Opinion ID: 1865898
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Second Physical Exam.

Text: Defendants argue that it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to deny their motion to compel Stormo to submit to a medical examination by a physician whose testimony would then be used by [defendants] at trial. The trial court denied defendants' motion because Stormo had already been examined by a physician on their behalf, and good cause was not established for a second examination. However, they contend that because the examination was conducted in February, 1988, five months before this action was commenced, and because Stormo later had Dr. Johnson testify on her behalf, they are entitled to another medical examination pursuant to SDCL 15-6-35(a). [2] Stormo responds that the court cannot compel her to submit to additional examinations until defendants are finally able to obtain a more favorable medical expert's opinion for use at trial. Decisions on whether to order a medical examination pursuant to SDCL 15-6-35(a), the equivalent of Fed.R.Civ.P. 35(a), are within the broad discretion of the trial court. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. v. Negron Torres, 255 F.2d 149, 153 (1st Cir.1958); Bucher v. Krause, 200 F.2d 576, 584 (7th Cir.1953). The requirement that good cause be established to obtain a physical or mental examination of a party indicates that the moving party must establish a greater showing of necessity than to obtain other forms of discovery. 23 Am.Jur.2d Depositions and Discovery § 292 (1983). Here, defendants did not allege, for example, that they had reason to believe Stormo's injuries were less severe than she contended, that her physical condition had changed since the first examination, that she had failed to fully submit to the first examination, or that existing medical reports were unreliable. In fact, defendants' request for a second medical examination was based on the fact that [Stormo is] now using that expert [Dr. Johnson] as [her] own, plus the fact that [she had] no initial objection to the [second] examination but only as to the additional x-rays[.] SDCL 15-6-35(a) does not give defendants the right to compel Stormo to submit to additional medical examinations until they secure an expert who will agree with their theory of the case. See Rutherford v. Alben, 1 F.R.D. 277 (S.D.W.Va.1940). See also Grimm v. Gargis, 303 S.W.2d 43 (Mo.1957). Considering the party's right to privacy and the need for accurate information, the number of examinations ordered by the trial court is to be held to a minimum. Schlagenhauf v. Holder, 321 F.2d 43, 51 (7th Cir.1963), vacated on other grounds, 379 U.S. 104, 85 S.Ct. 234, 13 L.Ed.2d 152 (1964). In evaluating defendants' need for a second medical examination of Stormo, the trial court was cognizant of the fact that defendants had been provided with copies of all requested medical records and reports regarding Stormo's condition, and that Stormo had submitted to other examinations requested by defendants such as a functional capacity assessment. See Martin v. Tindell, 98 So.2d 473 (Fla.1957), cert. denied, 355 U.S. 959, 78 S.Ct. 545, 2 L.Ed.2d 534 (1958). Also, as Stormo points out in her brief, defendants were not deprived of any medical testimony on their behalf; rather, they chose not to present the testimony of their medical experts because it did not support their theory. On this record, we cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to order Stormo to submit to a second medical exam.