Opinion
08-CV-300A(F)
01-05-2012
ROSALIE LOLONGA-GEDEON, Plaintiff, v. CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES, Defendant.
APPEARANCES: ROSALIE LOLONGA-GEDEON, Pro Se HODGSON, RUSS, LLP Attorneys for Defendant JOSHUA I. FEINSTEIN, of Counsel
DECISION and ORDER
APPEARANCES: ROSALIE LOLONGA-GEDEON, Pro Se
HODGSON, RUSS, LLP
Attorneys for Defendant
JOSHUA I. FEINSTEIN, of Counsel
In this employment discrimination case, by papers filed November 29, 2011, Defendant moved pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 35, to compel Plaintiff's mental examination (Doc. No. 118) ("Defendant's motion"). Plaintiff's response was required to be filed by December 9, 2011 (Doc. No. 124). To date, no response has been filed by Plaintiff.
A physical or mental examination pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 35 may be required where a plaintiff has pleaded more than "garden variety emotional distress damages" based on a defendant's impairment of a plaintiff's health and there exists good cause for such examination. E.E.O.C. v. Grief Bros. Corporation, 218 F.R.D. 59, 61 (W.D.N.Y. 2003) citing Schlaugenhauf v. Holder, 379 U.S. 104, 117 (1964); Cauley v. Ingram Micro, Inc., 216 F.R.D. 241, 243-44 (W.D.N.Y. 2003) (affirming 2003 WL 21283782 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 24, 2003). Here, although the Complaint does not specifically seek such damages, Plaintiff has testified in her deposition that as a result of Defendant's alleged discriminatory conduct toward Plaintiff, she has in fact suffered various forms of psychological harm including symptoms of severe mental distress, such as great sadness, a sense of "doom," depression, and possible paranoia, as a result. (Doc. No. 120 at 2). Such assertions, particularly Plaintiff's symptomology of depression, provide a good faith basis for the requested examination. See Grief Bros. Corporation, 219 F.R.D. at 62-62 (noting resulting mental and potential physical harm). Plaintiff, as stated, does not contend otherwise thus conceding Defendant's need for the requested examination in order to adequately defend against Plaintiff's expected damage claims as described by Plaintiff in her deposition. Accordingly, based on Defendant's motion papers, including the caselaw cited in its Memorandum of Law (Doc. No. 120) and in view of Plaintiff's failure to timely oppose the instant motion, Defendant's motion should be GRANTED.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, Defendant's motion (Doc. No. 118) is GRANTED. SO ORDERED.
______________
LESLIE G. FOSCHIO
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Dated: January 5, 2012
Buffalo, New York
Plaintiff is advised that any appeal of this Decision and Order must
be taken by filing written objection with the Clerk of Court not later
than 14 days after service of this Decision and Order in accordance
with Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(a).