Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-01060/USCOURTS-azd-2_08-cv-01060-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Citizenship

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Dennis Kravetz, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, et

al, 

Defendants. 

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No. CV-08-1060-PHX-FJM

ORDER

The court has before it non-party Kahn’s “Motion to Quash and Motion for Protective

Order” (doc. 24), “Plaintiff’s Response to Motion to Quash Subpoena and Plaintiff’s Motion

to Compel” (doc. 28 and 29), “Leo Kahn, M.D.’s Reply in Support of Motion to Quash

Subpoena and Response to Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel” (doc. 35), and “Plaintiff’s Reply

to Motion to Compel” (doc. 36).

Kahn was hired by defendants to perform an independent medical evaluation of

plaintiff. Defendants relied upon that evaluation in resolving plaintiff’s claim for disability

benefits. Plaintiff now wishes to show that Kahn has no real medical practice and the bulk

of his business is as an expert for insurance companies. While defendants have not taken a

position, Kahn resists plaintiff’s effort to acquire information to support its theory. Kahn

objects to producing communications with the defendants, guidelines or instructions from

the defendants, reports of other IMEs he participated in 2006, 2007 and 2008, and Form

Case 2:08-cv-01060-FJM Document 41 Filed 01/12/09 Page 1 of 3
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1099s reflecting work as an independent medical examiner for the tax years 2006, 2007 and

2008. Kahn claims that the matters sought are irrelevant, burdensome, in violation of

privacy and HIPAA, and overly broad.

We reject the claim that the information sought is irrelevant. It seems plainly

calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence on plaintiff’s theory of bias.

Kahn’s burden argument can be resolved by allowing plaintiff’s counsel to inspect and

copy these documents or by requiring plaintiff to pay to Kahn the costs of producing and

copying them.

The privacy and HIPAA objection can be dealt with by having plaintiff’s counsel

review the documents, copy only those that are desired, and protect them from disclosure

under Rule 26(c)(1)(G), Fed. R. Civ. P.

Kahn’s claim that he does not have his Form 1099s for the tax years 2006, 2007 and

2008, borders on the incredible. These are years fully subject to IRS audit. Again, any

privacy issues can be resolved through protective order.

Because defendants hired Kahn, Kahn may have a contractual remedy against the

defendants with respect to the costs of production. In addition, Kahn has admitted that

“[f]rom 2006 to present, Dr. Kahn estimates that he has done an average of four to five IMEs

per week at approximately $1000.00 each. A rough estimate puts Dr. Kahn’s income for

IMEs at $208,000.00 to $260,000.00 a year.” Kahn’s Reply and Response at 5-6 (doc. 35).

He has thus voluntarily thrust himself into the mix of resolving insurance claims and thus,

in contrast to physicians who limit their practice to patient care, can reasonably be expected

to anticipate involvement in litigation of this sort.

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED DENYING Kahn’s “Motion to Quash Subpoena and

Motion for Protective Order” (doc. 24) and GRANTING “Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel”

(docs. 28 and 29)

The parties, and non-party Kahn, are encouraged to cooperate in finding practical

solutions to their concerns. They are also reminded of the two page limit on discovery

motions under this court’s order of September 12, 2008, at 3 ¶ 9 (doc. 17).

Case 2:08-cv-01060-FJM Document 41 Filed 01/12/09 Page 2 of 3
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DATED this 9th day of January, 2009.

Case 2:08-cv-01060-FJM Document 41 Filed 01/12/09 Page 3 of 3