De Gaetano v. Frank A. Clendaniel, Inc.

15 F.R.D. 114, 1953 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3778

• Court: District Court, D. Delaware
• Decided: November 27, 1953
• Docket: Civ. A. No. 1545
• Status: Published

Opinion

LEAHY, District Judge.

This is an action for damages arising out of an automobile collision. Defendants served interrogatories on plaintiff. Interrogatory 3 reads:

“Give the names and addresses of persons from whom statements have been procured in regard to the facts alleged in the complaint.”

Plaintiff’s answer was:

“Thomas Goldsberry U. S. M.C. Naval Hospital Philadelphia, Pa.”

Defendants move under F.R. 34 to compel plaintiff to produce this statement of Goldsberry. The motion states this statement is in possession of plaintiff, contains evidence of plaintiff’s negligence, and is not privileged.

1. A party seeking production under F.R. 34 must show “good cause therefor”.¹ What constitutes good cause has no general answer but depends on the facts of each case. There must be, however, a substantial showing of good cause.²

2. Defendants rely on Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Julian, D.C.Del., 10 F.R.D. 452. The facts of that case are different from those present in the case at bar. The conclusion is good cause has not been shown, here, and defendants’ motion for production should be denied.

1 . 28 U.S.C.A. 4 Moore’s Federal Practice, 2nd Ed., § 34.08; Alltmont v. U. S. 3 Cir., 177 F.2d 971.

2 . Dellameo v. Great Lakes S. S. Co., D.C. Ohio, 9 F.R.D. 77; Grogan v. Pennsylvania R. Co., D.C.N.Y., 11 F.R.D. 342; McDonald v. Pennsylvania R. Co., D.C., 15 F.R.D. 145; Bonefond v. Borden Co., D.C.N.Y., 12 F.R.D. 183; Gajowski v. Empie, D.C.N.Y., 11 F.R.D. 60.