X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER Pending before the court is Defendant Quality Carriers, Inc.’s (“Quality Carriers”) Motion for Leave and Motion to Compel Plaintiff Eric Guerrero’s (“Guerrero”) Continued Deposition (#16). Having considered the motion, the record, and the applicable law, the court is of the opinion that the motion should be granted. I. Background This lawsuit arises from a motor vehicle collision that occurred on January 15, 2021, in Jefferson County, Texas. Previously, on May 20, 2020, Guerrero was involved in a separate motor vehicle collision in Travis County, Texas (“Travis County collision”). As aresult, on July 8, 2021, the driver and passenger of the other vehicle filed suit against Guerrero and his then-employer, Transport Max, LLC, alleging negligence, seeking recovery for physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, lost earnings, loss of earning capacity, and reasonable and necessary medical care expenses (“Travis County lawsuit”). Guerrero appeared in that lawsuit on September 3, 2021. On July 5, 2023, Quality Carriers served its Notice of Deposition on Guerrero; Guerrero’s deposition took place via Zoom on July 27, 2023. During the deposition, Quality Carriers asked Guerrero about the Travis County collision and, in particular, asked Guerrero whether “anyone [has] ever sued you for personal injuries” to which Guerrero responded “No, sir.” On August 8, 2023, Quality Carriers filed the pending motion, stating that it learned of the Travis County lawsuit following its July 27, 2023, deposition of Guerrero, and requesting to continue Guerrero’s deposition on the topic of the Travis County collision and lawsuit. The time for Guerrero to file a response has lapsed and he has failed to respond. Under the Eastern District of Texas’s local rules, “[a] party’s failure to oppose a motion in the manner prescribed herein creates a presumption that the party does not controvert the facts set out by movant and has no evidence to offer in opposition to the motion.” Local Rule CV-7(d), (e). II. Analysis Quality Carriers asks the court to permit it to re-depose Guerrero because he “blatantly and deliberately misled Quality Carriers’s counsel regarding his prior motor vehicle accident and lawsuit history.” In particular, Quality Carriers seeks to re-depose Guerrero so that it may acquire additional discovery surrounding the Travis County collision and lawsuit. Generally speaking, aparty must obtain leave of court to depose an individual again if “the deponent has already been deposed in the case.” FED.R.CIV.P. 30(2)(A)(ii); Arrant v. Standard Crane & Hoist LLC, No. 2:21-CV-03569, 2023 WL 2775517, at *2 (W.D. La. Apr. 4, 2023); VeroBlue Farms USA Inc. v. Wulf, 111 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 505, ___, No. 3:19-cv-764, 2021 WL 5176839, at *9 (N.D. Tex. 2021). “When a party seeks leave to take a second deposition of an individual deponent, ‘the court must grant leave to the extent consistent with Rule 26(b)(1) and (2).’” Arrant, 2023 WL 2775517, at *3 (quoting FED.R.CIV.P. 30(a)(2)); VeroBlue Farms USA Inc., 2021 WL 5176839, at *9. The court finds that Quality Carriers’s request for a second deposition of Guerrero is warranted in order to obtain information bearing on Guerrero’s accident, injury history and his potential motivation for pursuing the present claim, as well as to impeach Guerrero with this new information. See VeroBlue Farms USA Inc., 2021 WL 5176839, at *10 (“Courts have allowed parties to reopen depositions when new information comes to light that creates the need for further questioning.” (quoting O’Connor v. Cory, No. 3:16-CV-1731-B, 2018 WL 5016291, at *2 (N.D. Tex. Oct. 16, 2018))); Retif v. ASI Lloyds, No. CV 19-4899, 2020 WL 6204309, at *1 (E.D. La. Apr. 6, 2020) (“Courts have typically reopened a deposition ‘where awitness was inhibited from providing full information at the first deposition’ or ‘where new information comes to light triggering questions that the discovering party would not have thought to ask at the first deposition.’” (quoting Briggs v. Phebus, Civ. A. No. 12-2145, 2014 WL 1117888, at *3 (E.D. La. Mar. 19, 2014); Kleppinger v. Tex. Dep’t of Transp.,283 F.R.D. 330, 333 (S.D. Tex. 2012); Keck v. Union Bank of Switz., No. 94 Civ. 4912(TPG), 1997 WL 411931, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. 1997))). Nevertheless, in the interest of avoiding duplicative discovery, limitations as to Guerrero’s deposition are warranted. See VeroBlue Farms USA Inc., 2021 WL 5176839, at *10 (“If a deposition is reopened because of newly discovered information, the court should limit the deposition to questions related to this information.” (quoting O’Connor, 2018 WL 5016291, at *2)); Retif, 2020 WL 6204309, at *1 (stating that “[w]here the deposition is reopened because of newly discovered information, the questioning of the witness is limited to those questions relating to the newly produced information.” (quoting Ganci v. U.S. Limousine Serv., Ltd., No. CV 10-3027, 2011 WL 4407461, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 21, 2011)); Kleppinger, 283 F.R.D. at 333. Specifically, Guerrero’s second deposition will be limited in scope: Guerrero may be questioned only about the Travis County collision and lawsuit as well as his failure to reveal it in the prior deposition. Such limitations will ensure that Guerrero’s testimony relates only to newly discovered information and is not duplicative of the testimony from his first deposition. III. Conclusion In accordance with the foregoing analysis, Quality Carriers’s Motion for Leave and Motion to Compel Plaintiff’s Continued Deposition (#16) is GRANTED. Guerrero shall appear for a continuation of his deposition on or before the expiration of 21 days from the entry of this order. Such deposition will be limited in scope to questions concerning the Travis County collision and lawsuit and his failure to disclose it in the prior deposition. SIGNED at Beaumont, Texas, this 2nd day of October, 2023. MARCIA A. CRONE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

More From ALM

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
September 18, 2024 - September 19, 2024
Dallas, TX

Join General Counsel and Senior Legal Leaders at the Premier Forum Designed For and by General Counsel from Fortune 1000 Companies


Learn More
October 15, 2024
Dallas, TX

The Texas Lawyer honors attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in Texas.


Learn More
April 29, 2024 - May 01, 2024
Aurora, CO

The premier educational and networking event for employee benefits brokers and agents.


Learn More

Truly exceptional Bergen County New Jersey Law Firm is growing and seeks strong plaintiff's personal injury Attorney with 5-7 years plaintif...


Apply Now ›

Shipman is seeking an associate to join our Labor & Employment practice in our Hartford, New Haven, or Stamford office. Candidates shou...


Apply Now ›

McCarter & English, LLP, a well established and growing law firm, is actively seeking a talented and driven associate having 2-5 years o...


Apply Now ›
04/29/2024
The National Law Journal

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›
04/15/2024
Connecticut Law Tribune

MELICK & PORTER, LLP PROMOTES CONNECTICUT PARTNERS HOLLY ROGERS, STEVEN BANKS, and ALEXANDER AHRENS


View Announcement ›
04/11/2024
New Jersey Law Journal

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›