Tellis et al v. LeBlanc et al
Filing
227
MEMORANDUM ORDER granting 216 Motion for Mental Health Examinations. See Memorandum Order for details. Signed by Magistrate Judge Mark L Hornsby on 10/17/2019. (crt,Keller, J)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA
SHREVEPORT DIVISION
ANTHONY TELLIS, ET AL
CIVIL ACTION NO. 18-cv-0541
VERSUS
JUDGE FOOTE
JAMES M. LEBLANC, ET AL
MAGISTRATE JUDGE HORNSBY
MEMORANDUM ORDER
Introduction
The Advocacy Center, on behalf of inmates at the David Wade Correctional Center
(“DWCC”), filed this putative class action to seek injunctive relief with respect to the
mental health care afforded inmates who are held in extended lockdown on the South
Compound in buildings N-1 through N-4, which are solitary confinement and extended
lockdown tiers. Before the court is Defendants’ Motion for Mental Examinations (Doc.
216). Defendants seek an order allowing their chosen psychiatrists to perform mental
evaluations of 42 inmates housed in the South Compound at DWCC. For the reasons that
follow, the motion is granted.
Applicable Law
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 35(a) states:
Order for an Examination.
(1)
In General. The court where the action is pending may order a party
whose mental or physical condition—including blood group—is in
controversy to submit to a physical or mental examination by a
suitably licensed or certified examiner. The court has the same
authority to order a party to produce for examination a person who is
in its custody or under its legal control.
(2)
Motion and Notice; Contents of the Order. 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.
When a party’s “mental or physical condition” is in controversy, the court may order
the party to submit to a Rule 35 examination by a “suitably licensed or certified examiner”
when the movant shows “good cause” for the request. Fed. R. Civ. P. 35(a) (1) and 35(a)(2).
There is a two-part test for determining whether the motion should be granted: (1) the
physical or mental state of the party must be in controversy, and (2) the moving party must
show good cause as to why the motion should be granted. Schlagenhauf v. Holder, 379
U.S. 104, 116 (1964). “Good cause” requires a showing of specific facts that demonstrate
the need for the information sought and lack of means for obtaining it elsewhere. Id. at
118. A “plaintiff in a negligence action who asserts mental or physical injury places that
mental or physical injury clearly in controversy and provides the defendant with good cause
for an examination to determine the existence and extent of such asserted injury.” Id. at
119.
The decision as to whether to order an independent medical examination under Rule
35(a) rests in the court’s sound discretion. Nicholas v. Liberty Personal Injury Company,
2016 WL 3922636, *1 (W.D. La. 2016). Furthermore, “[a]lthough Rule 35 examinations
may be ordered ‘only on motion for good cause shown,’ and use of the rule to compel such
examinations is not unfettered, Rule 35(a) generally has been construed liberally in favor
Page 2 of 8
of granting discovery.” Grossie v. Fla. Marine Transporters, Inc., 2006 WL 2547047, *2
(W.D. La. 2006).
Analysis
A. Introduction
Plaintiffs raise the following objections to Defendants’ motion: (1) Defendant seek
to compel examination of non-parties; (2) Defendants did not specify the scope, conditions,
time, or manner of the examinations; (3) Defendants did not demonstrate that the mental
health of the individuals to be examined was in controversy; (4) Defendants did not show
good cause to submit individuals under Defendants’ care to evaluations; (5) Defendants’
testifying experts cannot perform independent Rule 35 examinations; and (6) Defendants
did not provide the persons to be examined notice and opportunity to be heard.
B. Examinations of a Party
Plaintiffs argue that Rule 35(a)(1) only allows examinations of parties to the suit.
This suit was filed as a class action, with named representative plaintiffs and a putative
class. The only representative plaintiff currently in the action is Bruce Tellis, who is not
one of the 42 inmates that Defendants seek to have evaluated. Plaintiffs argue that those
42 inmates are members of the putative class and that this court has already held that
individuals are not parties to the litigation by virtue of their inclusion in the putative class.1
1
Judge Foote held in a memorandum order that “[m]embers of the proposed class, even those with
present attorney-client relationships with Plaintiffs’ counsel, are technically not parties ‘in the
matter’ at the moment. However, if the class is certified, then these putative class members with
whom Plaintiffs’ counsel has a present attorney-client relationship will become parties to this
matter.” Doc. 165, p. 6.
Page 3 of 8
The court finds that the 42 putative class members are “parties” for the purposes of
Rule 35. Otherwise, this important tool of discovery would be written out of the rules for
class action litigation. If Plaintiffs suggest that the inmates would become parties for the
purposes of Rule 35 only upon class certification, that would unduly delay resolution of
the case. Indeed, the examinations may reveal details about the mental health of the 42
inmates that could impact the court’s analysis of commonality and other factors relevant to
class certification.
C. Scope, Conditions, Methods, and Time for Examinations
Plaintiffs argue that Defendants’ proposed order does not comply with Rule
35(a)(2)(B), which states that the movant “must specify the time, place, manner,
conditions, and scope of the examinations as well as the person or persons who will perform
them.” Plaintiffs argue that the proposed order does not say who will be conducting the
examinations, the tests to be performed, or the circumstances under which the examinations
will take place. Plaintiffs assert that without specifying the scope, conditions, methods,
and time for the examinations, they have failed to meet their burden of demonstrating good
cause for subjecting a person to a mental health examination.
Defendants’ motion stated the following conditions for the examinations:
The proposed examinations will be conducted at DWCC on November 4-6,
2019. The examination will have each offender individually called out to a
confidential area. The offender will be interviewed and evaluated by one of
Defendants’ doctors face-to-face. Defendants’ doctors will also review the
offender’s medical records, though this will likely be done prior to meeting
with the individual. The Defendants reserve their right to ask for additional
examinations once the Plaintiff’s experts produce their report to examine any
additional offenders not already examined or to conduct any testing that was
Page 4 of 8
done on behalf of the Plaintiffs that was not previously conducted at this
examination.
Doc. 216-1, p. 4. Defendants also attached to their motion the CVs of its experts who will
conduct the examinations. The court finds Defendants have adequately described the
scope, methods, conditions, and times for the examinations.
D. Controversy
Plaintiffs argue that Defendants have not identified any specific genuine
controversy as the mental condition of the inmates to be examined as required by Rule
35(a)(1). A party seeking a mental examination under Rule 35 must satisfy the court that
(1) the mental state of the party is in controversy, and (2) there is good cause as to why the
motion should be granted. Schlagenhauf, 379 U.S. at 118. The “in controversy” and “good
cause” requirements demand more than mere relevance. Id. Rather, they require an
affirmative showing by the movant that the condition as to which the examination is sought
is genuinely in controversy and that good cause exists for ordering that particular
examination. Id.
The court finds that the mental health of the putative class members is squarely at
issue. Plaintiffs have alleged that the cruel and unusual conditions in which these inmates
are held, together with the lack of appropriate mental health care, trigger the onset or
worsening of the inmates’ mental illnesses, which creates the significant risk of serious
harm to the inmates. This is enough to meet the controversy requirement of the rule.
Page 5 of 8
E. Good Cause
Plaintiffs argue that good cause does not exist to perform Rule 35 mental
examinations because Defendants have access to the inmates’ medical records and
providers. Defendants respond that the inmates to be examined have been identified as
“clients” by Plaintiffs’ counsel and have met with Plaintiff’s experts, including a
psychologist and psychiatrist.
The court finds that good cause exists. While Defendants have access to the putative
class members and their medical records, those records might speak only to routine
treatment at specified intervals rather than the type of information that might be necessary
to defend against Plaintiffs’ allegations and respond to the testimony of Plaintiffs’ experts.
F. Notice and Opportunity to Respond
Plaintiffs argue that Defendants have not indicated that they have informed the
individuals to be examined as required by Rule 35. Defendants respond that they provided
adequate notice by notifying the inmates’ attorneys. Defendants argue that counsel for
Plaintiffs have identified the individuals as their “clients,” so Defendants are not able to
contact them directly. The court finds that notice through Plaintiffs’ attorneys satisfied the
requirements of Rule 35.
G. Examining Experts
Defendants have retained Dr. John Thompson, Dr. Herman Soong, and Dr. Sanket
Vyas to conduct the Rule 35 examinations. Defendants have also disclosed to Plaintiffs
that Dr. John Thompson is a Rule 26 testifying expert witness on the issue of class
certification. Plaintiffs argue that Defendants’ testifying expert cannot conduct the Rule
Page 6 of 8
35 examinations because “[t]he purpose of a Rule 35 examination is to secure an
independent physical or mental examination of a party.” Ewing v. Ayres Corp., 129 F.R.D.
137, 138 (N.D. Miss. 1989). Plaintiffs cite Ewing for the assertion that “[a]ny contact by
counsel for either party that even gives the appearance of tainting the independence of the
physician cannot be sanctioned.” Plaintiffs argue that Defendants are attempting to use
Rule 35 improperly as a discovery device for their testifying experts.
Courts will generally appoint the physician of the moving party’s choice unless the
opposing party raises a valid objection to the physician. 8B Charles Alan Wright, Arthur
R. Miller and Richard L. Marcus, Federal Practice & Procedure § 2234.2 (3rd ed. 2010).
The ‘valid objection’ requirement provides defendants with the same
opportunity as plaintiffs in choosing an expert witness. Defendants have
absolutely no say in determining which physician a plaintiff chooses as a
treating physician or an expert witness; likewise, a plaintiff should be limited
in his ability to object to the selection of the defendant’s expert witnesses.
Shadix-Marasco v. Austin Regional Clinic P.A., 2011 WL 2011483, *4 (W.D. Tex. 2011),
quoting Powell v. United States, 149 F.R.D. 122, 124 (E.D. Va. 1993).
The court finds Plaintiffs’ arguments unpersuasive. Any perceived problems with
the examinations due to lack of independence or impartiality of the evaluators can be
raised by Plaintiffs after the examinations and evaluated by the court prior to use of the
examinations in court.
H. Waiver
Defendants state that on August 26, 2019, they sent a notice of mental examinations
to Plaintiffs and asked for a response by August 30, 2019. On August 30, Plaintiffs
responded by stating that they did not consent to the request but did not raise any specific
Page 7 of 8
objections. Defendants argue that because Plaintiffs did not take this opportunity to timely
raise their objections, the objections have been waived.
The court disagrees with Defendants. A four-day window of the right to object is
completely unfair. None of Plaintiffs’ arguments were waived due to the passage of that
unilateral deadline.
THUS DONE AND SIGNED in Shreveport, Louisiana, this 17th day of October,
2019.
Page 8 of 8
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?