Bucher v. Richardson Hospital Authority

160 F.R.D. 88, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21024, 1994 WL 728485
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Texas
DecidedDecember 13, 1994
DocketNo. 3-94-CV-1264-R
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 160 F.R.D. 88 (Bucher v. Richardson Hospital Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bucher v. Richardson Hospital Authority, 160 F.R.D. 88, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21024, 1994 WL 728485 (N.D. Tex. 1994).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

KAPLAN, United States Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff has filed a motion to quash the deposition of J.B. and a motion for reconsideration in connection with a prior ruling made by the Court. These motions have been referred to United States Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan for determination pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Local Rule 1.3.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Linda Bucher has sued Defendants Richardson Medical Center and Roy Reed George for negligence and civil rights violations arising out the care and treatment of her daughter, J.B.1 Plaintiff contends that Defendant George sexually abused J.B. while she was a patient at the adolescent care unit of Defendant RMC. The lawsuit is brought by Plaintiff Linda Bucher in her individual capacity and on behalf of her minor daughter.

The deposition of J.B. was originally noticed for September 23, 1994. The parties agreed to depose J.B. at the New Life Children’s Treatment Center in Canyon Lake, Texas where she currently resides. Counsel [90]*90for Defendant RMC flew to Austin, Texas for the deposition. He was to meet opposing counsel at the airport and ride together to the deposition site. However, the attorneys missed each other and the deposition never took place. The parties agreed to reset the deposition. A second notice was issued scheduling the deposition of J.B. for October 18, 1994 in Dallas, Texas.

Plaintiff Linda Bucher hired another attorney just prior to this deposition.2 The new lawyer filed a motion to quash alleging that “J.B. is emotionally, psychologically and mentally incapable of giving a deposition.” Plaintiff seeks an order postponing the deposition until such time as “J.B.’s treating therapists agree that she is capable of safely and competently undergoing the deposition process.” The motion to quash was heard on October 31, 1994. Plaintiff did not call any witnesses or present any evidence. Instead, she relied on an affidavit and a letter from two of J.B.’s therapists. The Court refused to quash the deposition. However, the Court ruled that: (1) the deposition should be taken at the New Life Children’s Treatment Center in the presence of J.B.’s mother and therapist; (2) the length of the deposition and scope of examination should be limited; and (3) Defendant George would not be allowed in the same room as the deponent.

Plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration in order to present live testimony and offer additional evidence. The motion was heard on November 15-16, 1994. The Court heard testimony from three expert witnesses. Barbara Rila and Sidney Brooks testified for the plaintiff. Frank Trimboli testified for Defendant RMC. The Court took the motion under advisement and now issues this memorandum order.

FACTS

J.B. is a 15-year-old female with a long history of sexual abuse. She was admitted to the adolescent care unit of Richardson Medical Center in 1992 for treatment of psychological problems related to this abuse. J.B. attended educational courses while she was hospitalized. These courses were taught by Roy Reed George. Plaintiff contends that George repeatedly raped and molested J.B. over a two month period in 1994. Defendants RMC and George deny these allegations. In any event, J.B. was subsequently moved to a residential treatment facility in Canyon Lake, Texas where she is undergoing intensive psychological treatment.

Barbara Rila is a psychologist who has treated J.B. for the past seven years. She testified that J.B. has been sexually abused by her birth family, adoptive father and a teenage babysitter. Dr. Rila participated in the decision to admit J.B. to Richardson Medical Center. She believes that J.B. was molested by George and said that other patients reported similar instances of abuse. Dr. Rila found J.B. in a fetal position on the day she reported the incident to hospital staff. She agreed with the decision to transfer J.B. to the New Life Children’s Treatment Center. Dr. Rila talks with J.B. on the telephone once a month but has not seen her for ten months. She has not reviewed her medical records from New Life and has never visited J.B. at the facility.

Dr. Rila testified that J.B. suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. She said that J.B. is in a critical stage of treatment and that the stress associated with a deposition may “derail” her progress. Specifically, Dr. Rila expressed concern that J.B. may be emotionally traumatized by being forced to talk about the events surrounding her abuse in an adversarial setting. She fears that this may overpower J.B.’s ability to cope with and manage stress. If her stress mechanism is overpowered, Dr. Rila said that J.B. may become more depressed and possibly suicidal.

Dr. Rila also testified that J.B. has a learning disability and a limited capacity to recall concrete events. This memory problem [91]*91could make it difficult for J.B. to provide reliable information. Dr. Rila said that the anxiety and frustration associated with the inability to answer questions at a deposition could exacerbate her psychological problems. She conduced that J.B. is “emotionally and psychologically incapable of giving a deposition at this time”, and that “subjecting J.B. to a confrontational discussion of her abuse ... would traumatize her to the point of further harm and deterioration and endanger her psychological stability.”

On cross-examination, Dr. Rila said that J.B. had discussed her sexual abuse allegations with several people in different settings. J.B. talked to the police, district attorney, and two lawyers in addition to her therapists. Dr. Rila also admitted that J.B. has a propensity for fantasy, distortion and fabrication. She was aware that J.B. had recanted her accusations against Roy Reed George. Dr. Rila explained that this recant occurred around the time the first deposition was aborted and served as a protection mechanism to get J.B. out of a highly stressful situation.

The Court also questioned Dr. Rila about possible procedures or safeguards that could be implemented to minimize the risk of harm during a deposition. Dr. Rila suggested that the deposition take place at the New Life Children’s Treatment Center during the month of January 1995. J.B.’s mother and therapist should be present during this deposition, and all other participants should be excluded from the room. Dr. Rila said that George should not even be allowed on the premises. She recommended that the deposition be conducted during a set time frame and that the parties adhere to that schedule. This would give the proceeding some certainty and predictability. Dr. Rila said that, if possible, the questions should be submitted in writing or through a neutral third-party or “interpreter.” She believes that this would enhance J.B.’s ability to give truthful answers. Dr. Rila thinks that J.B. may have difficulty understanding questions asked from a remote location over a closed circuit television. However, this would be less intrusive than having defense counsel present in the same room.

Frank Trimboli testified on behalf of the defendants. Dr. Trimboli is a clinical psychologist with twelve years experience in treating adolescent patients. He has never treated or examined J.B., but reviewed some of her records from Richardson Medical Center. Dr. Trimboli testified that J.B. is capable of giving a deposition in this case.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
160 F.R.D. 88, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21024, 1994 WL 728485, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bucher-v-richardson-hospital-authority-txnd-1994.