Doe v. University of Hartford

Filing 179

RULING: denying, without prejudice as moot 173 Motion to Compel; denying, without prejudice to renew at the end of this litigation 173 Motion for Sanctions. Signed by Judge Joan G. Margolis on 8/26/2013. (Rodko, B.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
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JOHN DOE
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V.
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UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
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3:09 CV 1071 (JGM)

DATE: AUGUST 26, 2013

RULING ON DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO COMPEL AND FOR SANCTIONS RE DISCOVERY
AND DISCLOSURE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO RULES 26 AND 37
The factual and procedural history behind this acrimonious litigation has been set
forth in considerable detail in this Magistrate Judge's fifty-five page Ruling on Multiple
Motions In Limine, filed August 23, 2013. (Dkt. #175), familiarity with which is presumed.
On July 30, 2013, defendant filed the pending Motion to Compel and for Sanctions
re Discovery and Disclosure Required Pursuant to Rules 26 and 37 (Dkt. #173),1 as to which
plaintiff filed his brief in opposition three weeks later, on August 20, 2013 (Dkt. #174);
defendant filed its reply brief three days thereafter, on August 23, 2013. (Dkt. #178).
In this motion, defendant moves for an order to compel plaintiff to produce the
expert witness records of Dr. David Bonanno, to produce updated discovery responses, to
produce trial exhibits (and to redact same), and further seeks sanctions pursuant to FED. R.
CIV. P. 26 and 37. (Dkt. #173, at 1-3 & Brief, at 1-6). Defendant argues that it has been
"prejudiced by these unexcused delays" by plaintiff insofar as it needs these records to
properly defend itself in this action, and specifically requests that plaintiff be precluded from

1

The following four exhibits were attached: copy of e-mail between counsel, dated April 11,
2013 (Exh. A); copies of e-mails between counsel, dated March 5 & 13, April 1, 11 & 25, June 25 &
26, and July 5, 11, 12, 15 & 16, 2013 (Exh. B); affidavit of defense counsel, sworn to July 30,
2013; and Bill of Costs, dated July 30, 2013.

introducing evidence regarding Dr. Bonanno at trial and be prohibited from introducing "his
untimely filed, improperly redacted exhibits" into evidence at trial, and defendant requests
costs associated with filing this motion. (Dkt. #173, at 3 & Brief, at 4-7).2 In his brief in
opposition, plaintiff argues that defendant failed to comply with Local Rule 37 in attempting
to resolve this discovery dispute first and plaintiff did provide updated records from Dr.
Bonnano on July 11, 2013, and the exhibits have not been "publicly filed" so there was no
need for redaction. (Dkt. #174, at 1-3).3
In its reply brief, defendant argues that counsel have attempted to resolve these
discovery disputes without success (Dkt. #178, at 1-2); plaintiff has not updated his
interrogatory responses with respect to Dr. Bonnano, has "thwart[ed]" defendant's ability to
obtain these records directly from the doctor, and improperly provided medical records after
the Joint Trial Memorandum and motions in limine were filed (id. at 2-6); and sanctions are
warranted for plaintiff's violation of a court order to redact the real names of John Smith and
Mary Smith. (Id. at 6).
As set forth in Sections I.C.1 and I.E of the Ruling on Multiple Motions In Limine (at
37-44, 51-53), plaintiff does not intend to call Dr. Bonnano as a witness in that there will be
no evidence regarding plaintiff's arrests and convictions, so the present motion is moot with
respect to his medical records and updated discovery responses.
Of the three exhibits plaintiff seeks to introduce at trial (see Dkt. #172), Section I.B.1

2

Defendant has argued that "[a]s a result of . . . [p]laintiff's willful non-compliance, . . .
[d]efendant's ability to prepare for trial, including filing motions in limine, has been compromised."
(Dkt. #173, Brief at 2). As the fifty-five page Ruling on Multiple Motions In Limine aptly
demonstrates, defendant has hardly been hampered in its filing of motions in limine.
3

As with the previous thirteen motions, these briefs reflect poorly upon the unnecessarily
poor relationship between counsel. See Ruling on Multiple Motions In Limine, at 3, n.4.

2

of the Ruling on Multiple Motions In Limine (at 24-30) has precluded the introduction of the
first, the ODE Report (Exh. 1), leaving only two exhibits (Exhs. 2-3) for which no redaction
is necessary, other than plaintiff's first name on Exh. 2.
Thus, with respect to defendant's requests, the pending motion (Dkt. #173) is denied
without prejudice as moot.
With respect to defendant's request for sanctions, the motion is denied without
prejudice to renew at the end of this litigation, the Court not wishing to distract counsel any
further from the substantial task ahead and to further inflame the acrimony between counsel.
Dated at New Haven, Connecticut, this 26th day of August, 2013.

/s/ Joan G. Margolis, USMJ
Joan Glazer Margolis
United States Magistrate Judge

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