Court Opinion

ID: 9531824
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:14:47.568141+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:35.606327
License: Public Domain

BIVINS, Judge (concurring in part; dissenting in part). I concur in Points I, II, III, IV and that portion of Point V which upholds the disallowance of separate attorneys fees for attendance by plaintiff’s attorney at depositions. I disagree, however, with that part of Point V which holds that travel expenses cannot be considered as a “cost and expense” of discovery under NMSA 1978, § 52-1-34. Plaintiff claimed as part of his cost bill $261.20 for travel expenses incurred by his attorney in attending four separate depositions scheduled by defendant, one of which was out of state. The trial court in a very thoughtful and well reasoned memorandum denied this item as well as plaintiff’s claim for separate attorney fees in attending these depositions. While I agree with the analysis as to disallowance of attorney fees, see Gregory v. Eastern New Mexico University, 81 N.M. 236, 465 P.2d 515 (Ct.App.1970), I disagree as to travel expense. Both the trial court and the majority rely on language in State v. Lujan, 43 N.M. 348, 93 P.2d 1002 (1939). Lujan was not a worker’s compensation case. Absent any case on point, we must examine the statute involved in light of the total statutory scheme of the Act. In doing so it is helpful to briefly mention the discovery orders and order authorizing independent physical examination of plaintiff. With its answer defendant filed a motion for discovery to depose plaintiff and the doctors who had examined plaintiff and also filed a notice to take the deposition of Dr. Sidney Schultz. An order was entered authorizing this discovery “at the deposition cost * * * ” of defendant. Subsequently, the parties filed a joint motion for discovery which enlarged defendant’s earlier motion and provided for the full range of discovery by either side. The motion stated, “Defendant is to pay the cost of all discovery, pursuant to NMSA 1978, § -52-1-34, including, specifically, the cost of depositions scheduled by either party and plaintiff’s copy of any deposition taken.” The order authorizing the additional discovery tracks the.language of the joint motion. Neither the joint motion nor the order identifies any specific witness or what evidence is needed; it states only that “good cause exists for the requested discovery and that the evidence to be obtained thereby will probably be material to the issues of this case.” Defendant filed a motion asking the court to direct plaintiff to submit to physical examination by a doctor of defendant’s choice who practiced in Pueblo, Colorado. Plaintiff objected since the physician was not licensed in New Mexico, relying on § 52-1-51B. The trial court entered an order granting defendant’s motion, thereby requiring plaintiff to travel to Pueblo for the examination. It was the deposition of this same physician scheduled by defendant that resulted in a claim of $138 travel expenses incurred by plaintiff’s attorney in attending that deposition. Whether or not the trial court could require plaintiff to submit to a physical examination out of state by a physician not licensed in New Mexico under § 52-1-51 presents an interesting question, but it is not before us on this appeal. Assuming the trial court could require such an examination, the interpretation given § 52-1-34 by the majority would foreclose plaintiff from representation at that deposition, if he could not afford to pay the travel expenses. What if defendant schedules depositions all over the country, or if the injured party dies and his treating physician moves a great distance either within or without the state? The employer and its insurance carrier would face little difficulty in having counsel present, but that would ordinarily not be true for an injured worker. The following language in § 52-1-34 is unmistakably clear and would, in my opinion, permit a trial court in appropriate cases to allow travel expenses to plaintiff’s attorney in attending depositions: The cost and expense of any interrogatory, discovery procedure or deposition ordered by the court shall be paid by the defendants in the claim or action and in no event shall any unsuccessful claimant be responsible for the cost or expense of any interrogatory, discovery procedure or deposition ordered by the court. Of course, the trial court can and should at any § 52-1-34 hearing carefully consider the need for any discovery, the alternatives available, the cost and expense involved, as well as the delay that any questionable discovery might cause. It would violate the statutory scheme of the Workmen’s Compensation Act to impose upon the injured worker travel expenses necessarily incurred by his counsel in order to adequately present his claim. Based on my interpretation, I would remand so the trial court could reconsider travel expenses as a proper item under § 52-1-34. This would not require allowance in all instances, such as depositions taken in Albuquerque, but would enable the court to award such travel expenses as would be appropriate.