Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_02-cv-00245/USCOURTS-almd-2_02-cv-00245-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Product Liability

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1

 To the extent that defendant’s first motion sought the production of executed

authorizations for the release of medical records, the motion is DENIED as moot. Plaintiff has now

provided executed medical authorizations.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

NORTHERN DIVISION

NANNIE MAE HICKS, )

as personal representative )

of the estate of )

HOVIE EARL HICKS, deceased, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:02cv245-A

) WO

R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO )

COMPANY, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

ORDER ON MOTIONS

This case is before the court on defendant R.J. Reynolds’ motion to compel responses

to discovery (Doc. # 48); defendant’s response to plaintiff’s notice of compliance (Doc. #

54), which the court construed as a motion to compel; and plaintiff’s motion for protective

order (Doc. #60). Upon consideration of the motions, and for good cause, it is 

ORDERED that defendant’s motions to compel be and hereby are GRANTED.

Plaintiff’s late response has waived any potential objections to defendant’s interrogatories.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(b)(4).1

 Further, the court finds plaintiff’s motion for protective order,

which was filed long after discovery was due in this case, to be without merit, and it declines

to enter a broad protective order prior to depositions without specific instances of improper

Case 2:02-cv-00245-WHA-SRW Document 66 Filed 06/08/05 Page 1 of 2
questioning. Accordingly, plaintiff’s motion for protective order is DENIED. Plaintiff is

DIRECTED to provide full and complete responses to defendant’s interrogatories and

requests for production on or before June 17, 2005. If any further disputes arise concerning

these responses, counsel are DIRECTED to confer in person, not by letter, prior to filing

additional motions.

DONE, this 8th day of June, 2005.

/s/ Susan Russ Walker 

SUSAN RUSS WALKER

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:02-cv-00245-WHA-SRW Document 66 Filed 06/08/05 Page 2 of 2