Diaz v. Con-Way Truckload, Inc.

279 F.R.D. 412, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6961, 2012 WL 130915
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedJanuary 6, 2012
DocketCivil Action No. L-11-009
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 279 F.R.D. 412 (Diaz v. Con-Way Truckload, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Diaz v. Con-Way Truckload, Inc., 279 F.R.D. 412, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6961, 2012 WL 130915 (S.D. Tex. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

J. SCOTT HACKER, United States Magistrate Judge.

Pending before the Court were the following four motions: (1) “Defendant, Con-Way Truckload, Inc.’s, Opposed Motion to Compel Gerardo Diaz to a Medical Examination to be Performed by Dr. Richard Evans” (Dkt. No. 18) filed on August 22, 2011; (2) “Defendant’s Con-Way Truckload, Inc.’s Opposed Motion to Compel Gerardo Diaz to a Neuropsyc[h]ological Medical Examination to be Performed by Dr. Francisco Perez” (Dkt. No. 19) filed on August 24, 2011; (3) Defendant’s “Motion for Leave to File Reply in Excess of Page Limits” (Dkt. No. 22) filed on September 12, 2011; and (4) “Plaintiff Gerardo Diaz’ Opposed Motion for Leave to Designate Dr. R. Braden Neiman as an Expert” (Dkt. No. 25) filed on October 17, 2011.

In its motions, Defendant Con-Way Truckload, Inc. (“Defendant Con-Way”) sought an order from this Court compelling Plaintiff Gerardo Diaz (“Mr. Diaz”) to submit to medical examinations to be conducted by an ophthalmologist and a neuropsychologist. (See Dkt. Nos. 18 and 19). Mr. Diaz filed his responses to the motions to compel on September 7, 2011. (Dkt. Nos. 20 and 21). Defendant Con-Way filed its reply in support of [415]*415the motions to compel on September 12, 2011. (Dkt. No. 23). In his motion, Mr. Diaz sought leave to designate Dr. R. Braden Neiman as a non-retained expert after his expert designation deadline. (See Dkt. No. 25). Defendant Con-Way filed a response to Mr. Diaz’s motion on October 21, 2011. (Dkt. No. 28). The Court held hearings on the motions on October 7, 2011, and on October 26, 2011. On October 28, 2011, the Court issued an Order granting Defendant Con-Way’s motions to compel (Dkt. Nos. 18 and 19), granting Plaintiff Gerardo Diaz’s motion for leave to designate an expert (Dkt. No. 25), and denying Defendant Con-Way’s motion for leave to file reply (Dkt. No. 22) as moot. (See Dkt. No. 29). The Court further advised the parties that a memorandum opinion would follow. (Id.).

I. BACKGROUND

Mr. Diaz’s complaint alleges claims of negligence and negligence per se against Defendant Con-Way for injuries arising out of a motor vehicle collision between Mr. Diaz and Defendant Yaw Owusu (“Defendant Owusu”), one of Defendant Con-Way’s drivers. (See Dkt. No. 16, pp. 3-4). Specifically, Mr. Diaz pleads damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional distress, hospital and medical expenses, disfigurement, physical impairment, loss of earnings, and loss of future earning capacity. (Id. at p. 5).

The vehicular collision giving rise to Mr. Diaz’s causes of action occurred on February 3, 2010. (Id. at p. 2). According to Mr. Diaz, he was traveling southbound on Interstate Highway 35, approximately 30 miles north of Laredo, Texas, while Defendant Owusu was traveling in the opposite direction. (Id.). Mr. Diaz further alleges that “[sjuddenly and without warning, [Defendant Owusu] veered across the center median and into the path of [Mr. Diaz’s] tractor-trailer causing a severe collision and serious and critical injuries to [Mr. Diaz].” (Id.). As a result of Mr. Diaz’s alleged injuries, Mr. Diaz claims it was necessary for him “to undergo emergency medical treatment and be hospitalized.” (Id. at p. 4). Mr. Diaz further claims that he “has suffered, now suffers, and with reasonable probability will suffer for the remainder of his life, significant physical and mental pain, significant physical and mental impairment, which has and continues to adversely affect his enjoyment of life, his ability to care for himself or his family, and his ability to work and earn a living.” (Id.).

Mr. Diaz filed this lawsuit against Defendant Con-Way and Defendant Owusu on December 27, 2010, in the 111th Judicial District of Webb County, Texas. (See Dkt. No. 1, Ex. 1, p. 3). On February 1, 2011, Defendants removed the case to federal court. (See Dkt. No. 1). On April 8, 2011, the Court issued a scheduling order with the following deadlines in this case:

_PRETRIAL EVENTS_DEADLINES_
Rule 26(a)(1) initial disclosures_April 7, 2011_
Deadline for joinder of all parties_April 14, 2011_
Deadline for plaintiff to designate expert witnesses & July 7, 2011 reports_
Deadline for defendant to designate expert witnesses & August 8,2011
reports_
Discovery deadline_October 11, 2011_
Deadline to complete ADR_October 25, 2011_
Deadline to amend pleadings (with parties consent or leave November 14, 2011 of Court)__
Deadline to file contested motions_November 28, 2011_
Deadline to file joint pretrial order, motions in limine & January 17, 2012 proposed jury instructions (or proposed findings of fact & conclusions of law)_
Pretrial conference & trial scheduling in Courtroom 3B with January 31, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. United States District Judge Micaela Alvarez._

[416]*416(See Dkt. No. 12). On July 13, 2011, Mr. Diaz filed his First Amended Complaint and joined his wife and children as additional plaintiffs to the lawsuit. (See Dkt. No. 16). Defendants have stipulated to liability for the accident. (Id. at p. 3 n. 1; October 7, 2011 Motions Hearing). Consequently, at the trial of this matter, the sole issue will be what injuries or damages were caused by the accident and what monetary amount will fairly compensate all plaintiffs for Mr. Diaz’s injuries.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Defendant Con-Way’s Motions to Compel Mr. Diaz’s Physical Examinations Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 35 Are Untimely

In response to Defendant Con-Way’s motions, Mr. Diaz argued that Defendant Con-Way demonstrated a lack of diligence by seeking a Rule 35 examination after the deadline to designate experts and produce reports established under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26. (See Dkt. Nos. 20 and 21). According to Defendant Con-Way, however, “there is no deadline, either in the Rule or the case law for the filing of a motion under Rule 35(a).” (See Dkt. No. 23, ¶ 9). Relying on Waggoner v. Ohio Cent. R.R., Inc., Defendant Con-Way further argued that the fact that the request for the Rule 35 examination was made after the expert report deadline is not determinative and that a request for such an examination can occur at anytime before the discovery deadline in the case. 242 F.R.D. 413 (S.D.Ohio 2007); (see Dkt. No. 23, ¶¶ 9 and 10). Thus, the Court must first determine if there is any relationship between the timing of a request for a Rule 35 examination and the Rule 26 deadline to designate experts and produce expert reports. In other words, if a relationship exists between Rule 35 and Rule 26 that requires the opposing party to seek a Rule 35 examination before the Rule 26 deadline to designate experts and produce related reports, then Defendant Con-Way’s motions to compel are untimely.

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279 F.R.D. 412, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6961, 2012 WL 130915, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/diaz-v-con-way-truckload-inc-txsd-2012.