrate Judge