Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03136/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-03136-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal - Employment Discrimination

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ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR IME PURSUANT TO FRCP 35 

CASE NO. C 07-03136 JL 1.

COOLEY GODWARD KRONISH LLP 

GREGORY C. TENHOFF (154553) 

LISA BARNETT SWEEN (191155) 

ELIZA HOARD (238276) 

Five Palo Alto Square 

3000 El Camino Real 

Palo Alto, CA 94306-2155 

Telephone: (650) 843-5000 

Facsimile: (650) 849-7400 

Attorneys for Defendants 

VAXGEN, INC. and LISA BROOKS 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION 

ARIA RAZBAN, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

VAXGEN, INC., a Delaware corporation, 

LISA BROOKS, and DOES 1 through 50, 

inclusive, 

Defendants. 

No. C 07-03136 JL 

[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING 

DEFENDANTS VAXGEN AND LISA 

BROOKS’ UNOPPOSED MOTION TO 

COMPEL INDEPENDENT MENTAL 

EXAMINATION OF PLAINTIFF ARIA 

RAZBAN PURSUANT TO FEDERAL RULE 

OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 35 

Complaint Filed: January 19, 2007 

First Am. Complt. Filed: May 16, 2007 

First Am. Complt. Served: June 1, 2007 

Trial Date: Not Yet Set 

 

Having considered the parties’ papers, the Court finds that, pursuant to Rule 35 of the 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, good cause exists to grant defendants VaxGen, Inc. and Lisa 

Brooks’ (collectively, “Defendants”) Unopposed Motion to Compel Independent Mental 

Examination of Plaintiff Aria Razban. Accordingly, the Court hereby grants Defendants’ 

unopposed motion. 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:

1. Aria Razban (“Plaintiff”) submit to, cooperate with, and complete an independent 

mental examination (“IME”) on or before June 13, 2008. This IME shall consist of two parts. 

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ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR IME PURSUANT TO FRCP 35 

CASE NO. C 07-03136 JL 2. 

The first portion of the IME will include a brief interview and thereafter psychological testing 

conducted by Dr. Dale McNiel, a licensed clinical psychologist, which will be a maximum of 

eight (8) hours (exclusive of breaks), to be completed on a day to be mutually agreed upon 

between the parties. Although the ultimate selection of tests used will be based upon 

Dr. McNiel’s professional judgment and experience, such tests may include, but are not limited 

to, short answer “pencil and paper” tests to assess personality factors and patterns as well as 

specific psychological symptoms, cognitive tests to assess thinking and any impairments in 

thought processes, and projective tests to evaluate psychological defenses and other underlying 

psychological factors. 

2. In addition, Plaintiff is ordered to submit to, cooperate with and complete the 

second portion of the IME, which will occur on a separate day to be mutually agreed upon 

between the parties. This second portion of the examination will consist of a formal forensic 

psychiatric interview with Dr. Renee L. Binder, a board-certified psychiatrist, which will be a 

maximum of six (6) hours (exclusive of breaks), and will consist of a mental status examination, 

an assessment of Plaintiff’s current functioning and complaints, and information about Plaintiff’s 

allegations in this lawsuit. Dr. Binder also will be permitted to obtain a complete history of 

Plaintiff through the examination, which will include, but is not limited to, Plaintiff’s recent and 

past personal, family, development, medical, psychiatric, educational, employment, occupational, 

marital, relationship, and legal histories. Dr. Binder also will be permitted to obtain a history of 

Plaintiff’s strengths and vulnerabilities during her life, including information about past stresses 

and how she dealt with them. To determine the extent and causation of Plaintiff’s emotional 

distress related to the events in this lawsuit, Dr. Binder will be permitted to obtain information 

about Plaintiff’s pre-existing conditions and other possible stressors that may have impacted 

Plaintiff during her employment and thereafter. 

3. During each of the examinations of the IME, Plaintiff shall answer all proper 

questions and inquiries submitted to her by the examiner, including occupational history and prior 

injuries and diseases for the purpose of making a proper diagnosis of Plaintiff's condition. 

4. Neither Plaintiff’s counsel nor Defendants’ counsel will be present during the 

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ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ UNOPPOSED MOTION FOR IME PURSUANT TO FRCP 35 

CASE NO. C 07-03136 JL 3. 

examinations. However, both Plaintiff and Defendants will be permitted to audiotape the 

examinations in their entirety. 

5. Should Plaintiff fail to attend a scheduled examination with Dr. Binder and/or 

Dr. McNiel without providing written advance notice of the cancellation to Defendants’ counsel 

within at least five (5) business days of a scheduled examination, Plaintiff shall bear any and all 

cancellation fees charged by the examiners. Moreover, should Plaintiff fail to submit to, 

cooperate with, and complete the two distinct portions of the IME ordered herein, she will be 

barred from introducing evidence at trial pertaining to her claims for mental, emotional, 

psychiatric and/or psychological injury, and any harm relating thereto, and shall be barred from 

seeking damages with respect thereto. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated:_______________ _______________________________ 

 Honorable James Larson 

 United States Chief Magistrate Judge 

1080832/SF 

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