IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II

LINDA YEAGER, an unmarried woman, No. 48189-8-II

Appellant,

v.

JOHN O’KEEFE and “JANE DOE” O’KEEFE, 

and the marital community composed thereof,

UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Respondents,

Linda Yeager appeals from a civil judgment and argues that the trial court erred by denying 

the admission of a doctor’s deposition testimony. We affirm.

FACTS

In January 2011, Linda Yeager and John O’Keefe were involved in a two-vehicle car 

collision. While stopped in a left turn lane, O’Keefe rear-ended Yeager. Yeager did not seek 

emergency treatment and drove home. Approximately two weeks after the collision, Yeager 

sought medical care. Her chief complaints involved pain in her finger, foot, and elbow which 

radiated into her shoulder, neck, and back. 

Three years later, Yeager sued O’Keefe. O’Keefe admitted liability for causing the 

collision, but denied the nature and extent of Yeager’s injury and damages. 

In June 2015, Yeager filed a supplemental disclosure of primary witnesses which identified 

Dr. Eyal Kedar as a medical professional and Yeager’s current rheumatologist. The disclosure 

stated that Kedar “may testify at trial and offer opinions as to [Yeager’s] collision related injuries.” 

Filed

Washington State

Court of Appeals

Division Two

March 7, 2017
48189-8-II

2

Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 20. Kedar, a physician from Virginia Mason Medical Center, became 

Yeager’s treating physician in November 2013. Yeager’s previous doctor, also from Virginia 

Mason, diagnosed her with diffuse pain syndrome consistent with fibromyalgia. 

In August, O’Keefe took a discovery deposition of Kedar. Yeager also examined Kedar. 

During the deposition, Kedar indicated that when he first saw Yeager in November 2013, the visit 

related to the car accident. Kedar stated that his opinions were limited to Yeager’s fibromyalgia 

diagnosis. He opined that it was “possible that her fibromyalgia may have been worsened by the 

car accident, or even potentially brought on.” Supplemental (Supp.) CP at 170. Kedar could not 

say with a reasonable degree of medical certainty whether the car accident caused or aggravated 

Yeager’s fibromyalgia. 

Kedar further opined that if Yeager had fibromyalgia at the time of the accident, there was 

a “good chance” the accident worsened it. Supp. CP at 178. Kedar had no knowledge of Yeager’s 

condition before or at the time of the car accident, other than what Yeager’s attorney told him 

regarding undiagnosed numbness and tingling. He stated that he would need more information 

about Yeager’s fibromyalgia before he could testify at trial. Four days after the deposition, Yeager 

filed a notice of intent to offer Kedar’s testimony by deposition pursuant to CR 32(a)(5), followed 

by a designation of Kedar’s deposition excerpts. 

Trial began and on its second day, the court heard argument from the parties regarding the 

admissibility of Kedar’s deposition. Yeager argued that it should be admitted pursuant to both CR 

32(a)(5) and CR 32(a)(3)(B). O’Keefe argued that neither applied. 

The trial court noted that Yeager had changed her position: Yeager now wanted to 

introduce Kedar’s deposition under CR 32(a)(3) which she did not previously cite in her notice of 

intent. The court ruled that it would not allow Kedar’s deposition testimony. It reasoned that 
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3

Yeager had the obligation to secure the attendance of her expert witness and that CR 32(a)(5) did 

not apply. 

On the same day, Dr. Samuel Coor testified as Yeager’s expert witness. He reviewed 

Yeager’s medical records which included records from Virginia Mason. Based on this review, he 

opined about the injuries related to the car accident. Coor did not testify as to Yeager’s 

fibromyalgia, nor did Yeager question Coor about the fibromyalgia. 

On the third day of trial, Yeager filed a written motion to allow Kedar’s deposition and 

requested that the court allow her to read excerpts from the deposition at trial “pursuant to CR 

32(a)(3)(B).” CP at 105. In support of her motion, she submitted Kedar’s declaration which stated 

that he was Yeager’s treating physician, he resided more than 20 miles from the jurisdiction of the 

proceedings, and he was not available to appear in person to testify at trial due to his patient 

schedule. Yeager argued that Kedar was “not a retained expert” and excluding his testimony would 

be highly prejudicial to her case. CP at 107.

Yeager also argued that pursuant to Kimball v. Otis Elevator Co., 89 Wn. App. 169, 947 

P.2d 1275 (1997), professionals who acquire facts and opinions not in anticipation of litigation 

but from other involvement, were not considered experts but fact witnesses. Because Kedar was 

not an expert whose opinion was formulated in anticipation of litigation, Yeager argued for the 

admission of Kedar’s deposition under CR 32(a)(3)(B). 

O’Keefe distinguished Kimball factually, arguing that Kedar’s proffered testimony 

involved an opinion on medical causation of injuries from the car accident, not simply factual 

testimony. The trial court agreed with O’Keefe and found Kedar to be an expert witness. It 

clarified that Kedar could testify in-person. Kedar resided in the State and was subject to a 
48189-8-II

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subpoena. Yeager should have made timely arrangements to secure Kedar if she wanted him to 

testify. 

On the last day of trial, Yeager again moved to admit Kedar’s deposition transcript. She 

argued that because Kedar was a treating physician and his testimony was consistent with the 

information in her medical records, Kedar was a witness who fell under CR 32(a)(3). Specifically, 

Yeager argued:

[Kedar’s] testimony . . . is not anything going outside the scope of what was 

documented in the medical records, which specifically is, it does appear that she 

developed diffuse pain syndrome following the motor vehicle accident is consistent 

with fibromyalgia . . . the same comment that was read by [O’Keefe’s expert] 

yesterday, in that they found that she was having fibromyalgia related to the motor 

vehicle collision. And that is documented in these medical records.

4 Report of Proceedings (RP) at 628-69. The court denied the motion. 

At the close of trial, the jury awarded Yeager $2,306.40 in damages for past medical 

expenses and non-economic damages. Yeager appeals. 

ANALYSIS

Yeager argues that the trial court erred in applying CR 32(a)(3)(B) which allows the use of 

a witness’ deposition if the witness resides outside of the county more than 20 miles from the place 

of trial, and if the witness’ absence from trial is not procured by the party offering the deposition. 

She argues that from a plain reading, the rule applies to any such witness with the exception of the

opposing party’s out-of-state expert witness whose opinion is acquired in anticipation of 

litigation.1 She argues that CR 32(a)(5), which allows the use of an expert witness’ deposition, is 

not the only means of admitting an expert’s deposition. We disagree and conclude that CR 

 

1 CR 26(b)(5) states, in relevant part: “Discovery of facts known and opinions held by experts, 

otherwise discoverable under the provisions of subsection (b)(1) of this rule and acquired or 

developed in anticipation of litigation or for trial, may be obtained.”
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32(a)(3)(B) applies to lay witnesses and fact witnesses, not CR 26(b)(5) experts, and the trial court 

did not err by applying CR 32(a)(5) to Kedar’s deposition testimony.

I. STANDARDS OF REVIEW

We review a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude expert testimony for an abuse of 

discretion. Hendrickson v. King County, 101 Wn. App. 258, 265, 2 P.3d 1006 (2000). We, 

therefore, review a trial court’s decision to deny admission of a deposition under CR 32 for an 

abuse of discretion. Sutton v. Shufelberger, 31 Wn. App. 579, 585, 643 P.2d 920 (1982); In re 

Estate of Foster, 55 Wn. App. 545, 548, 779 P.2d 272 (1989). We overturn the trial court’s ruling 

on the admissibility of evidence if its decision was manifestly unreasonable, exercised on 

untenable grounds, or based on untenable reasons. Mut. of Enumclaw Ins. Co. v. Gregg Roofing, 

Inc., 178 Wn. App. 702, 728, 315 P.3d 1143 (2013). 

Interpretation of court rules are questions of law we review de novo. Cascade Floral Prod., 

Inc. v. Dep’t of Labor & Indust., 142 Wn. App. 613, 618, 177 P.3d 124 (2008). Court rules are 

interpreted in the same manner as statutes. Jafar v. Webb, 177 Wn.2d 520, 526, 303 P.3d 1042 

(2013). If the rule’s meaning is plain on its face, we give effect to that meaning as an expression 

of the drafter’s intent. Jafar, 177 Wn.2d at 526. If the rule is “‘susceptible to two or more 

reasonable interpretations,’ it is ambiguous”. Five Corners Family Farmers v. State, 173 Wn.2d 

296, 305, 268 P.3d 892 (2011) (quoting Burton v. Lehman, 153 Wn.2d 416, 423, 103 P.3d 1230 

(2005)). If a rule is ambiguous, we may look to the drafter’s intent by “‘reading the rule as a 

whole, harmonizing its provisions, and using related rules to help identify the legislative intent 

embodied in the rule.’” Jafar, 177 Wn.2d at 526-27 (quoting State v. Chhom, 162 Wn.2d 451, 

458, 173 P.3d 234 (2007)). 
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II. APPLICATION OF CR 32(a)(3)(B)

The use of a witness’ deposition at trial is governed by CR 32(a), which provides:

[A]ny part or all of a deposition, so far as admissible under the Rules of Evidence 

applied as though the witness were then present and testifying, may be used against 

any party who was present or represented at the taking of the deposition or who had 

reasonable notice thereof, in accordance with any of the following provisions:

. . . .

(3) The deposition of a witness, whether or not a party, may be used by any party 

for any purpose if the court finds: (A) that the witness is dead; or (B) that the witness 

resides out of the county and more than 20 miles from the place of trial, unless it 

appears that the absence of the witness was procured by the party offering the 

deposition or unless the witness is an out-of-state expert subject to subsection 

(a)(5)(A) of this rule[.]

. . . . 

(5) The deposition of an expert witness may be used as follows: 

(A) The discovery deposition of an opposing party’s rule 26(b)(5) expert witness, 

who resides outside the state of Washington, may be used if reasonable notice 

before the trial date is provided to all parties and any party against whom the 

deposition is intended to be used is given a reasonable opportunity to depose the 

expert again. 

(B) The deposition of a health care professional, even though available to testify at 

trial, taken with the expressly stated purpose of preserving the deponent’s testimony 

for trial, may be used[.] 

(Emphasis added). 

Expert testimony, “in the form of an opinion or otherwise,” is admissible “[i]f scientific, 

technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or 

to determine a fact in issue,” and the witness is “qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, 

experience, training, or education.” ER 702. Whether a person qualifies as an expert witness is 

left to the discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a manifest abuse of 

discretion. In re Detention of A.S., 138 Wn.2d 898, 917, 982 P.2d 1156 (1999). 
48189-8-II

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Expert medical testimony is necessary to establish causation where the nature of the injury 

involves medical factors which are beyond a lay person's knowledge, necessitating speculation in 

making a finding. Fabrique v. Choice Hotels Int'l, Inc., 144 Wn. App. 675, 685, 183 P.3d 1118

(2008). Medical testimony as to a causal relationship between the negligent act and the subsequent 

condition complained of must demonstrate that the injury “‘probably’” or “‘more likely than not’”

caused the subsequent condition, rather than the accident or injury “‘possibly’” caused the 

subsequent condition. Fabrique, 144 Wn. App. at 687 (quoting Ugolini v. States Marine Lines,

71 Wn.2d 404, 407, 429 P.2d 213 (1967)). The expert medical testimony must also be based upon 

a reasonable degree of medical certainty. Fabrique, 144 Wn. App. at 687-88. 

In interpreting CR 32(a), we conclude that the meaning of the rule is plain on its face. The 

proffered deposition is that of an expert medical witness. Kedar, a medical doctor, provided an 

opinion that Yeager’s fibromyalgia “may have been worsened” or “even potentially brought on” 

by the car accident.2 Supp. CP at 170. Even if we concluded that the rule is ambiguous, the 

drafter’s intent demonstrates that subsection (a)(5) was added to apply different requirements to 

expert witnesses, as opposed to lay or fact witnesses. 

CR 32 was amended in 1993 to create subsection (a)(5) provisions pertaining to expert 

witness depositions. 3A KARL B. TEGLAND, WASHINGTON PRACTICE: RULES PRACTICE CR 32 at 

757 (6th ed. 2013). The drafters’ intent was twofold: (1) to eliminate a trap that arises when a 

party conducts a discovery deposition on their opponent’s out-of-state expert only to learn later 

that the expert based their conclusions on faulty information that could affect their credibility, and 

if the deposition is presented at trial, the deposing party is effectively prevented from cross-

 

2 The parties do not argue whether Kedar’s testimony would have been inadmissible because it did 

not meet the “reasonable degree of medical certainty” standard required for expert medical 

causation opinions. Because the parties do not argue it, we do not decide the issue.
48189-8-II

8

examining the expert; and (2) to mitigate the high expense associated with presenting the testimony 

of a health care professional at trial. 3A KARL B. TEGLAND, WASHINGTON PRACTICE: RULES 

PRACTICE CR 32 author’s cmts. at 757-58 (6th ed. 2013).

At trial, Yeager, relying on Kimball, argued that because Kedar was a treating physician, 

his deposition was admissible under CR 32(a)(3). In Kimball, the plaintiff sought to exclude a 

physician’s testimony on the basis that she did not receive notification that the defendant took the 

deposition to preserve the testimony for trial. 89 Wn. App. at 174. The testimony went solely to 

the issue of damages; however, the jury found no liability existed. Kimball, 89 Wn. App. at 175. 

Nevertheless, the court addressed the merits of the argument at the request of the parties. Kimball, 

89 Wn. App. at 175. 

It noted that the critical question was whether the physician was an “expert witness.” 

Kimball, 89 Wn. App. at 175. Kimball stated that under CR 26(b), only opinions acquired and 

developed in anticipation of litigation constituted expert opinions; “professionals who have 

acquired facts and opinions not in anticipation of litigation, but from some other involvement, are 

not expert witnesses.” Kimball, 89 Wn. App. at 175.3 Because neither party hired the physician 

who merely reviewed the plaintiff’s medical records and examined her for the purposes of an L&I 

claim well before she sued the defendant for damages, the court concluded that the physician was 

 

3 Kimball cites to Baird v. Larson, 59 Wn. App. 715, 719-20, 801 P.2d 247 (1990), and Peters v. 

Ballard, 58 Wn. App. 921, 930, 795 P.2d 1158 (1990). In Baird, the court addressed expert witness 

fees, holding that under CR 26(b)(4)(C), “only opinions acquired and developed in anticipation of 

litigation are expert opinions.” 59 Wn. App. at 719. It held that an expert person is not necessarily 

an expert witness – “[p]rofessionals who have acquired or developed facts and opinions not in 

anticipation of litigation but from involvement as an actor in a transaction, are not entitled to expert 

witness fees.” Baird, 59 Wn. App. at 720. In Peters, the court held that because the physician’s 

knowledge and opinions were derived from his role as the plaintiff’s subsequent treating physician, 

and not in anticipation of litigation or trial, the physician was to “be treated as any other witness.” 

58 Wn. App. at 930.
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not an expert witness, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the physician’s 

deposition under CR 32(a)(3). Kimball, 89 Wn. App. 175-76.

Here, the trial court heard arguments from the parties and seemed to acknowledge that, 

based on Kimball, certain expert deposition testimony may be admissible under CR 32(a)(3)(B). 

The court, however, distinguished the facts in Kimball from this case. Unlike the doctor in 

Kimball, Kedar’s proffered testimony related to the claim at issue, and his opinion was that 

Yeager’s fibromyalgia was caused by the car accident. Yeager agreed with the court’s 

characterization of Kedar’s deposition testimony. 

During his deposition, Kedar testified that Yeager’s fibromyalgia was possibly caused or 

aggravated by the car accident, but he could not express an opinion to a reasonable degree of 

medical certainty. He also testified that Yeager’s initial visit with him related to the car accident. 

Yeager described Kedar as her treating physician, not a retained expert; however, the elicited 

testimony clearly showed Kedar provided a causation opinion specifically relating an injury or 

condition caused by the car accident. Given that Kedar provided an opinion on causation, and 

expert medical testimony is required to establish causation of injury, the trial court did not abuse 

its discretion in finding that Kedar was an expert witness. 

Because the trial court found Kedar to be an expert witness, it properly applied CR 32(a)(5) 

to the admissibility of Kedar’s deposition transcript. We, therefore, conclude that the trial court 

did not abuse its discretion by refusing to apply CR 32(a)(3) to Kedar’s deposition testimony.4

 

4 Yeager seems to ask us to conclude that an expert’s deposition may be admitted under either CR 

32(a)(3) or CR 32(a)(5), depending on what testimony the expert offers. It is clear from the record 

that Kedar’s testimony constituted an expert opinion which attempted to link Yeager’s 

fibromyalgia to the car accident. There is no authority on point which supports Yeager’s argument 

on this basis. 
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III. APPLICATION OF CR 32(a)(5)

In the alternative, Yeager argues that if CR 32(a)(5) is the sole mechanism to introduce 

expert deposition testimony, the trial court still erred because Kedar, an expert, was a treating 

physician and not a CR 26(b)(5) expert retained in anticipation of litigation. She seems to argue 

that CR 32(a)(5) applies only to experts whose opinions are acquired in anticipation of litigation 

or trial; because the court did not find Kedar to be a retained expert, it erroneously excluded his 

deposition testimony.5 We disagree and conclude that the court did not err by treating Kedar as 

an expert witness and applying CR 32(a)(5). CR 26 is a general rule governing discovery. The 

use of depositions in court is governed by CR 32. 

“If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to 

understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by 

knowledge, skill, expertise, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or 

otherwise.” ER 702. One of the ways a witness is considered an expert witness is if the facts or 

opinions possessed by the expert were obtained for the specific purposes of preparing for litigation. 

See Peters v. Ballard, 58 Wn. App. 921, 927-30, 795 P.2d 1158 (1990); CR 26(b)(5). The mere 

designation by a party alone is not controlling. See Peters, 58 Wn. App. at 930. 

Based on the discussion above, CR 32(a)(5) applies to depositions of CR 26(b)(5) expert 

witnesses. In her supplemental disclosure of primary witnesses, Yeager identified Kedar as a 

“medical profession[al]” who may offer opinions as to Yeager’s accident-related injuries. CP at 

19. Although Yeager argues that Kedar was not a retained expert, the facts show that she intended 

 

5 Yeager argues that the trial court did not find that Kedar was a CR 26(b)(5) expert. While the 

court did not make a specific finding that Kedar was a CR 26(b)(5) expert, it implied that Kedar 

was a true expert because he was offering a causation opinion regarding the fibromyalgia in 

relation to the car accident. 
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to use Kedar’s deposition testimony to establish that the car accident caused or aggravated her 

fibromyalgia. Given that the lawsuit pertained to the extent of injuries received from the car 

accident, and Kedar’s opinion related Yeager’s fibromyalgia to the accident at issue, the trial court 

found Kedar to be an expert for purposes of CR 32 based on tenable grounds. As discussed above, 

the facts show the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding Kedar was an expert witness.6 

We, therefore, conclude that the trial court did not err by treating Kedar as a true expert and did 

not abuse its discretion by applying CR 32(a)(5). 

IV. HARMLESS ERROR

O’Keefe argues that even if the trial court erred in analyzing CR 32(a), the error was 

harmless because Kedar’s testimony was cumulative of Coor’s testimony, the same evidence was 

admitted through medical records, and Yeager had the opportunity to elicit the information from 

Kedar’s deposition transcript through Coor, but failed to do so. Yeager contends that the error was 

not harmless because her fibromyalgia was a critical medical issue in this case and Kedar’s 

causation opinion did not appear elsewhere in the record. We disagree with Yeager and conclude 

that even if the trial court erred, the error was harmless.

“When a trial court makes an erroneous evidentiary ruling, the question on appeal becomes 

‘whether the error was prejudicial, for error without prejudice is not grounds for reversal.’” Mut.

of Enumclaw, 178 Wn. App. at 728-29 (quoting Brown v. Spokane County Fire Prot. Dist. No. 1, 

100 Wn.2d 188, 196, 668 P.2d 571 (1983)). An error is harmless and not prejudicial unless it 

affects the outcome of the case. Mut. of Enumclaw, 178 Wn. App. at 729. Improper exclusion of 

 

6 Neither party contests that Kedar was an expert or a professional. Yeager argues he was not an 

expert witness whose opinion was acquired for purposes of litigation. Yeager seems to focus on 

the fact that Kedar was never “retained” and that because he was a “treating physician,” he should 

be treated as a lay or fact witness whose deposition should be admitted under CR 32(a)(3). 
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evidence constitutes harmless error if the evidence is cumulative or has speculative probative 

value. Havens v. C & D Plastics, Inc., 124 Wn.2d 158, 169-70, 876 P.2d 435 (1994). Reversal is 

required if it is reasonable to conclude that the trial outcome would have been materially affected 

had the error not occurred. Lutz Tile, Inc. v. Krech, 136 Wn. App. 899, 905, 151 P.3d 219 (2007). 

Yeager’s fibromyalgia diagnosis was admitted into evidence through her medical records 

and Coor testified that he reviewed the medical records in forming his opinions. During his 

deposition, Kedar testified that his opinions were limited to Yeager’s fibromyalgia and Yeager 

acknowledged that his testimony was “consistent with what is in [Yeager’s] medical records” and 

“is not anything going outside the scope of what was documented in the medical records.” 4 RP 

at 628. In this regard, excluding Kedar’s testimony was harmless because it was cumulative to the 

evidence introduced at trial. 

Additionally, Kedar could not state, with a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that 

Yeager’s fibromyalgia was caused or aggravated by the car accident. See Fabrique, 144 Wn. App. 

at 688. He stated that he needed additional information before he could testify at trial. Yeager 

characterizes Kedar’s testimony as a causation opinion regarding her fibromyalgia, but such 

opinions require expert medical testimony that is based upon a reasonable degree of medical 

certainty.7 Fabrique, 144 Wn. App. at 688. Kedar’s opinion would have had speculative probative 

value because it could not meet the necessary standard for medical causation opinions. 

Yeager has not presented evidence showing that, had she been permitted to present Kedar’s 

deposition testimony, the outcome of her trial would have been materially different. Because 

Kedar’s testimony was cumulative of the evidence admitted at trial, and his causation opinion 

 

7

In this regard, Yeager seems to characterize Kedar as an expert giving expert testimony on the 

causation of her injuries at issue. 
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would have been inadmissible, we conclude that even if the trial court erred in applying CR 

32(a)(5), the error was harmless. 

We affirm. 

A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the 

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 

2.06.040, it is so ordered.

Melnick, J.

We concur:

Johanson, J.

Bjorgen, C.J.