Goodvine, Christopher v. Hamblin, Gary et al

Filing 291

ORDER granting 288 Joint Motion for An Order Permitting Direct Communications With Court-Appointed Expert Dr. Kenneth Robbins subject to the following conditions: (1) both sides must participate jointly in any direct communications (meaning that neither party should engage in unilateral, one-sided or ex parte communications) with Dr. Robbins; and (2) Dr. Robbins may not be retained by either side to act as their expert without further order of the court. Signed by District Judge William M. Conley on 7/16/2014. (elc),(ps)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN

CHRISTOPHER GOODVIN£,
ORDER
Plaintiff,
v.

l 2-cv-134-wrnc

WILLIAM CONROY, MICHAEL JULSON,
SEAN SALTER, RANDY SCHNEIDER and
JEREMY A WILEY,
Defendants.
Plaintiff Christopher Goodvine filed this civil action under 42 U .S.C. § 1983,
concerning the conditions of his confinement at the Columbia Correctional Institution
("CCI") . He is presently represented by pro bono counsel. Now pending before the court
is a joint motion to permit direct communications, "including ex parte communications,"
with the court's neutral expert, Dr. Kenneth Robbins. According to the parties, direct
communication with Dr. Robbins is needed to "assist them in their efforts to develop
either a joint proposed protocol or unilateral requests for changes to the protocol
regarding Goodvine's [mental health] treatment." To facilitate his assistance, the parties
have apparently reached an agreement as to how Dr. Robbins' costs should be
apportioned between them.
Assuming that Dr. Robbins is willing to be of further assistance in this case, the
court will grant the parties' joint motion under the following conditions: ( 1) both sides
participate jointly in any direct communications (meaning that neither party should
engage in unilateral, one-sided or ex parte communications) with Dr. Robbins; and (2) Dr.
Robbins may not be retained by either side to act as their expert without further order of

the court.
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that the parties' joint motion to allow direct communications
with the court's neutral expert, Dr. Kenneth Robbins, (dkt. # 288) is GRANTED, in
part, subject to the following conditions: ( 1) both sides must participate jointly in any
direct communications (meaning that neither party should engage in unilateral, one-sided
or ex parte communications) with Dr. Robbins; and (2) Dr. Robbins may not be retained
by either side to act as their expert without further order of the court.
Entered this 16th day of July, 2014.
BY THE COURT:

Isl
WILLIAM M. CONLEY
District Judge

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