Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02898/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-02898-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 350
Nature of Suit: Motor Vehicle Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1346 Tort Claim

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN HARDINA,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant.

 

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Case No. 12cv2898-JM (DHB)

ORDER GRANTING

DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO

REQUIRE PLAINTIFF TO PAY

EXPENSES FOR LATE

CANCELLED MEDICAL

EXAMINATION

[ECF No. 37]

On January 31, 2014, Defendant filed a Motion to Require Plaintiff to Pay Expenses

for Late Cancelled Medical Examination. (ECF No. 37.) Plaintiff opposes the motion. 

(ECF No. 44.) Upon reviewing the parties’ submissions, the Court finds Defendant’s motion

should be GRANTED. 

I. BACKGROUND

This is a personal injury action that arises out of an automobile accident between

Plaintiff and a driver on official business with the United States Navy. Plaintiff alleges that

he has suffered substantial bodily injuries as a result of the accident. Defendant retained an

expert witness, Dr. James Bried, to examine Plaintiff and prepare an expert report. Plaintiff’s

examination with Dr. Bried was scheduled for January 20, 2014. 

On the morning of the examination, Plaintiff’s counsel had a medical emergency of

her own. As a result, she cancelled Plaintiff’s appointment with Dr. Bried. Plaintiff states

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the examination was cancelled approximately 6 hours prior to the scheduled appointment. 

Thereafter, Defendant requested that Plaintiff pay the $650 cancellation fee charged by Dr.

Bried. Plaintiff refused. Defendant now requests the Court compel Plaintiff to pay the

cancellation fee, as well as award attorneys’ fees and costs for the expense of filing the

instant motion. 

II. DISCUSSION

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(c)(1) provides that “[t]he court, may, for good

cause, issue an order to protect a party or person from . . . undue burden or expense.” Fed.

R. Civ. P. 26(c)(1). In addition, the court may award a party prevailing on a motion under

Rule 26(c)(1) the reasonable expenses of having to make the motion, including attorneys’

fees and costs. Fed. R. Civ. P 26(c)(3); 37(a)(5). However, fees and costs should not be

awarded if the opposing party’s objection was substantially justified, or other circumstances

would make the award of expenses unjust. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a)(5). 

Under the circumstances, the Court understands why Plaintiff’s counsel cancelled the

examination, and finds no bad faith in her decision to do so. Nevertheless, the fact remains

that Dr. Bried charged a cancellation fee that must be paid.1

 The Court notes that it is not out

of the ordinary for a physician to charge a fee for a missed or late cancelled appointment. 

Nor does the amount of Dr. Bried’s fee appear unreasonable. See e.g. Tzetanova v. Wal-Mart

Stores, Inc., 2013 WL 2460416 (D. Nev. June 6, 2013) (requiring Plaintiff to pay a $650 fee

associated with a cancelled independent medical exam). The Court finds that it would be

an undue expense for Defendant to shoulder the cost of the fee when it had no control over

the cancellation. Since it was Plaintiff’s counsel’s medical emergency that necessitated the

cancellation and triggered the fee, the most equitable solution is for Plaintiff to bear the

associated expense. Therefore, although Plaintiff’s counsel had a reasonable excuse for

cancelling the exam, the Court will order Plaintiff to pay the cancellation fee.

Because Plaintiff’s counsel cancelled the examination due to medical necessity, and

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Apparently, Dr. Bried has a one-week cancellation policy. See ECF No. 37-3 at 3.

Further, the cancellation fee must be paid before the examination can be re-scheduled. 

See ECF No. 37-2 at 2. 

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because the Court does not find any bad faith on her part, the Court declines to award

Defendant attorney’s fees and costs associated with bringing the instant motion. 

III. CONCLUSION

Defendant’s Motion to Require Plaintiff to Pay Expenses for Late-Cancelled Medical

Examination is GRANTED. Plaintiff shall pay $650 to Defendant for the cost of the

cancellation fee. No other fees or costs are awarded to Defendant. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 5, 2014

DAVID H. BARTICK

United States Magistrate Judge

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