Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_03-cv-01344/USCOURTS-azd-2_03-cv-01344-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Shannon Michael Clark, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Value Options, Inc.; Karen Marshall;

Thomas Crumbley, 

Defendants. 

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No. CV 03-1344-PHX-EHC (MS)

ORDER

Pending before the Court are three matters that should be resolved before

addressing the pending Motions for Summary Judgment : (1) a Rep ort and

Recommendation [dkt. 255] regarding Plaintiff's Motion to Strike Affidavit of Robert

Walters, Ph.D. [dkt . 219], Motion for Entry of Default [dkt. 221], and Motion for Leave to

Late File Newly Discovered Evidence [dkt. 222], (2) Plaint iff's Objection [dkt. 169] to

Magistrate Judge Sitver's Order of October 27, 2005 [dkt. 157], and (3) Defendant

ValueOptions' Motion to Strike Second Affidavit of Michael Robinson, LCSW [dkt. 208].

These matters are fully briefed.

1. Report and Recommendation

On April 7, 2006, Magistrate Judge Mort on Sitver issued a Report and

Recommendation [dkt. 225] regarding Plaintiff's Motion t o St rike Affidavit of Robert

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1

 In his Reply [dkt. 227], Plaintiff argues t hat the Affidavit should be stricken

because Dr. Walters was not disclosed in Defendant ValueOptions' initial disclosures. The

Court will not address an argument first raised in a Reply. See Armentero v. INS, 412 F.3d

1088, 1095 (9th Cir. 2005) ("Failure to raise an argument in an opening brief constitutes

waiver.").

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Walters, Ph.D. [dkt . 219], Motion for Entry of Default [dkt. 221], and Motion for Leave to

Late File Newly Discovered Evidence [dkt. 222]. Plaintiff filed an Objection. [Dkt. 230].

A. Motion to Strike

Plaint iff filed a Motion to Strike the Affidavit of Dr. Walters on the ground that it is

untimely discovery material and contains improper expert opinion.1 Magistrate Judge Sitver

recommended denying the Motion to Strike and Plaintiff objected. After reviewing the

Motion to Strike and related briefing de novo, the Court will deny the Motion to Strike. The

Affidavit was not untimely disclosed; it was filed on October 13, 2004 [dkt. 58, ex. 1] and

the discovery deadline was October 19, 2004 [dkts. 37, p. 2; 175, p. 3 fn. 1]. The Affidavit

offers Dr. Walters' opinion that Defendant ValueOp t ions appropriately determined Plaintiff

was not eligible for Seriously Mental Ill services. Because Dr. Walters is a licensed

psychologist familiar with the procedures for determining eligibility, his op inion is relevant.

B. Motion for Entry of Default

Plaintiff moved for entry of default as to Defendant Karen Marshall. [Dkt. 221]. On

Ap ril 24, 2006, the Court noted that Defendant Marshall had not been served and ordered

service packets be sent to Plaint iff t o serve Defendant Marshall. [Dkt. 229]. In these

circumstances, entry of default would be improper. 

C. Motion for Leave to Late File

Magistrate Judge Sitver recommended denying Plaintiff's Mot ion for Leave to Late

File Newly Discovered Evidence. Plaintiff has been allowed to supplement his Response

to Defendant ValueOptions' Second Motion for Summary Judgment three times. [See dkts.

167, 172 & 200]. The Court denied Defendant ValueOptions' First Motion for Summary

Judgment to provide Plaintiff an opportunity to present evidence supporting his claims.

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[Dkt. 121]. Allowing Plaint iff another opportunity to supplement his Response, would

further delay resolution of the Motion for Summary Judgment, which was filed on

September 2, 2005.

2. Plaintiff's Objection

Plaintiff filed an Objection [dkt. 169] to Magistrate Judge Sitver's Order denying

Plaintiff's Motion to Reopen Discovery and Motion to Appoint Counsel. The Motion to

Reopen Discovery was properly denied given the opportunities, discussed above, Plaintiff

has had for discovery . Plaintiff does not point to any specific reason why Magistrate

Judge Sitver erred in deny ing Plaintiff's Motion to Appoint Counsel instead arguing "this

entire case, its filings and all of the complications" demonstrate that Plaintiff is entitled to

counsel.

3. Defendant ValueOptions' Motion to Strike

Defendant ValueOptions filed a M otion to Strike Second Affidavit of Michael

Robinson, LCSW on the ground that Robinson's expert opinion does not comply wit h Fed.

R. Evid. 702. [Dkt. 208]. Robinson testified that he has "conducted several hundred Adult

Intake Assessment[s] as an Evaluator for ValueOptions, Inc. and for various community

based mental health agencies." [Dkt. 197]. Based on his experience, he offers the opinion

that Defendant ValueOptions failed to properly consider Plaintiff's medical records and

should have deemed him eligible for their services. Given his experience, Robinson's

opinions conform to Rule 702's requirements for expert opinion. 

Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation [dkt. 225] is ADOPTED as

stated in this Order.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion to Strike Affidavit of Robert

Walters, Ph.D. [dkt. 219] is DENIED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's Motion for Entry of Default [dkt. 221] is

DENIED.

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's Mot ion for Leave to Late File Newly

Discovered Evidence [dkt. 222] is DENIED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff's Objection [dkt. 169] is DENIED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant ValueOp t ions' Motion to Strike Second

Affidavit of Michael Robinson, LCSW [dkt. 208] is DENIED.

DATED this 9th day of May, 2006.

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