Howard v. United States of America ex rel United States Postal Service

• Court: District Court, D. Nevada
• Decided: August 23, 2024
• Docket: 2:21-cv-00643
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

1 | PAUL A. SHPIRT, ESQ. Nevada Bar No. 10441 2 || DIMOPOULOS INJURY LAW 6671 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Suite 275 3 || Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 O: (702) 800-6000 4 || F: (702) 224-2114 ps@stevedimopoulos.com 5 || Attorney for Plaintiff 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 8 JOEL KANE HOWARD, individually; . CASE NO.: 2:21-cv-00643-APG-EJY 9 Plaintiff, 10 VS. JOINT PRETRIAL ORDER 11 || UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; DOE INDIVIDUALS 1-20, inclusive; and ROE 12 CORPORATIONS 1-20, inclusive, 13 Defendants.

2 14 15 Plaintiff, JOEL KANE HOWARD, by and through his attorney of record, Paul A. Shpirt, o = 16 || DIMOPOULOS INJURY LAW;; and Defendant, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, by and throug 17 || its counsel of record, Virginia T. Tomova, Esq., Assistant United States Attorney, hereby submit th 18 || following Joint Pretrial Order pursuant to the requirements of LR 16-3 as follows: 19 I. 20 STATEMENT OF ACTION 21 A. NATURE OF ACTION: 22 This matter arises out of a collision on April 23, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Plaintiff wa 23 || operating his bicycle eastbound on Westcliff Drive at the Intersection of Underhill Court. At the sam 24 || time, Kristopher Pinaula Scharff, operated a 1989 Grumman LLV-A utility vehicle while workin 25 || for the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Post Office, and was exiting a private drive, located on th 26 || north side of Westcliff Drive. Plaintiff alleges that Mr. Scharff failed to see Plaintiff approaching o: 27 || his bicycle and struck him, propelling him into the air and off his bicycle. Defendant disputes thes 28 || allegations and alleges that Plaintiff ran into the Postal vehicle and was responsible for the accident Page 1 of 14

1 B. CLAIMS FOR RELIEF: 2 PLAINTIFF: 3 Plaintiff prays for judgment on all claims for relief as follows: 4 1. For general damages according to proof; 5 2. For special damages according to proof; 6 3. For post-judgment interest as allowed by law; 7 4. For costs of suit incurred herein; and 8 5. For such other and further relief as this Court may deem Just and proper. 7 DEFENDANT: 10 Defendant requests that this Honorable Court: 1] 1. Deny all of Plaintiffs claims with prejudice; 12 2. Award costs to Defendant; and 13 3. Provide any other relief that the Court deems just and proper. 14 C. CONTENTIONS: 15 PLAINTIFF: 16 1. That Defendant operated the Defendant’s vehicle in a negligent and unsafe manner. 17 2. Defendant had a duty to operate his vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner an

breached this duty when he caused a vehicle collision with Plaintiffs vehicle. 19 3. That as a direct and proximate result of the negligence and breach by □□□□□□□□□ 20 Plaintiff suffered personal injuries and general and special damages in an amount 1 21 excess of $75,000.00. 22 DEFENDANT: 23 A. Plaintiff’s Complaint fails to state a claim or any claim upon which relief can be grantec 24 B. Plaintiff's recovery is limited to the damages recoverable under the FTCA. 25 C. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2675(b), Plaintiff is prohibited from claiming or recovering a 26 amount against the Defendant more than that set forth in a claim presented to the USPS. 27 28 Page 2 of 14

1 D. Plaintiffs injuries, damages, and losses, if any, were solely and proximately caused by th 2 negligence, carelessness or recklessness of Plaintiff and/or other third-persons. 3 E. In the alternative, and without admitting any liability, pursuant to NRS § 41.141 4 Plaintiff cannot recover from Defendant as Plaintiff's fault and negligence in causing the allege 5 accident is greater than the negligence, if any, of Defendant. 6 F. In the further alternative, and without admitting any liability, pursuant to NRS § 41.141 7 Plaintiff's fault and negligence in causing the alleged accident must be compared against the faul 8 and negligence, if any, of Defendant, and Plaintiff's recovery, if any, must be diminished 1 9 proportion to his fault and negligence in causing the alleged accident. 10 G. Without admitting any liability, Plaintiff is not entitled to any preyudgment interes 1] should he obtain a judgment against Defendant. See 28 U.S.C. § 2674. 12 H. Any injuries Plaintiff alleges are not causally related to the occurrence alleged 1 13 Plaintiff's Complaint. 14 I. Defendant discharged any duties it may have owed Plaintiff. 15 5 J. The negligent or otherwise wrongful acts or omissions of Plaintiff and/or others ove a 16 whom the United States has no control, constitute an intervening and superseding cause and therefor 17 . sever any alleged negligence that might be attributable to the United States. K. Plaintiff assumed the risks of operating his bicycle in the manner in which he did. 19 L. Plaintiffis not entitled to attorney’s fees. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346(b)(1); 2671-80. 20 M. Plaintiff's use of fictitiously named defendants is improper. See Graziose v. Am. Hom 21 Prods. Corp., 202 F.R.D. 638, 643 (D. Nev. 2001). 22 Il. 23 STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION 24 Jurisdiction is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1331 as this is a civil action involving the Federal Tot 25 Claims Act, which provides that the federal district courts “shall have exclusive jurisdiction of civ 26 actions on claims against the United States . . . for injury or loss of property, or personal injury 27 death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the Government whil 28 Page 3 of 14

acting within the course and scope of his office or employment, under the circumstances where th United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of th 3 place where the act or omission occurred.” 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1). Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C § 1402(b). ° HI. 6 ADMITTED FACTS The following facts are admitted by the parties and require no proof: None currently. 8 IV. 7 FACTS NOT ADMITTED 10 The following facts, though not admitted, will not be contested at trial by evidence to th contrary: None currently. 12 V. 13 ISSUES OF FACT 3 14 The following are the issues of fact to be tried and determined at trial: 15 1. Whether Defendant had a duty of care to Plaintiff. z 16 2. Whether Defendant breached that duty of care to Plaintiff; and 17 3. Whether Defendant’s breach of duty of care caused damages to Plaintiff.

19 ISSUES OF LAW 20 The following are the issues of law to be to be tried and determined at trial: 2] 1. Whether Defendant owed Plaintiff a duty of care. 22 2. Whether Defendant breached any duty owed to Plaintiff. 23 3. Whether Plaintiff can establish that Defendant’s breach, if any, caused Plaintiff? 24 damages. 25 4. Whether the United States is liable to Plaintiff; and 26 5. Whether and to what extent Plaintiff's own negligence caused or contributed to th 27 accident. 2g | ///

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1 VIL. 2 EXHIBITS 3 A. STIPULATED: 4 The following exhibits are stipulated into evidence in this case and may be so marked b 5 the clerk: None at this time. 6 B. OBJECTED TO: 7 As to the following exhibits, the party against whom the same will be offered objects to g || their admission on the grounds stated: 9 PLAINTIFF: 10 1. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Traffic Crash Report, Bates Nos 11 PLTF000001—PLTF000006; 12 2. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Witness Statements, Bates Nos 13 PLTF000007—PLTF0000 10; 2 14 3. Forty-Two (42) color photographs of the subject accident scene taken by Las Vega 15 Metropolitan Police Department, Bates Nos. PLTF000011—PLTF000052; z 16 4. Medical records and billing from Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, Bates Nos. PLTF000053. 17 PLTF000060; 18 5. Medical records and billing from UMC of Southern Nevada, Bates No: 19 PLTF000061—PLTF000120; 20 6. Medical records and billing from EMP of Clark UMC McCourt, Bates No: 21 PLTF000121—PLTF000139; 22 7. Billing from Desert Radiology, Bates Nos. PLTF000140; 23 8. Medical records and billing from Advanced Psychiatric Services, Bates Nos 24 PLTF000141—PLTF000154; 25 9. Medical records and billing from ATI Physical Therapy, Bates Nos. PLTF000155 PLTF000258; 27 10. Medical records and billing from CareNow Urgent Care, Bates Nos. PLTF000259 28 PLTF000262; Page 5 of 14

11. Medical records and billing from Clinical Neurology Services, Bates Nos PLTF000263—-PLTF0003 12; 3 12. Medical records and billing from Cora Physical Therapy, Bates Nos. PLTF000313 4 PLTF000337; ° 13. Medical records and billing from Desert Anesthesiologists, Bates Nos. PLTF000338 6 PLTF000342; 14. Medical records and billing from Desert Orthopaedic Center, Bates Nos 8 PLTF000343-PLTF000558; 15. Medical records and billing from Enrico Fazzini, D.O., Bates Nos. PLTF000559. 10 PLTF000571; 16. Medical records and billing from Institute of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bates No: PLTF000572—PLTF000643; 17. Medical records and billing from Innovative Pain Care Center, Bates No: : PLTF000644—PLTF000703; 18. Medical records and billing from Khavkin Clinic, Bates Nos. PLTF000704 PLTFOOO711; 19. Billing from Kinex Medical Company, Bates Nos. PLTF000712; 20. Medical records and billing from Las Vegas Radiology, Bates Nos. PLTF000713. 19 PLTF000719; 20 21. Medical records and billing from The Minimally Invasive Hand Institute, Bates Nos 21 PLTF000720—-PLTF000748; 22 22. Medical records and billing from Louis F. Mortillaro, Ph.D., Bates Nos PLTF000749-PLTF000922; “4 23. Medical records and billing from Pain & Injury Chiropractic Center, Bates Nos 25 PLTF000923-PLTF000943; 26 24. Medical records and billing from Pueblo Medical Imaging, Bates Nos. PLTF000944. 27 PLTF000950; 28 Page 6 of 14

25. Medical records and billing from Sierra Surgical, Bates Nos. PLTF000951. PLTF000952; 3 26. Medical records and billing from SimonMed Imaging, Bates Nos. PLTF000953. 4 PLTF000957; ° 27. Medical records and supplemental billing from Desert Radiology, Bates Nos 6 PLTF000958—PLTF000967; 28. Supplemental medical records from Enrico Fazzini, D.O., Bates Nos. PLTF000968. 8 PLTF000969; 7 29. Medical records from Central Florida Imaging Center, Bates Nos. PLTF000970. 10 PLTF000971; 30. Medical records and billing from Highlands Medical Specialists, Bates No: 12 PLTF000972—PLTF001004; IS 31. Medical records from Orlando Epilepsy Center, Bates Nos. PLTF001005 PLTF001016; 32. Prior medical record from Desert Radiology, Bates No. PLTF001017; 33. Supplemental medical records and billing from Advanced Psychiatric Services Central Florida, Bates Nos. PLTF001018—PLTF001054; 34. Supplemental medical records and billing from Highlands Medical Specialists, Bate 19 Nos. PLTF001055—PLTF001059; 20 35. Medical records and billing from Florida Orthopaedic Institute, Bates No: a1 PLTF001060—-PLTF001119; 22 36. William S. Muir, M.D.’s records review, Bates Nos. PLTF001125—PLTF001154; 37. William S. Muir, M.D.’s rebuttal expert report, Bates Nos. PLTF001312 24 PLTFO001315; 2 38. Brian K. Jones, MSBE, PE, ACTAR, CXLT’s rebuttal expert report, Bates No: 26 PLTF001316—-PLTF001327; a 39. Brian K. Jones’ expert file; 28 Page 7 of 14

40. Trial Testimony of Dr. D. Keith Stolworthy in Tongol v. Jackson, et. al, Case No. A 18-772004-C, Bates Nos. PLTF001328—PLTF001354. ° DEFENDANT: 1. Correspondence between Plaintiff's counsel and USPS, Bates Nos. US000001—US00000¢ ° 2. Plaintiffs SF95 Claim (Bates Nos. US000010—US000587), along with the followin 6 records: a. Traffic Crash Report, Bates Nos. US000016—US000028. 8 b. University Medical Center Records, Bates Nos. US000029 —US000070. c. EMP of Clark Records, Bates Nos. US000071—US000072. 10 d. Desert Radiology Records, Bates Nos. US000073—US000074. e. Care Now Urgent Care Records, Bates Nos. US000075—US000079. 12 f. Innovative Pain Care Center Records, Bates Nos. US000080—US000099. . g. Desert Orthopaedic Center Records, Bates Nos. US000100 —US000312. : h. Pueblo Medical Imaging Records, Bates Nos. US000313-—US0003 16. 2 i. Clinical Neurology Specialists Records, Bates Nos. US000317 —US000357. J. Simon Medical Imaging Records, Bates Nos. US000358—US000369. k. Dr. Mortillaro Records, Bates Nos. US000370-US00485. |. Desert Anesthesiologists Records, Bates Nos. US000486-US000490. 9 m. Khavkin Clinic Records, Bates Nos. US000491—US000499. 20 n. Las Vegas Radiology Records, Bates Nos. US000500—US000505. 21 o. Institute of Orthopedic Surgery Records, Bates Nos. US000506—US0005 □□□ 22 p. Kinex Records, Bates Nos. US000513-—US0005 14. 23 q. ATI Physical Therapy Records, Bates Nos. US000515—US000583. 24 r. Dr. Fazzini Records, Bates Nos. US000584-US000587. 25 3. Printout of Las Vegas Nevada Bicycle Accident Attorney website, Bates Nos. US000588. 26 US000601. 27 4. Accident Investigation Worksheet (PS Form 1700), Bates Nos. US000602 —US000607. 28 Page 8 of 14

5. Accident Report (PS Form 1769), Bates Nos. US000608—US000611. 6. Motor Vehicle Accident Report (Standard Form 91), Bates Nos. US000612—-US000615. 3 7. Written statement from Postal Service employee Kristofer Scharff, Bates No. US000616. 8. Written statement from Postal Service employee Rickey Kendrick, Bates No. US000617. ° 9. Twenty-three (23) photographs, Bates Nos. US000618—US000640. 6 10. Mr. Scharff's Accident History, Bates No. US000641. 11. Mr. Scharff’'s Employee Everything Report, Bates No. US000642. 8 12. Enrico Fazzini, D.O., Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US000643—US000658. 7 13. Las Vegas Radiology, Medical Records, Bates Nos. US000659-US000677. 10 14. Cora Physical Therapy, Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US000678—US000714 15. Pain & Injury Chiropractic Center, Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. □□□□□□□□□ 12 US000764. IS 16. Orlando Epilepsy Center, Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US000765. 14 : US000781. 2 17. Clinical Neurology Services, Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US000782. US00903. 18. ATI Physical Therapy—Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US000904—US001013. 19. Emp of Clark UMC McCourt Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001014 19 US001037. 20 20. Kinex Medical Company, Medical Records, Bates Nos. US001038—-US001048. 71 21. Khavkin Clinic, Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001049-US001059. 22 22. Pueblo Medical Imaging, Radiology Records, Bates Nos. US001060 —US001061. 23 23. Las Vegas Radiology, Radiology Records, Bates Nos. US001062 —US001064. 24 24. Las Vegas Radiology, Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001065—US001066. 25. University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos 26 US001067—US001120. 27 28 Page 9 of 14

26. University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, Radiology Records, Bates No: US001121-US001122. 3 27. Desert Anesthesiology Consultants, Inc., Medical and Billing Records, Bates No: US001123-US001130. ° 28. ATI Physical Therapy, Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001131—US001240. 6 29. The Minimally Invasive Hand Clinic, Medical, Billing and Radiology Records, Bates Nos US001241-US001269. 8 30. Desert Orthopaedic Center, Medical, Billing and Radiology Records, Bates Nos 7 US001270-US001513. 10 31. Institute of Orthopaedic Surgery - Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001514 US001574. 32.Pueblo Medical Imaging—Medical and Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001575—US001575 . 33. Florida Orthopaedic Institute-Medical Records, Bates Nos. US001580 —US001694. 34. Louis F. Mortillaro, Ph.D. and Associates, Medical and Billing records, Bates Nos US001695-US001816. 16 35. Orlando Epilepsy Center - Medical & Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001817-1833. 36. Sierra Surgical—Medical & Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001834 —US001836. 37. Advanced Psychiatric Services Central Florida, LLC, Medical and Billing Records, Bate 19 Nos. US001837—US001886. 20 38. CareNow Urgent Care, Medical & Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001887—US001904. a1 39. Desert Radiology, Medical, Radiology & Billing Records, Medical, Radiology and Billin 22 Records, Bates Nos. US001905—US001919. 23 40. Bank of America, Records Response, Bates No. US001920. 24 41. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Event Photographs, and Audio File, Bate Nos. US001921-US001965 & US001922A. 26 42. Florida Orthopaedic Institute, Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001966 —US001972. 27 43. SimonMed Imaging, Medical & Radiology Records, Bates Nos. US001973—US001975. 28 Page 10 of 14

44. Innovative Pain Care Center, Medical & Billing Records, Bates Nos. US001976—2089. 45. SimonMed Imaging, Medical & Billing Records, Bates Nos. US002090-US002108. 3 46. Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Records, Bates Nos. US002109-US002117. 47. Plaintiff's Answers to Defendant’s First Set of Interrogatories. ° 48. Plaintiff's Responses to Defendant’s Requests for Admissions. 6 49. Plaintiff's Responses to Defendant’s Requests for Production of Documents. 50. Expert and Rebuttal Reports of Dr. David N. Alexander, M.D. 8 51. Expert and Rebuttal Reports of Dr. Mac J. Rosen, M.D. 7 52. Expert and Rebuttal Reports of Dr. Kevin J. Murphy, M.D. 10 53. Expert and Rebuttal Reports of Dr. Keith Stolworthy, Ph.D, P.E. C. ADDITIONAL OBJECTIONS TO EXHIBITS: The parties reserve the right to object to any and all of the opposing party's exhibits, including . but not necessarily limited to, any prior objections to the untimely production of evidence, as well a : the subject matter of their motions in limine. 2 The parties reserve the right to utilize and/or seek to publish and/or admit into evidence al deposition testimony, all affidavits filed or attached to any motion or pleading in this case, and a 17 . responses to discovery from any party in this case for purposes of impeachment. The parties reserve the right to offer into evidence any exhibit timely and properly disclose 19 during discovery for the purposes of impeachment and/or rebuttal. 20 D. ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE: 21 The parties do not intend to present electronic evidence during trial. 22 E. DEPOSITIONS: 23 1. Plaintiff will offer the following depositions: None at this time. 24 2. Defendant will offer the following depositions: None at this time. F. OBJECTIONS TO DEPOSITIONS: 26 1. Defendant objects to plaintiff's depositions as follows: N/A 27 2. Plaintiff objects to defendant’s depositions as follows: N/A 28 Page 11 of 14

1 VII. 2 WITNESSES 3 The following witnesses may be called by the parties at trial: 4 BOTH PARTIES: 5 1. JOEL KANE HOWARD, Plaintiff 6 c/o Paul A. Shpirt, Esq. DIMOPOULOS INJURY LAW 7 6830 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 200 Las Vegas, Nevada 89118 8 (702) 800-6000 9 2. Officer Chad Betts; ID 6542 and/or Sgt. Mike Laythorpe 10 Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department 400 S. Martin L. King Boulevard 11 Las Vegas, Nevada 89106 Phone: (702) 828-3111 12 PLAINTIFF: 13 1. William S. Muir, M.D. 14 Interventional Pain Management & Spine Surgery 653 N. Town Center Drive, Suite 210 15 Las Vegas, Nevada 89144 Phone: (702) 254-3020 16 2. Brian K. Jones, MSBE, PE, ACTAR, CXLT 17 Aperture, LLC 6351 Hinson Street, Suite R 18 Las Vegas, Nevada 89118 (702) 395-6768 19 DEFENDANT: 20 1. Kristofer Scharff, USPS Employee 21 c/o Skyler Pearson Assistant United States Attorney U.S. Attorney’s Office 22 501 Las Vegas Blvd. So., Ste. 1100 Las Vegas, NV 89101 Ph. (702) 388-6336 23 2. Dr. David N. Alexander, M.D. 24 415 15™ Street Santa Monica, CA 90402 25 3. Dr. Marc J. Rosen, M.D. 26 4949 E. Lincoln Dr., Villa #11 Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253 27 4. Dr. Kevin J. Murphy, M.D. 28 7300 SW Childs Rd., Suite B Page 12 of 14

1 Tigard, OR 97224 2 5. Dr. Keith Stolworthy, Ph.D., P.E. P.O. Box 91001 3 Henderson, NV 89009 4 6. Rickey Kendrick, USPS Supervisor c/o Skyler Pearson 5 Assistant United States Attorney U.S. Attorney’s Office 501 Las Vegas Blvd. So., Ste. 1100 Las Vegas, NV 89101 6 Ph. (702) 388-6336 7 7. Aileen Anderson, USPS Supervisor c/o Skyler Pearson 8 Assistant United States Attorney U.S. Attorney’s Office 501 Las Vegas Blvd. So., Ste. 1100 Las Vegas, NV 89101 9 Ph. (702) 388-6336 10 IX. 1] TRIAL DATES 12 The attorneys for the parties have met and jointly offer these three trial dates: 13 1. May 5, 2025.

14 2. May 12, 2025 > 8615 > 3. May 19, 2025 16 It is expressly understood by the undersigned that the court will set the trial of this matter o 17 one of the agreed-upon dates if possible; if not, the trial will be set at the convenience of the court’ NS calendar. 19 X. 20 ESTIMATED TRIAL LENGTH 21 It is estimated that the trial will take a total of 5 days. 22 DIMOPOULOS INJURY LAW UNITED STATES ATTORNEY 23 24 /s/ Paul A. Shpirt, Esq. /s/ Virginia T. Tomova, Esq. 5 Paul A. Shpirt, Esq. Virginia T. Tomova, Esq. Nevada Bar No. 10441 Assistant United States Attorney 26 6671 South Las Vegas Blvd Suite 275 501 Las Vegas Blvd. So., Suite 1100 Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 27 Attorney for Plaintiff Attorneys for Defendant 28 Page 13 of 14

1 XI. 2 This case is set for jury trial on the May 19, 2025 trial stack at 9:00 a.m. 3 Calendar call will be held on May 13, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. All in Courtroom 6C 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. 5 6 ) a 4 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 8 9 DATED: August 23, 2024 10 11 12 13

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