Nomina v. Eggeman

90 Ohio Law. Abs. 57
CourtPutnam County Court of Common Pleas
DecidedJuly 1, 1962
DocketNo. 18104
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 90 Ohio Law. Abs. 57 (Nomina v. Eggeman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Putnam County Court of Common Pleas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nomina v. Eggeman, 90 Ohio Law. Abs. 57 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1962).

Opinion

McNeill, J.

Defendant seeks to have a neurological and psychological examination of plaintiff made by doctors practicing at Columbus, Ohio. At first, plaintiff voluntarily agreed, but upon presenting himself, the physician refused to conduct the examination in the presence of plaintiff’s counsel. The request is now made that the court order the same to be made in the absence of plaintiff’s counsel.

The right to order an examination of the plaintiff before a trial is a right exercised by the Court which exists without statutory authority. Hoge v. Soissons, 48 Ohio App., 221; Miami and Montgomery Turnpike Co. v. Bailey, 37 Ohio St., 104; S. S. Kresge Co. v. Trester, 123 Ohio St., 383, in which the Court, in its first syllabus, stated:

“In an action for damages for personal injuries, the trial court has the power to require the plaintiff to submit to a reasonable physical examination, at a proper time and place, by competent physicians or surgeons, in order that the extent and nature of the injuries may be ascertained.”

The choice of doctors in such case has been usually left to the defendant, but the court may regulate the doctor and the terms and conditions of the examination, including the number. Easterday v. Melhuish, 83 Ohio Law Abs., 122; Francisco v. Hoffman, 74 Ohio Law Abs., 412; 60 Ohio Opinions, 371. In unusual circumstances, a second examination may be permitted. Roskovics v. Ashtabula Water Works, 86 Ohio Law Abs., 251; 16 Ohio Opinions (2d), 297; Distler v. Shillito Co., 11 Ohio Opinions, 181; 26 Ohio Law Abs., 307.

The question presented here is whether or not the plaintiff may be compelled to leave the jurisdiction in which he resides, Putnam County, and go to Columbus, Ohio. It is admitted there are no neurosurgeons or psychiatrists in Putnam County. There may be others closer, but this point is not raised by plain[60]*60tiff. In Roskovics v. Ashtabula, supra, it was held under proper circumstances, although not ordered for the reasons of plaintiff’s health, that plaintiff could be forced to leave the jurisdiction to submit to the examination. A contra view was reached in Record v. Elking, 83 Ohio Law Abs., 92.

The information obtained by the doctor making the examination is privileged information for the defense and such record may not be subpoenaed, nor may the doctor who did the examination be forced to give evidence on deposition. In re: Bates, 167 Ohio St., 46; 4 Ohio Opinions (2d), 10; Theetge v. Cincinnati Railway Company, 60 Ohio Opinions, 372.

The Supreme Court recognized the light of defendant to use the results of the examination to prepare a defense. Cases from other jurisdictions, not as liberal as Ohio, limit the purpose to apprise the defendant of the nature of the injuries. 8 Wigmore, McNaughton Ed. Section 2220. Thus, plaintiff may be ordered to go a reasonable distance according to the various circumstances to have an examination where the same cannot be done within the county, or plaintiff, who has chosen the forum, may be ordered to appear for an examination. If this were not so, the defendant would be handicapped in putting on its testimony, having to take the doctor’s deposition and necessarily having to give plaintiff the results. This appears contra to the principles enumerated in In re: Bates, supra.

In addition, defendant would be deprived of any direct testimony. Plaintiff often has out of state doctors, but for purposes of trial, will also have doctors within the county or state who are available for direct testimony.

This does not appear contra to other discovery procedures permitted by statute. Section 2317.07, Revised Code, provides for the cross-examination of a party by deposition. Section 2319.15, 16, 17, Revised Code, provides for notice. A deposition may be taken at any time with only sufficient time to the adverse party to allow him to prepare and to travel to the place named in the notice. These appear to be the only limitations on the taking of a deposition of the adverse party. Of course, a court would prevent undue harrassment, but it would appear that an adverse party’s deposition can be taken either at his residence or at the forum, provided proper notice is given.

[61]*61To rule otherwise would mean that a non-resident of the County, whether within the state or not, who has been properly served with summons, or chose the court as the forum, could resist all preliminary orders, fail to appear at pre-trial, although rules of the court may require their presence, and yet demand an examination or depositions of a party resident of the forum. This certainly would be an unjust advantage.

The Court having acquired jurisdiction of the parties has inherent power to make reasonable orders in the furtherance of justice. This is only in line with other statutory powers or inherent powers. The Court can dismiss a case for failure of plaintiff to appear at trial or for disobedience of a lawful order. Section 2323.05, Revised Code. All parties must take notice of all court orders and all procedures of the trial. The fact that one may be a non-resident does not require special notices by the Court. The party must keep himself advised. Brickman v. Shale, 11 OCC NS, 41, 30 OCC., 372, affd 82 Ohio St., 425; Pike v. Bradford, Dayton, 295; Hahn v. McBride, 88 Ohio St., 511; Burrell v. Anchor F. Ins. Co., 3 ONP NS, 321, 15 ODNP, 303, circuit court affd. 74 Ohio St., 465; Southwood v. Jamison, 66 Ohio St., 290. If the defendant were the one to refuse, undoubtedly the Court has the power to either bar or presume the testimony as is provided by statute for documents. Section 2317.33, Revised Code.

Thus, it would appear that a party, distinguished from a witness, may be forced in a proper case, Steele v. True Temper Corp., 86 Ohio Law Abs., 276, 16 Ohio Opinions (2d), 196, to come into the county of the forum, both for deposition and for examination, and if competent examination cannot be secured in the forum, he may be required to leave to the nearest suitable place. The party so requesting will have to pay the travel expenses of the party to travel to the place of examination.

Is plaintiff’s attorney entitled to be present? Originally an examination of the plaintiff could not be secured. In earlier days, plaintiff was incompetent to testify. With the removal of this bar, it only followed that the courts ordered examinations. This scope has now been enlarged to have plaintiff submit to x-rays, in certain cases by statute, blood tests, and most other examinations, the limitation being that it will not [62]*62be dangerous or harmful or unnecessarily painful to the plaintiff. Steele v. True Temper, supra; Distler v. Shilliton, supra; 135 A. L. R., 883.

Under Federal Eules, this is carried even further than it has been in the Ohio Courts. Klein v. Yellow Cab, 60 Ohio Opinions, 369, 74 Ohio Law Abs., 337. In Kelley v. Smith, 70 Ohio Law Abs., 202, the Court ordered a similar examination made out of the presence of plaintiff’s attorney. No cases were cited and it was made because the doctor stated the examination could be effective only on that basis.

However, consideration must be given to what questions must plaintiff answer.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
90 Ohio Law. Abs. 57, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nomina-v-eggeman-ohctcomplputnam-1962.