Opinion ID: 2558725
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Designation of an Expert

Text: [¶ 19] Alden argues that the court abused its discretion in denying her motion to extend the time to designate an expert witness because: (1) Hutz was aware that Alden had hired an appraiser; (2) Alden was hospitalized in various hospitals and rehabilitation centers from November 2009 to March 2010 due to an unexpected serious illness, causing her communication with her attorney to cease during that time and her failure to designate an expert by the January 19, 2010, deadline; (3) Alden moved to extend the time by which to designate an expert shortly after the April 19, 2010, discovery deadline had expired; and (4) Hutz would not have been prejudiced by extending the deadline and the trial would not have been delayed. [¶ 20] We review the trial court's decision whether to grant or deny a motion to enlarge time to designate an expert witness for an abuse of discretion. Dalton v. Quinn, 2010 ME 120, ¶ 6, 8 A.3d 670, 672-73. The trial court's ruling is entitled to considerable deference because of its superior position to evaluate the credibility and good faith of the parties before it. Id. [¶ 21] Because Alden moved to enlarge time to designate an expert witness after the deadline for designating an expert had passed, the court could only grant Alden's request to enlarge time upon Alden's showing that her failure to timely designate an expert was the result of excusable neglect. See id. ¶ 7, 8 A.3d at 673; Johnson v. Carleton, 2001 ME 12, ¶ 7, 765 A.2d 571, 574; M.R. Civ. P. 6(b). Only in rare instances will a refusal to find excusable neglect constitute an abuse of discretion. Lane v. Williams, 521 A.2d 706, 707 (Me.1987) (finding no abuse of discretion when the court denied the party's motion to enlarge time to file a notice of appeal for failure to show excusable neglect where the party's attorney had asked his secretary to file the notice of appeal before leaving for vacation and the secretary failed to do so because her grandmother died). [¶ 22] The court did not abuse its discretion in denying Alden's motion to enlarge time to designate an expert. Alden was required to designate an expert on or before January 19, 2010. Instead of requesting an enlargement of time when it became apparent on or before January 19, 2010, that an enlargement may be needed, she failed to request an enlargement of time until May 3, 2010three and one-half months after the deadline for designating an expert had passed, one to two months after Alden had recuperated and was apparently able to be in contact with her attorney, and two weeks after the April 19, 2010, deadline for completing all discovery. The entry is: Summary judgment vacated. Remanded to the Superior Court for further proceedings. Denial of motion to extend time to designate an expert witness affirmed.