Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01527/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01527-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1446 Petition for Removal- Personal Injury

---

MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

STIPULATION REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’ PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS & (PROPOSED) ORDER 

1:06-CV-1527 SMS 

Daniel P. Lyons, # 95334 

Carol O'Neil, # 71282 

McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, 

Wayte & Carruth LLP 

P.O. Box 28912 

5 River Park Place East 

Fresno, CA 93720-1501 

Telephone: (559) 433-1300 

Facsimile: (559) 433-2300 

Attorneys for Defendant 

WALBRO ENGINE MANAGEMENT, LLC 

(SPACE BELOW FOR FILING STAMP ONLY) 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

ALICE HOLMES AND VERNON 

HOLMES, 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

HOME DEPOT USA, INC.; MTD 

PRODUCTS, INC.; BRIGGS & 

STRATTON CORPORATION; WALBRO 

CORPORATION; AND DOES 1 to 50, 

Inclusive, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 1:06-cv-01527-SMS 

STIPULATION CONCERNING 

PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OF 

PLAINTIFFS VERNON HOLMES AND 

ALICE HOLMES AND 

ORDER 

[Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 35] 

This Stipulation concerning physical examinations of Plaintiffs ALICE HOLMES AND 

VERNON HOLMES is entered into by and between Plaintiffs ALICE HOLMES AND VERNON 

HOLMES and Defendants HOME DEPOT USA, INC.; MTD CONSUMER GROUP, INC.; 

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION; and WALBRO ENGINE MANAGEMENT LLC 

(hereinafter collectively referred to as “the Parties”), and is made in reference to the following 

facts: 

A. The Parties have agreed that Plaintiffs ALICE HOLMES AND VERNON 

HOLMES will undergo physical examinations pursuant to Federal Rule 35 because their physical 

conditions, specifically the nature and extent of their injuries, if any, sustained in an August 7, 

2005 grass fire at their Coulterville, California acreage are in controversy in this case. Also in 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-01527-SMS Document 63 Filed 01/16/08 Page 1 of 7
MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

2 

STIPULATION REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’ PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS & (PROPOSED) ORDER 

1:06-CV-1527 SMS 

controversy is Plaintiffs ALICE HOLMES’ AND VERNON HOLMES’ respective needs, if any, 

for future medical care and treatment for the injuries they allegedly sustained in the August 7, 

2005 grass fire. 

B. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 35, this Court may order a party to submit 

to a physical examination when a party’s mental or physical condition is in controversy in the 

case. Plaintiffs ALICE HOLMES AND VERNON HOLMES are parties in this case. The 

physical conditions of Plaintiffs ALICE HOLMES AND VERNON HOLMES are in controversy 

in this case. 

C. As to Plaintiff ALICE HOLMES, the parties have agreed that Plaintiff will present 

to licensed California physician, Tina L. Palmieri, M.D., who is board certified in Burns and 

Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery and is the Director of the Burn Unit, 

Department of Surgery, of the University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and 

the Director of the Burn Unit, Department of Surgery, of the Shriners Hospitals for Children 

Northern California in Sacramento California, for a physical examination to be performed by Dr. 

Palmieri. 

(1) Plaintiff’s physical examination by Dr. Palmieri is scheduled to occur on 

February 12, 2008 at 4 p.m. at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, Cypress 

Clinic, 2221 Stockton Blvd., Suite E in Sacramento, CA 95817. 

(2) Plaintiff will not submit to any diagnostic test or procedure that is painful, 

protracted, or intrusive, whether or not said testing is deemed relevant. Plaintiff will not provide 

the examiner with personal information other than her full name, date of birth, social security 

number and California driver's license number, if requested to do so. Plaintiff may not be 

compelled to create any items of potential documentary evidence and will not fill out or complete 

any charges, new patient records, forms or histories. Plaintiff will not discuss nor answer any 

questions as to how the fire that underlies this case occurred. Plaintiff will answer questions 

concerning the nature and extent of her injuries sustained in the fire and the nature and extent of 

her present complaints. Defense counsel will instruct Dr. Palmieri to make only such inquiries of 

Plaintiff as are medically necessary for Dr. Palmieri to form her medical conclusions and 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-01527-SMS Document 63 Filed 01/16/08 Page 2 of 7
MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

3 

STIPULATION REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’ PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS & (PROPOSED) ORDER 

1:06-CV-1527 SMS 

opinions. 

(3) Plaintiffs’ counsel may record or may designate a representative to record 

the entire audio content of the physical examination. Plaintiffs’ counsel shall inform defense 

counsel of the full names of any persons who will be present with Plaintiff at her examination so 

that Dr. Palmieri and her staff may be informed in writing of their names and will authorize these 

persons to be present for the examination in accordance with Dr. Palmieri's practice of preserving 

the medical privacy rights of patients. 

(4) The physical examination of Plaintiff will be completed within two hours. 

The examination will only be rescheduled or continued if an unavoidable medical emergency 

occurs in which Dr. Palmieri’s medical expertise is required on an emergent basis. Defense 

counsel will immediately provide Plaintiffs’ counsel with a full explanation of any emergent 

medical event should it occur and should it result in the need for Dr. Palmieri to reschedule 

Plaintiff’s examination or leave Plaintiff’s examination prematurely. 

(5) Dr. Palmieri’s fees for performing this examination will be shared in by all 

Defendants in this case. Defendants will provide Plaintiffs’ counsel with a copy of Dr. Palmieri’s 

written report concerning her findings and her opinions formed in the course of performing her 

physical examination of Plaintiff and through her review of Plaintiff’s medical records. The 

report will set forth the history and examinations and any findings, diagnoses and prognoses made 

by Dr. Palmieri. Every effort will be made to provide Dr. Palmieri’s report to Plaintiffs’ counsel 

within 30 days of the date of the Plaintiff’s physical examination. 

(6) Defendants will reimburse Plaintiff’s adult son, Marc Holmes, for his 

mileage in transporting his mother to and from her physical examination at the 2008 IRS business 

mileage reimbursement rate of $0.50.5 cents per mile. Defendants will also reimburse Marc 

Holmes for reasonable meal expenses, evidenced by a receipt for the same, incurred by Plaintiff 

and Marc Holmes in round-trip travel from Plaintiff’s place of residence in Fresno County to the 

Cypress Clinic in Sacramento, CA 95817 for the purpose of the physical examination of Plaintiff 

by Dr. Palmieri. 

D. As to Plaintiff VERNON HOLMES, the parties have agreed that Plaintiff will 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-01527-SMS Document 63 Filed 01/16/08 Page 3 of 7
MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

4 

STIPULATION REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’ PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS & (PROPOSED) ORDER 

1:06-CV-1527 SMS 

present to licensed California physician, Joseph T. Capell, M.D., who is board certified in 

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation by the American Board of Physical Medicine and 

Rehabilitation and who is in private practice in physical medicine and rehabilitation, for a 

physical examination to be performed by Dr. Capell. 

(1) Plaintiff’s physical examination by Dr. Capell is scheduled for January 23, 

2008 at 10 a.m. at Dr. Capell’s office, located at 5550 N Palm Avenue, #101, in Fresno, CA 

93704. 

(2) Plaintiff will not submit to any diagnostic test or procedure that is painful, 

protracted, or intrusive, whether or not said testing is deemed relevant. Plaintiff will not provide 

the examiner with personal information other than his full name, date of birth, social security 

number and California driver's license number, if requested to do so. Plaintiff may not be 

compelled to create any items of potential documentary evidence and will not fill out or complete 

any charges, new patient records, forms or histories. Plaintiff will not discuss nor answer any 

questions as to how the fire that underlies this case occurred. Plaintiff will answer questions 

concerning the nature and extent of his injuries sustained in the fire and the nature and extent of 

his present complaints. Defense counsel will instruct Dr. Capell to make only such inquiries of 

Plaintiff as are medically necessary for Dr. Capell to form his medical conclusions and opinions. 

(3) Plaintiffs’ counsel may record or may designate a representative to record 

the entire audio content of the examination. Plaintiffs’ counsel shall inform defense counsel of 

the full names of any persons who will be present with Plaintiff at his examination so that Dr. 

Capell and his staff may be informed in writing of their names and will authorize these persons to 

be present for the examination in accordance with Dr. Capell’s practice of preserving the medical 

privacy rights of patients. 

(4) The physical examination of Plaintiff will be completed within two hours. 

The examination will only be rescheduled or continued if an unavoidable medical emergency 

occurs in which Dr. Capell’s medical expertise is required on an emergent basis. Defense counsel 

will immediately provide Plaintiffs’ counsel with a full explanation of any emergent medical 

event should it occur and should it result in the need for Dr. Capell to reschedule Plaintiff’s 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-01527-SMS Document 63 Filed 01/16/08 Page 4 of 7
MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

5 

STIPULATION REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’ PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS & (PROPOSED) ORDER 

1:06-CV-1527 SMS 

examination or leave Plaintiff’s examination prematurely. 

(5) Dr. Capell’s fees for performing this examination will be shared in by all 

Defendants in this case. Defendants will provide Plaintiffs’ counsel with a copy of Dr. Capell’s 

written report concerning his findings and his opinions formed in the course of performing his 

physical examination of Plaintiff and through his review of Plaintiff’s medical records. The 

report will set forth the history and examinations and any findings, diagnoses and prognoses made 

by Dr. Capell. Every effort will be made to provide Dr. Capell’s report to Plaintiffs’ counsel 

within 30 days of the date of the physical examination. 

ACCORDINGLY, the Parties hereto, by and through their respective attorneys of record, 

STIPULATE AND AGREE to the following order: 

1. That Plaintiff ALICE HOLMES present to licensed California physician, 

Tina L. Palmieri, M.D., Director of the Burn Unit, Department of Surgery, of the University of 

California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, for a physical examination to be performed by 

Dr. Palmieri on February 12, 2008 at 4 p.m. at the University of California, Davis Medical 

Center, Cypress Clinic, 2221 Stockton Blvd., Suite E in Sacramento, CA 95817. That all parties 

and their respective counsel comply with the above terms and conditions under which Plaintiff’s 

physical examination is to take place. 

2. That Plaintiff VERNON HOLMES present to licensed California 

physician, Joseph T. Capell, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, for a 

physical examination to be performed by Dr. Capell on January 23, 2008 at 10 a.m. at Dr. 

Capell’s office, located at 5550 N Palm Avenue, #101, in Fresno, CA 93704. That all parties and 

their respective counsel comply with the above terms and conditions under which Plaintiff’s 

physical examination is to take place. 

The parties, by one of the undersigned counsel for each party, agree that this 

STIPULATION CONCERNING THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OF PLAINTIFFS 

ALICE HOLMES AND VERNON HOLMES AND (PROPOSED) ORDER may be signed 

by counsel pursuant to Local Court Rule 7-131(e), and that all counsel listed below have 

authorized the submission of this STIPULATION AND (PROPOSED) ORDER to this Court. 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-01527-SMS Document 63 Filed 01/16/08 Page 5 of 7
MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

6 

STIPULATION REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’ PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS & (PROPOSED) ORDER 

1:06-CV-1527 SMS 

IT IS SO STIPULATED: 

Dated: January 14, 2008 McCORMICK, BARSTOW, SHEPPARD, 

WAYTE & CARRUTH LLP 

By: /s/ Daniel P. Lyons 

Daniel P. Lyons 

Attorneys for Defendant 

WALBRO ENGINE MANAGEMENT 

LLC (erroneously sued herein as Walbro 

Corporation) 

Dated: January 14, 2008 OREN & PABOOJIAN 

By: /s/ Warren Paboojian (as authorized on 

January 10, 2008) 

Warren R. Paboojian 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

ALICE HOLMES and VERNON 

HOLMES 

Dated: January 14, 2008 PORTER, SCOTT, WEIBERG & 

DELEHANT 

By: /s/ Anthony S. Warburg (as authorized on 

January 9, 2008) 

Anthony S. Warburg 

Attorneys for Defendants 

HOME DEPOT and MTD PRODUCTS, 

INC. 

Dated: January 14 , 2008 DRYDEN, MARGOLES, SCHIMANECK & 

WERTZ 

By: /s/ Lawrence A. Margoles (as authorized 

on January 14, 2008) 

Lawrence A. Margoles 

Attorneys for Defendants 

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-01527-SMS Document 63 Filed 01/16/08 Page 6 of 7
MCCORMICK, BARSTOW, 

SHEPPARD, WAYTE & 

CARRUTH LLP 

5 RIVER PARK PLACE EAST

FRESNO, CA 93720-1501 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 

7 

STIPULATION REGARDING PLAINTIFFS’ PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS & (PROPOSED) ORDER 

1:06-CV-1527 SMS 

ORDER

GOOD CAUSE HAVING BEEN SHOWN AND THE PARTIES HAVING 

STIPULATED TO THE SAME, the Court finds that the above-stated STIPULATION 

CONCERNING THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS OF PLAINTIFFS ALICE HOLMES 

AND VERNON HOLMES is sanctioned by the Court, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 35 and shall be and now is the Order of the Court. All Parties in this action shall abide 

by the terms of this STIPULATED ORDER CONCERNING THE PHYSICAL 

EXAMINATIONS OF PLAINTIFFS ALICE HOLMES AND VERNON HOLMES. 

IT IS SO ORDERED 

Dated: 1/16/2008 

 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

 U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com

Case 1:06-cv-01527-SMS Document 63 Filed 01/16/08 Page 7 of 7