Ziemann v. Burlington County Bridge Commission

155 F.R.D. 497, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8129, 1994 WL 272307
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Jersey
DecidedMay 25, 1994
DocketCiv. A. No. 92-4887 (MLP)
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 155 F.R.D. 497 (Ziemann v. Burlington County Bridge Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Jersey primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ziemann v. Burlington County Bridge Commission, 155 F.R.D. 497, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8129, 1994 WL 272307 (D.N.J. 1994).

Opinion

[499]*499 OPINION

WOLFSON, United States Magistrate Judge.

Presently before the court are the motions by defendants Burlington County Bridge Commission (the “Bridge Commission”), Constance Borman and Vincent A. Conda (1) to compel the psychiatric and psychological evaluations of plaintiff Dale Ziemann pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 35, (2) to compel the release of certain medical and counseling records of plaintiff and (3) for fees and expenses pursuant to FedR.Civ.P. 37. Additionally, plaintiff has filed (1) a motion to compel the production of defendants’ psychiatric report and (2) a cross motion for a protective order pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 26(c). Oral argument was held on these matters on May 16, 1994.

Background

On August 31, 1992, plaintiff, employed by the Bridge Commission as a toll collector, filed a sexual harassment and gender discrimination complaint in the Superior Court of New Jersey. The case was subsequently removed to federal court. In her third amended complaint, Ziemann alleges that defendant Matthew Coccia (now deceased), her immediate supervisor at the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge in Burlington County, New Jersey, continually made offensive remarks and sexual advances toward her from January 1989 through October 1990. Plaintiff contends that she notified Bridge Commission officials, including defendants Borman, Conda and William L. Stemmer, about Coccia’s conduct. Ziemann claims that these officials either ignored her appeals or criticized her for making complaints. Ziemann asserts that her numerous requests for reassignment away from Coccia were repeatedly declined. Plaintiff also claims that the defendants contributed to Coccia’s misconduct by transferring both plaintiff and Coccia to the Burlington-Bristol Bridge in April 1990.

The third amended complaint contains claims under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, N.J.S.A. § 10:5-1, et seq.; 42 U.S.C. § 1983; Title VII of the 1964 CM Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq., and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In addition to declaratory and injunctive relief, Ziemann seeks damages for embarrassment and mental distress and suffering.

On August 20 and 25,1993, Dr. Edward H. Tobe, plaintiffs psychiatric expert, examined Ziemann and rendered a report on the latter date. In a follow-up letter dated October 19, Dr. Tobe posits that plaintiffs depression may be characterized as “60% permanent psychiatric disability,” half of which is attributable to early childhood and marital difficulties from Ziemann’s first marriage and the other half of which is attributable to “the major depressive disorder associated to the workplace.”

On January 14, 1994, defendant served a subpoena upon The Counseling Program in Marlton, New Jersey, requesting the production of records relating to plaintiff. Plaintiff has authorized the release of such records except for a portion of a record dated June 25,1992. On that date, Ziemann commented on certain “advice” from counsel during her session with Dr. Ann E. Steel, her treating physician. Dr. Steel included this advice in her consultation notes. Plaintiffs remark has been redacted pursuant to a claim of attorney-client privilege.

On January 25, Dr. Robert H. Toborow-sky, defendant’s psychiatric expert, examined plaintiff. On February 1, Dr. Steel recommended a medical leave of absence from work for Ziemann, explaining in a letter to the Bridge Commission that her depression had been “exacerbated recently due to increased stress on the job.” Thereafter, on April 21, Dr. Steel advised plaintiffs counsel by letter that Ziemann was “quite upset” at an appointment on December 8, 1993, and was “even more distressed, tearful and anxious” at the next appointment on January 26, 1994, the day after her examination by Dr. Toborowsky. Noting “the increased emotional distress which followed the previous evaluations,” Dr. Steel questioned the appropriateness of additional examination. Steel concluded that “further evaluations may be detrimental to [plaintiffs] mental health and may adversely affect her ability to work.” Plaintiffs counsel has refused to permit any further examination of Ziemann by defense [500]*500experts and, indeed, plaintiff has moved for a protective order to preclude any additional evaluation.

Defense counsel has also conferred with plaintiffs counsel regarding certain counseling in which plaintiff has participated. Zie-mann has declined to release records regarding the sessions of her present husband, Jeff Condinho, with counselor Edward Monte. Plaintiff attended these sessions. Additionally, plaintiff received marriage counseling in Wyoming during her first marriage. Zie-mann states that she does not recall the name of this counselor and that her efforts to locate the counselor have been unsuccessful.

Accordingly, defendants seek to compel the following: (1) a second psychiatric examination by Dr. Toborowsky and a psychological evaluation by Dr. Peter Badgio; (2) the release of plaintiffs unredaeted medical records at The Counseling Program; and (3) the release of records pertaining to the sessions with Edward Monte and the unidentified counselor in Wyoming who counseled plaintiff and her first husband.

Plaintiff opposes the Bridge Commission’s motions and seeks the entry of a protective order with regard to these items. Furthermore, Ziemann moves to compel the production of any report rendered by Dr. Toborow-sky.

Discussion

Prior to considering the specific aspects of the present motions, a brief discussion of the legal standard for protective orders is appropriate. Plaintiff has essentially cross moved for a protective order as to each discovery item that the defense seeks to compel. The court in its discretion can enter a protective order upon a showing of good cause. Fed. R. Civ.P. 26(c); Pansy v. Borough of Stroudsburg, 23 F.3d 772, 785-87 (3rd Cir.1994). The party seeking the protective order bears the burden of persuasion. Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc., 785 F.2d 1108, 1121 (3rd Cir.1986), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 976, 108 S. Ct. 487, 98 L.Ed.2d 485 (1987). In Cipollone, the Third Circuit established that in order to overcome the presumption and satisfy the good cause requirement, the movant must demonstrate a particular need for protection. Id. The court further emphasized that “[b]road allegations of harm, unsubstantiated by specific examples of articulated reasoning, do not satisfy the Rule 26(c) test.” Id.

1. Further Examinations of Plaintiff Under Rule 35

Rule 35 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure states:

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Bluebook (online)
155 F.R.D. 497, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8129, 1994 WL 272307, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ziemann-v-burlington-county-bridge-commission-njd-1994.