Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01617/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01617-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000 Job Discrimination (Sex)

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WO 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

Stephanie Spain, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

Sundt Construction, Inc., an Arizona 

corporation, 

Defendant. 

No. CV 11-01617-PHX-JAT

ORDER 

 Pending before the Court is Defendant’s Motion to Compel Mental Independent 

Medical Examination of Plaintiff (Doc. 44). Plaintiff has not filed a response to the 

Motion. The Court now rules on the Motion. 

 Defendant moves, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 35(a), for the Court 

to compel an independent mental medical examination of Plaintiff. Defendant argues 

that there is good cause to conduct an independent mental medical examination of 

Plaintiff because (1) she has put her mental condition in controversy by alleging that 

Defendant caused her to suffer “extreme mental and emotional” injuries and by alleging 

the her current damages are the result of mental injuries caused by Defendant; (2) 

Plaintiff’s medical records reveal that she has been treated for mental conditions since 

she was four years old; and (3) Plaintiff has forgotten several of the mental health 

specialists that have treated her over the years making it difficult, if not impossible, for 

Defendant to obtain the full details of any pre-existing mental injuries Plaintiff may have 

had prior to the alleged harassment in this case. Defendant has proposed that a boardCase 2:11-cv-01617-JAT Document 60 Filed 11/21/12 Page 1 of 3
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certified psychiatrist conduct the examination and has attached the doctor’s Curriculum 

Vitae to the Motion to Compel. Plaintiff has not responded to the Motion to Compel. 

 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 35(a) provides, 

a) Order for an Examination. 

(1) In General. The court where the action is pending may 

order a party whose mental or physical condition--including 

blood group--is in controversy to submit to a physical or 

mental examination by a suitably licensed or certified 

examiner. The court has the same authority to order a party to 

produce for examination a person who is in its custody or 

under its legal control. 

(2) Motion and Notice; Contents of the Order. The order: 

(A) may be made only on motion for good cause and on 

notice to all parties and the person to be examined; and 

(B) must specify the time, place, manner, conditions, and 

scope of the examination, as well as the person or persons 

who will perform it. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 35(a)(1)-(2). 

 “A plaintiff in a negligence action who asserts mental or physical injury, . . .places 

that mental or physical injury clearly in controversy and provides the defendant with 

good cause for an examination to determine the existence and extent of such asserted 

injury.” Schlagenhauf v. Holder, 379 U.S. 104, 119 (1964) (internal citations omitted). 

Defendant has shown that Plaintiff has placed the cause of any mental injury she may 

have in controversy. Plaintiff has failed to rebut or otherwise oppose this assertion.1

 

Accordingly, Defendant has shown good cause for an independent mental medical 

examination of Plaintiff. 

 Based on the foregoing, 

IT IS ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion to Compel Mental Independent 

Medical Examination of Plaintiff (Doc. 44) is granted as follows: 

IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff shall appear for an independent medical mental 

 

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 Plaintiff is warned that failure to respond to motions may be deemed consent to 

the granting of such motions pursuant to LRCiv 7.2(i). 

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examination on December 18, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. at Steven Pitt & Associates, 15849 North 

71st Street, Suite 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85254-2179. The examination shall be video and 

audio-recorded. No third parties will be permitted to sit in during the examination. 

Following an interview with the doctor, Plaintiff shall take a pencil and paper 

psychological test. 

 Dated this 21st day of November, 2012. 

 

Case 2:11-cv-01617-JAT Document 60 Filed 11/21/12 Page 3 of 3