Holmes v. Washington Department of Corrections

[7] UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT [8] WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE [9] 10 DAVID HOLMES, CASE NO. 3:18-cv-5735 11 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO EXCLUDE EXPERT 12 v. TESTIMONY 13 WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS et al , [14] Defendant. [16] This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff’s Motion to Exclude Expert Testimony [17] (Dkt. No. 83). Having reviewed the Motion, Defendants’ Response (Dkt. No. 86), the Reply (Dkt [18] No. 88), and all supporting materials, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion. [19] BACKGROUND [20] Plaintiff, David Holmes, is an incarcerated individual at Clallam Bay Corrections Center. [21] He was diagnosed with Pigmentary Dispersion Syndrome, an eye disease that can lead to [22] glaucoma, among other things, if unmonitored. (Amended Complaint ¶¶ 10-11 (Dkt. No. 59).) [23] In 2014, Dr. Copeland, an optometrist working as an independent contractor for the DOC, [24] 1 examined Homes and noticed that his visual acuity had decreased to 20/200 in his right eye and 2 20/60 in his left eye. (Id. ¶ 13.) Dr. Copeland also diagnosed Holmes with cataracts in both eyes. 3 (Id.) Although cataract surgery is the recommended course of treatment for Holmes’ condition, 4 Holmes did not receive cataract surgery in his right eye until 2016 and 2019 for his left eye. 5 (Id. ¶¶ 21-29, 40-51.) 6 Holmes brings two Eighth Amendment claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that the 7 Department of Corrections (“DOC”) and several of its officials (collectively “Defendants”): (1) 8 were deliberately indifferent to his medical eye needs, and (2) promulgated an unconstitutional 9 health plan policy that effectively left him with monocular blindness. (Motion at 3-4.) 10 ANALYSIS 11 A. Legal Standard 12 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26 requires parties to disclose the identities of each 13 expert and, for retained experts, requires that the disclosure includes the experts’ written reports. 14 Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2). These written reports must include: 15 (1) A complete statement of all opinions the witness will express and the basis and reasons for them; [16] (2) The facts or data considered by the witness in forming them; [17] (3) Any exhibits that will be used to summarize or support them; [18] (4) The witness’s qualifications, including a list of all publications authored in the previous 10 years; [19] (5) A list of all other cases in which, during the previous 4 years, the witness testified as an [20] expert at trial or by deposition; and 21 (6) A statement of the compensation to be paid for the study and testimony in the case. 22 Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(B). [24] 1 The expert report required by Rule 26 must be “detailed and complete” and must “stat[e] 2 the testimony the witness is expected to present during direct examination together with the 3 reasons therefore.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 26 advisory committee’s notes to 1993 amendment. Other 4 lower courts in the Ninth Circuit have held that “[t]he reason for requiring expert reports is the 5 elimination of unfair surprise to the opposing party and the conservation of resources.” Elgas v. 6 Colorado Belle Corp., 179 F.R.D. 296, 299 (D. Nev. 1998) (internal quotation and citation 7 omitted). “The test of a report is whether it was sufficiently complete, detailed and in compliance 8 with the Rules so that surprise is eliminated, unnecessary depositions are avoided, and costs are 9 reduced.” Id. 10 B. Discussion 11 1. Dr. Zollman 12 Defendants retained Dr. Zollman to provide expert testimony for the Defense regarding 13 the medical care Holmes received from the DOC. (Resp. at 5.) Holmes moves to exclude Dr. 14 Zollman’s testimony on the grounds that he provided an incompliant written disclosure. The 15 Court agrees. 16 The primary issue with Zollman’s report is that it does not appear to contain a complete 17 statement of opinions, along with the basis and reasons for them, the facts or data considered and 18 whether Zollman will use any exhibits. Zollman’s report is less than one and a half pages long 19 and includes one paragraph entitled ‘introduction’, three paragraphs entitled ‘history’ and one 20 paragraph entitled ‘summary’. (See Declaration of Michelle Hansen, Exhibit C – Zollman Report 21 (Dkt. No. 87-3).) The paragraph entitled ‘summary’ appears the be the entirety of Zollman’s 22 opinion. He states that “while the timing of [Holmes’] treatment was delayed from what is 23 typical in the civilian world, the records show that he was managed appropriately based on DOC [24] 1 criteria.” (Hansen Decl., Exhibit C.) Notably absent from this summary is what is typical “in the 2 civilian world,” what the DOC criteria is, and what Zollman relied upon in comparing the two. 3 The only thing Zollman states that he reviewed was Holmes’ medical records spanning from 4 May 2010 to June 2019. (Id.) While Zollman states that the surgery Holmes received resulted in 5 excellent vision and that he would not have received better care “in the civilian world,” the 6 surgery is not the issue at hand. Rather, the issue lies in whether DOC policy diverges from 7 standard practice. Zollman’s summary is silent on this issue. The Court finds this is not a proper 8 report. 9 Defendants claim that they have until September 5, 2022, to provide a final report 10 compliant with Rule 26. (Resp. at 7.) But Defendants are applying the wrong rule. Parties must 11 make expert witness disclosures at the time and sequence that the Court orders. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 26(a)(2)(D). Defendants cite to Rule 26(a)(6)(B) in support, which does not exist. It appears they 13 intend to cite to a section of Rule 26(a)(2)(D), which states that “[a]bsent a stipulation or a court 14 order, the disclosures must be made: (i) at least 90 days before the date set for trial. . .” But the 15 Court made an order when it entered the Order Setting the Trial Date and Related Dates. (Dkt. 16 No. 78.) According to that Order, reports from expert witnesses under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2) 17 were due on May 9, 2022. (Id.) As such, Defendants’ reliance on the 90 day default deadline is 18 inapposite. 19 Defendants do not argue the improper disclosure is substantially justified or harmless. 20 “Rule 37 gives teeth to Rule 26’s disclosure requirements by forbidding the use at trial of any 21 information that is not properly disclosed.” Goodman v. Staples the Office Superstore LLC, 644 22 F.3d 817 , 827 (9th Cir. 2011) (citing Yeti by Molly, Ltd. v. Deckers Outdoor Corp., 259 F.3d 23 1101, 1106 (9th Cir. 2001) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c)(1)). “Rule 37(c)(1) is a self-executing, [24] 1 automatic sanction designed to provide a strong inducement for disclosure.” Id. (internal 2 quotation and citation omitted). The only exceptions to Rule 37(c)(1)’s exclusion sanction apply 3 if the failure to disclose is substantially justified or harmless. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c)(1). “The 4 burden to prove harmlessness is on the party seeking to avoid Rule 37’s exclusionary sanction.” 5 Goodman, 644 F.3d at 827 (internal citation omitted). Because Defendants fail to even attempt to 6 argue this, the Court finds Dr. Zollman’s report is not a proper report, and the improper 7 disclosure is neither substantially justified nor harmless. 8 Defendants also request the Court allow them to substitute a new medical expert in place 9 of Dr. Zollman. (Resp. at 7.) The Court will not grant this request. Though there is no rule the 10 Court is required to follow regarding a request to substitute, other courts in the Ninth Circuit 11 have approached it in two ways. The first approach is to interpret the motion as a request to 12 amend the scheduling order under Rule 16(b)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 13 See Fidelity Nat’l Finc., Inc. v. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co., 308 F.R.D. 649, 652 (S.D. Cal. 2015); 14 Park v. CAS Enterprises, Inc., No. 08-cv-00385-DMS-(NLS), 2009 WL 4057888 , at *2-3 (S.D. 15 Cal. Nov. 18, 2009). The second approach is to consider the motion as an untimely designation 16 under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a) and decide the appropriateness of sanctioning the untimely disclosure 17 under Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(c). See Nikkar v. Gen. Star Indem. Co., No. CV 12-08148 DDP JCGX, [18] 2014 WL 271630 , at *2 (C.D. Cal. Jan. 23, 2014). Rule 16(b)(4) requires the moving party to 19 demonstrate good cause, whereas Rule 37(c) excuses a delay when it is substantially justified or 20 harmless. 21 Defendants do not argue either approach in their request to substitute Zollman. 22 Defendants state that they have been unsuccessful in reaching Dr. Zollman since 2021. (Resp. at 23 7.) In Defendants’ counsel’s declaration, she states that she and her staff have been trying to [24] 1 reach Zollman via “telephone, voice messages, workplace messages, direct correspondence, 2 emails and other means since 2021 and have been unsuccessful in receiving a response from 3 him.” (Hansen Decl. at 2 (Dkt. No. 87).) It is not clear when in 2021 Zollman stopped 4 responding to Defendants, but even assuming it was the end of 2021, at the time Defendants filed 5 their Response, they had known for at least eight months that they could not reach him. Though 6 Defendants spoke with Holmes’ counsel about the issue, Defendants failed to bring it to the 7 Court’s attention until their Response to the Motion to Exclude. Given the length of time that has 8 passed since Defendants have been unable to reach Dr. Zollman, and only a brief claim that 9 Defendants have continued regular efforts to communicate with him, the Court finds Defendants 10 have not demonstrated diligence in their efforts to find Dr. Zollman. Absent diligence, the Court 11 cannot find good cause or that Defendants are substantially justified in their delay to substitute 12 Dr. Zollman. The Court DENIES Defendants’ request. 13 Because Dr. Zollman’s written report fails to meet the standards set forth by Rule 26, the 14 Court GRANTS Holmes’ request to exclude Dr. Zollman’s testimony without the opportunity to 15 substitute experts. 16 2. Dr. Copeland 17 Holmes also seeks to limit Dr. Copeland’s testimony. Dr. Copeland is an optometrist 18 employed by the DOC who treated Holmes. (Hansen Decl., Ex. D (Dkt. No. 87-4).) Holmes does 19 not seek to exclude Dr. Copeland’s testimony entirely, but rather limit it to his observations and 20 opinions formed during the course of treatment. The Court GRANTS Holmes’ request. 21 A treating physician is exempt from Rule 26(a)(2)(B)’s written report requirement to the 22 extent that their opinions were formed during the course of treatment. Goodman v. Staples the 23 Off. Superstore, LLC, 644 F.3d 817, 825 (9th Cir. 2011). This is because, “[g]enerally a treating [24] 1 physician is not retained or specially employed to provide expert testimony,” rather, they are “a 2 percipient witness of the treatment rendered,” and therefore not subject to the written report 3 requirement of Rule 26, Id. at 824 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)). The witness must still be 4 disclosed, and the disclosure must include (i) the subject matter on which the witness is expected 5 to present evidence under; and (ii) a summary of the facts and opinions to which the witness is 6 expected to testify. Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(C). When a treating physician provides expert 7 testimony beyond the scope of the treatment rendered, Rule 26(a)(2)(B)’s disclosure of written 8 reports applies. Id. at 825 . 9 Defendants’ disclosure of Dr. Copeland states that they expect Dr. Copeland to testify as 10 to his treatment and evaluations of Holmes. (Hansen Decl. Ex. D.) The disclosure also stated 11 that “Dr. Copeland may also testify that the treatment provided to Mr. Holmes was medically 12 appropriate and consistent with the Offender Health Plan.” (Id.) Holmes’ primary contention 13 with Defendants’ disclosure is with Dr. Copeland’s testimony that Holmes’ treatment was 14 medically appropriate. Specifically, Holmes argues that whether Dr. Copeland’s treatment of him 15 was medically appropriate goes to the heart of the issue and is not something Dr. Copeland 16 would learn based solely on the information he acquired through his observation and treatment of 17 Holmes. The Court agrees. Such testimony is outside the scope of the “percipient witness” and 18 would ordinarily require a written report. 19 As a treating physician, Dr. Copeland may testify as to the facts and opinions he 20 developed during the course of Holmes’ treatment, and whether or not that treatment was 21 consistent with the Offender Health Plan. Dr. Copeland is excluded from testifying that the 22 treatment was medically appropriate or that the Offender Health Plan complied with the Eighth 23 Amendment. [24] 1 3. Dr. Hammond 2 Holmes’ similarly seeks to limit Dr. Hammond’s testimony the facts and opinions formed 3 during treatment. Notably, Defendants failed to disclose Dr. Hammond in their Expert Witness 4 Disclosure. (See Hansen Decl. Ex. D.) Defendants make clear in their Response that they intend 5 to use Dr. Hammond as an expert witness and argue that their failure to disclose was harmless. 6 (Response at 10-11.) 7 The Court has limited information on which to decide this. Defendants’ response does not 8 make clear what they expect Dr. Hammond to testify to. It appears Dr. Hammond was the chief 9 Medical Officer and part of the Care Review Committee that determined whether cataract 10 surgery should be approved for Holmes during the period of Holmes’ treatment. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 11 18, 29-30; Hansen Decl. Ex. A, Deposition of Steve Hammond at 23:22-4 (Dkt. No. 87-1).) 12 Holmes does not argue that he has been prejudiced by Defendants’ failure to disclose Dr. 13 Hammond. Indeed, Holmes had the opportunity to depose him. Instead, Holmes asks the Court to 14 limit Dr. Hammond’s testimony to the observations and opinions formed during the course of 15 treatment. This type of testimony falls under the treating physician standard and is admissible. 16 See Goodman, 644 F.3d at 825 . 17 The Court GRANTS Holmes’ request and limits Dr. Hammond’s testimony to that of a 18 treating physician. Dr. Hammond may testify as to the facts and opinions formed during the 19 course of Holmes’ treatment. Dr. Hammond is excluded from testifying that the treatment was 20 medically appropriate or whether adherence to the Offender Health Plan caused Holmes to suffer 21 an Eighth Amendment violation. [24] 1 4. Dr. Niemeyer 2 Holmes’ Motion to Exclude initially included an argument to limit Dr. Niemeyer’s 3 testimony. (Motion at 9-12.) In their Response, Defendants alerted the Court to Dr. Niemeyer’s 4 passing in June 2021. (Response at 4-5.) The Court is sorry to hear about his passing. Holmes’ 5 argument as to Dr. Niemeyer is now moot. 6 CONCLUSION 7 Because Defendants failed to submit a proper report for Dr. Zollman, the Court excludes 8 his testimony as an expert witness. The Court finds that Dr. Copeland and Dr. Hammond may 9 testify as to the facts and opinions formed during the course of Holmes’ treatment but are 10 excluded from testifying as to the appropriateness of that treatment or whether adherence to the 11 DOC policy caused Holmes to suffer an Eighth Amendment violation. 12 The clerk is ordered to provide copies of this order to all counsel. 13 Dated October 28, 2022. A [14] 15 Marsha J. Pechman United States Senior District Judge