Opinion ID: 6331052
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Deposing Then-Ambassador Nikki Haley

Text: We next consider the Timpsons’ argument that the district court erred in denying their request to depose then-Ambassador Haley. “[F]ederal courts have consistently held that, absent extraordinary circumstances, a government decision-maker will not be compelled to testify about [her] mental processes in reaching a decision, including the manner and extent of [her] study of the record and [her] consultations with subordinates.” Franklin Sav. Ass’n v. Ryan, 922 F.2d 209, 211 (4th Cir. 1991) (internal quotation marks omitted). That practice was especially appropriate here because Haley, in her role as Governor, was “not an official with responsibility for” decisions relating to “service levels of waiver participants,” determinations of services for specific patients, or “provid[ing] funding for [patients] to live outside of a congregate setting.” Kobe v. Haley, 666 F. App’x 281, 299 (4th Cir. 2016) (per curiam). Nor did she “have the authority to change them.” Id. What’s more, the Timpsons presented no theory (viable or otherwise) for proceeding against then-Ambassador Haley in her individual capacity. See J.A. 446 (the Timpsons suggesting they had a right to take then-Ambassador Haley’s deposition “to determine whether she may [have] be[en] liable, in her individual capacity, for any of the claims alleged in the amended complaint”). Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in fashioning a direct, but limited approach to determine whether then-Ambassador Haley’s deposition had any potential to lead to relevant, admissible evidence in this case. The Timpsons failed to seize on this 22 opportunity and squandered their ten interrogatories on matters unrelated to her knowledge of Johnny or decisions involving his care. Nor have they shown on appeal why thenAmbassador Haley’s continued presence here is anything more than an attempt to uncover some unknown claim against her in her individual capacity. At bottom, we perceive no error in the district court’s denial of this request.