Opinion ID: 1959174
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Discovery Requests to Third Parties

Text: In addition to the subpoenas and deposition discovery to obtain medical information relating to Sarah Head, Seaman also served a notice of intent to issue a subpoena for the production of records on Dr. Sanfelippo, one of M.O. Cleveland's treating physicians. In response to this, the Clevelands filed a motion to quash the subpoena on April 27, 2000. They argued that the subpoena constituted harassment and that it sought irrelevant and immaterial information. Seaman responded on May 2, 2000, by pointing out that the complaint filed by the Clevelands and Head was replete with personal-injury claims and that Seaman was entitled to obtain the Clevelands' and Head's medical records unless the personal-injury claims were stricken from the case. Seaman agreed to maintain confidentiality relating to the records. No hearing or ruling on the plaintiffs' motion and Seaman's response occurred in the year 2000, but, at a hearing held on March 19, 2001, the trial court indicated that, if the plaintiffs did not strike their claims for personal injury, he would dismiss them. Accordingly, as part of the order dated May 9, 2001, the trial court ordered the Clevelands either to strike the claims for personal injury or the court would dismiss them. The personal-injury claims were dismissed with prejudice by the trial court in its order signed May 24, 2001. Seaman also served a notice to take the deposition of Jeff DeGraffenried, a witness identified by M.O. Cleveland as having taken photographs and samples on the property owned by the Clevelands and Head. Seaman's counsel served Mr. DeGraffenried with a subpoena requiring his attendance. When Mr. DeGraffenried did not appear for his deposition as subpoenaed, he advised Seaman's counsel that the Clevelands' counsel had advised him that the deposition had been canceled and that he need not appear. The deposition had been scheduled by Seaman's counsel and Mr. DeGraffenried had been subpoenaed by Seaman's counsel; the deposition had not been canceled. The information surrounding this unilateral cancellation of the deposition of a properly subpoenaed witness, Jeff DeGraffenried, by the Clevelands' counsel was part of the supplement to the third Rule 37 motion to dismiss. The Clevelands filed nothing in response to Seaman's supplement. The court conducted a hearing on Seaman's third Rule 37 motion to dismiss on April 10, 2000. Among other things, the trial court indicated that it would enter an order sanctioning the Clevelands and Head, and requested an affidavit from Seaman's counsel. Although Seaman's counsel submitted the affidavit and a proposed order and the Clevelands filed nothing in response or opposition, the trial court issued no order during the year 2000. As part of its order signed over a year later, on May 9, 2001, the trial court ordered that the deposition of Jeff DeGraffenried be taken within 30 days. However, Seaman moved to rescind or abate this portion of the order pending resolution of this petition for the writ of mandamus.