Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00092/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00092-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Personal Injury

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THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Boulevard, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403-3221

CHARLES D. MAY, ESQ.; STATE BAR NO.: 129663

GENE B. SHARAGA, ESQ.; STATE BAR NO.: 131661

DIANA M. RIVERA, ESQ.; STATE BAR NO.: 222025

 THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Blvd,, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403

(818) 205-9955; (818) 205-9944 fax

E-Mail: cmay@tharpe-howell.com

E-Mail: gsharaga@tharpe-howell.com

E-Mail: drivera@tharpe-howell.com

Attorneys for Defendants,

LOWE’S HOME CENTERS, LLC

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA – SACRAMENTO DIVISION

TONIA NELSON, KRISTOPHER 

PALLESEN, BRYAN GARCIA and 

NICKOLAS NELSON,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

LOWE’S HOME CENTERS, INC., and 

DOES 1 through 50, inclusive,

Defendants.

No. 2:15-cv-00092-KJM-KJN (TEMP)

STIPULATION TO TAKING PSYCHIATRIC 

INDEPENDENT MENTAL EXAMINATION 

OF PLAINTIFF TONIA NELSON AND

ORDER

WHEREAS, Plaintiff TONIA NELSON, (“Plaintiff”) has alleged a claim that as a result of 

the subject incident she suffers from: traumatic brain injury, depression, difficulty sleeping, 

anxiety, frustration, confusion, memory loss, and emotional distress, among other things. 

WHEREAS, Defendant LOWE’S HOME CENTERS, LLC (“Defendant”) has the right to 

conduct a psychiatric examination of Plaintiff pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 

35;

WHEREAS, Defendant has retained a licensed psychiatrist, for the purposes of performing 

a psychiatric examination;

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED by and between the parties to the abovecaptioned matter through their respective counsel for record as follows:

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Case 2:15-cv-00092-KJM-DB Document 20 Filed 03/21/16 Page 1 of 4
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THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Boulevard, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403-3221

1. A Psychiatric Independent Mental Examination of Plaintiff TONIA NELSON will 

be conducted pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 35 at a date, time, and location 

mutually convenient for both parties before the expert witness discovery deadline of April 22, 

2016. The examination will be taken by Board certified psychiatrist Ronald C. Albucher, M.D. A 

true and correct copy of Dr. Albucher’s Curriculum Vitae is attached hereto and incorporated 

herein by reference as Exhibit A.

2. At the above-referenced examination, Plaintiff will be asked questions concerning 

relevant background information, medical history including psychological and psychiatric 

treatment history, educational history, and alcohol and drug use history. The examination shall 

include the following areas, which Plaintiff has put at issue in this lawsuit: traumatic brain injury, 

depression, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, frustration, confusion, memory loss, and emotional 

distress, among other things. 

3. The total length of the examination may take up to 3 hours, not including any 

reasonable and appropriate breaks Plaintiff may take as needed. The examination is not to exceed 

3 hours. 

4. The parties stipulate that Plaintiff shall be subjected to only one psychiatric 

examination by Defendant(s) in connection with this action, whether in Federal or State Court, 

regardless of whether Defendant(s) retain any additional experts.

5. Given the nature of the examination, Plaintiff may not have her counsel or 

representative observe the examination or videotape it. 

6. Within thirty (30) days of the examination, Defendant’s counsel will produce Dr. 

Albucher’s report from the examination to Plaintiff’s counsel. 

7. At the time of compliance to Plaintiff’s demand for a copy of Dr. Albucher’s report, 

Plaintiff shall in exchange produce to Defendant’s counsel a copy of any existing report of any 

examination of the same condition by any other physician, psychologist, or licensed health care 

Case 2:15-cv-00092-KJM-DB Document 20 Filed 03/21/16 Page 2 of 4
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THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Boulevard, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403-3221

practitioner. In addition, Plaintiff shall provide any later report of any previous or subsequent 

examination of the same condition, by any physician, psychologist, or licensed health care 

practitioner, as provided by Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 35.

8. This Stipulation will replace Defendant’s Motion to Compel Psychiatric 

Independent Mental Examination and will be filed in place of the Joint Statement Re: Defendant’s

Motion to Compel Psychiatric Independent Mental Examination. 

9. Attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit B is a Proposed 

Order for the completion of the agreed to Psychiatric Independent Mental Examination. 

10. This stipulation may be executed in counterparts. Facsimile or electronic signatures 

shall have the same effect as originals.

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

Dated: March 17, 2016

THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

/s/Diana M. Rivera

By: 

CHARLES D. MAY

GENE B. SHARAGA

DIANA M. RIVERA

Attorneys for Defendants

LOWE’S HOME CENTERS, LLC

Dated: March 17, 2016 

BOSTWICK & PETERSON, LLP 

/s/Blake Bostwick

By: 

ERIK PETERSON

BLAKE BOSTWICK

Attorney for Plaintiffs

TONIA NELSON, KRISTOPHER 

PALLESEN, BRYAN GARCIA and 

NICKOLAS NELSON 

Case 2:15-cv-00092-KJM-DB Document 20 Filed 03/21/16 Page 3 of 4
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THARPE & HOWELL, LLP

15250 Ventura Boulevard, Ninth Floor

Sherman Oaks, California 91403-3221

ORDER

Pursuant to the parties’ stipulation, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. Plaintiff TONIA NELSON will appear for a psychiatric Independent Mental 

Examination with Lowe’s retained psychiatric expert witness Ronald Albucher, M.D. at a date, 

time, and location mutually convenient for both parties before the expert witness discovery

deadline of April 22, 2016;

2. Dr. Albucher will have 30 days from the date of the IME to prepare and serve his IME 

report on Plaintiffs’ counsel per Fed. R. Civ. P. Rule 35; and

3. Defendant’s March 3, 2016 motion to compel (Dkt. No. 16) is hereby withdrawn 

pursuant to the parties’ stipulation and the March 24, 2016 hearing is vacated. 

Dated: March 21, 2016

/nelson0092.stip.ime.ord

Case 2:15-cv-00092-KJM-DB Document 20 Filed 03/21/16 Page 4 of 4