THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Febr uar y 25, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 80 4 . SAM UELS v . THE STATE.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

Fo l l owi n g tri al

, a ju ry co n vi ct ed M art i n a Sam u el s o f o n e co u n t of d ri v i n g

u n d er th e i n fl u en ce o f al co ho l t o t h e ex t en t i t w as l es s s afe fo r h er d o t o s o (DUI l es s

s afe) an d o n e co u n t o f d i s o rd erl y co n d u ct

. On ap p eal

, Sam uel s co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g h o sp i tal reco rd s b ecau s e th es e reco rd s co ns t i t u ted h ears ay

an d v i o l at ed h er ri g ht t o co n fro nt at i o n , an d i n fai l i ng to reb u k e t he St at e’ s p ro s ecu t o r

a n d p ro v i d e s u ffi ci en t cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n s w h en th e p ro s ecu t o r m ad e i m p ro p e r

co m m en t s d u ri n g cl o s i n g arg um en t . Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h in f ra , we affi rm

.

Vi ewed i n t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, 1 t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws

t h at aro u n d 1 0: 3 0 p

. m

. o n M ay 2 2

, 2 0 1 2

, t h e Sav an n ah -Ch at h am M et ro p o l i t an Po l i ce

1 S ee, e.g

. , Po wel l

v. S t a te , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 4 4 , 1 4 4 (7 1 2 SE2 d 1 3 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ).Dep art m en t recei v ed a 9 1 1 cal l fro m a m o t o ri s t t rav el i n g o n a n earb y s ect i o n o f t h e

i n t ers t at e, i n di cat i n g t h at an o t h er v eh i cl e h ad b een i n vo l v ed i n an acci d en t

. W i t h in

a few m i n u t es , a d i s p at ch ed p at ro l o ffi cer arri v ed o n t he s cen e an d o b s erv ed t h at an

SUV h ad cras h ed in t o t h e g u ard rai l o n t h e s h o u l d er of t h e i n t ers t at e, s p u n aro u n d

, an d

co m e t o res t faci n g on co m i n g t raffi c. Up on m ak i n g co n t act wi t h th e d r i v e r o f t h e

SUV (u l t i m at el y i d en t i fi ed as Sam u el s ), an d t he t h ree p a s s en g ers , t h e o ffi cer

d et erm i n ed th at n o o n e s eem ed t o b e s eri o u s l y i n ju red

. H o w e v e r, t h e o ffi cer al s o

n o t i ced an al co h o l i c-b ev erag e o d o r u p o n s p eak in g wi t h Sam uel s

.

Sh o rt l y t h ereaft er, t w o o t h er p at ro l offi cers arri v ed o n t h e s cen e, an d b o t h al s o

n o t i ced an al co ho l i c-b ev erag e od o r wh en s p eak in g t o Sam u el s

. In ad d i t io n , on e o f t h e

o ffi cers o b s erv ed th at Sam u el s s eem ed u n s t ead y o n h er feet an d s l u rred h er s p eech

.

Sam u el s ad m i t t ed t o d ri n k i n g a b eer earl i er t h at aft ern o o n , a n d o n e of th e o ffi cers

ad m i n is t ered an al co -s en s o r b reat h t es t

, wh i ch ret u rn ed a po s it i v e res u l t

. On e o f t h e

o ffi cers t h en as k ed Sam

u el s t o p erfo rm t h e ABC t es t

, wh i ch s h e fai l ed

. Co n s eq u en t l y ,

t h e o ffi cers deci d ed t h at Sam uel s was i m

p ai red an d , t h erefo re, arres t ed h er fo r DUI

l es s s afe. At t h at p o i nt

, Sam uel s b ecam e b el l i geren t an d b eg an p u n ch i n g o n e o f t h e

o ffi cers

. Bu t t h e o ffi cers q u i ck l y s u bd u ed an d h an d cu ffed h er, an d EM Ts t h en

t ran s po rt ed h er t o t h e h o s pi t al

. Th ere, Sam u el s refu s ed t reat m en t an d t h e St at e2ad m i n is t ered b reat h t es t

, an d o n e o f t h e o ff i c e rs t o o k h er t o jai l aft er h os p i t al s taff

co n fi rm ed t h at s h e was n o t s eri o u s l y i n ju red

.

Th e St at e l at er ch arg ed Sam u el s , v i a accu sat i o n , wi t h o ne co u nt each o f DUI

l es s safe, en d an g eri n g a ch i l d b y DUI, d ri v i n g t o o fas t f o r co n d i t i o n s , d i s o rd erl y

co n du ct

, an d s i m

p l e b at t ery

. At Sam

u el s ’ s tri al

, t h e t h r ee p o l ice o ffi cers wh o were

d i s p at ch ed t o th e scen e of t h e acci d en t t es t i fi ed reg ard i n g t h ei r in v es ti g at i o n , an d t h e

St at e i n t ro d u ced

, o ver Sam u el s’ s o b ject i on , h o sp i t al reco rd s , wh i ch were co m p l et ed

t h e n i g h t o f t h e acci d en t an d wh i ch n o t ed t h at Sam u el s p res en ted as “ i n t o xi cat ed .”

Sam u el s al s o t es t ifi ed i n h er o wn d efen s e, an d at t h e co n cl us i o n o f h er t ri al

, t h e ju ry

co n vi ct ed h er o n t h e ch arg es o f DUI l es s s afe an d d is o rd er l y c o n d u ct b u t acq u i t t ed

h er o n al l t h e ot h er ch arg es

. Su b s eq u en t l y , Sam u el s fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

,

wh i ch t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

1

. In h er fi rs t en u m erat i o n o f erro r, Sam u el s co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred

i n ad m i t t i n g th e h o sp i t al reco rd s , wh i ch s tat ed t h at s h e pres en t ed as “ i n t o xi cat ed .”

Sp eci fi cal l y , s h e arg u es t h at t h e reco rd s co n s ti t u t ed i n ad m is s i b l e h ears ay , n ot s u b ject

3t o t he bu s i n es s -reco rd s ex cep ti o n, a nd viola t e d the S ixth A m e nd m en t’ s Co n fro n t at i o n

Cl au se. 2 W e d i s ag ree.

At t h e ou t s et

, we n o t e t hat

, as a g en eral ru l e, “ ad m i s s io n o f ev id en ce i s a m at t er

res t in g wi t h in t h e s o un d d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u r t

, a n d a p p el l at e co u rt s wi l l n ot

d i s t u rb t h e ex erci s e o f t h at d i s cret i o n ab s en t ev i den ce o f i t s ab u s e.” 3 Tu rn i n g fi rs t to

Sam u el s ’ s co n t en t i o n t h at t he ho s p i t al reco rd s v i o l at ed h er Si x t h Am en d m en t ri g ht

t o co n fro n t wi t n es s es , i n Cr a wf o r d v. W a s hi n g t o n , 4 t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f t h e Un i t ed

St at es h el d t hat “ th e ad m i s s i o n o f o u t-o f-co u rt s t at em en t s t h at are t es t i m o n i al in

n at u re v i ol at es t h e Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e u n l es s t h e d ecl aran t is u n av ai l ab l e an d t h e

d efen d an t h ad a p ri or o p p o rt u n i t y fo r cro s s -ex am i n at i o n

. ” 5 An d s t at em en t s a r e

“ t es t i m o ni al i n n at u re” wh en t h ei r “ pri m ary p u rp o se” i s t o “ es t ab li s h o r p ro v e p as t

2 S ee U.S. C O N S T

. am en d VI (“ In al l cri m i n al p ro s ecu t i o n s , t h e accu s ed s h al l

en jo y t h e ri g h t

. . . t o b e co nfro n t ed wi t h t h e wi t n es s es ag ai ns t h i m .”); s ee a l s o G A

. C O N S T

. art

. 1

, § 1

, Par. XIV (“ Ev ery p ers o n ch arg ed wi th an o ffen s e ag ai n st t h e laws

o f th i s st at e

. . . s h al l b e co nfro n t ed wi t h t h e wi t n es s es t es t i fy i n g ag ai n s t s u ch

p ers o n .”).

3 A d ams v. St a t e , 3 1 6 G a. Ap p

. 1

, 3 (1 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 2 6 0 ) ( 2 0 1 2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d S

mi t h v. S t a t e , 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p . 1 2 8 , 1 3 0 (1 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 4 4 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

4 5 4 1 U.S. 3 6 (1 24 SCt 1 3 5 4, 1 58 LE2 d 1 7 7 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

5 Hes t er v. S t a t e , 2 83 Ga. 3 6 7

, 3 70 ( 4 ) (6 59 SE2 d 60 0 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Pi t ts v. S t a t e , 2 8 0 Ga. 2 8 8

, 2 8 8 (6 2 7 SE2 d 1 7 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

4ev en ts p o t en t i al l y rel ev an t t o l at er cri m in al p ro s ecu t i on .” 6 Nev ert h el es s , s t at em en t s

m ad e b y wi t nes s es t o q ues ti o n s o f i n v es t i g at i n g o ffi cers are “ n o n tes t im on i al wh en

t h ey are m ad e p ri m ari l y t o en ab l e p o li ce as s i s t an ce to m eet an o n g o i n g em erg en cy

. ” 7

Here, t h e h o s p i t al reco rd s at is s u e co n s is t p ri m ari l y o f a n “ Em erg en cy

Dep art m e n t As s es s m en t Sh eet ,” wh i ch o n t h e fi rs t pag e u n d er “ Tri ag e/ In i t i al

As s es s m en t ” n o t es t h at “ PT PRESENTS T O ER S/ P M VC AND INTOXICATED.

NEEDS TO BE CLEARED TO GO TO J AIL.” Sam u el s arg u es t h at th e ad m i s s i o n o f

t h i s d o cu m en t v i ol a t e d t h e Co n fro n t at io n Cl au s e b ecau s e n o o n e res p on s i b l e fo r

co m p l et i n g t h e fo rm t es ti fi ed at t ri al

. Ho wev er, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as

s p eci fi cal l y h el d t h at “ [m ] ed i cal reco rd s creat ed fo r t reat m en t p urp o s es are n o t

t es t i m o ni al .” 8 An d i n t h i s m at t er, Sam u el s ’ s ho s pi t al reco rd s are n o t t e s t i m o n i al in

n at u re b ecau s e “ t h e ci rcu m s t an ces su rro u n d i n g t h ei r creat io n an d t h e s t at em en t s an d

6 Ha r t z l er v. S t a t e , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 4

, 67 8 -7 9 (2 ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 7 3 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Cu yu ch v. S t at e , 2 84 Ga. 2 9 0

, 2 91 -9 2 (2 ) (6 6 7 SE2 d

8 5 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

7 Ha r t zl er , 3 3 2 Ga. A p p. at 6 79 (2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco rd Cu yu ch

, 2 8 4

Ga. at 2 92 (2 ).

8 B o w l i n g v. S t a t e , 28 9 Ga. 8 8 1, 8 8 8 (3 ) (7 1 7 SE2 d 1 9 0 ) (2 01 1 ); a cco r d

Ha r tz l er , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 9 (2 ); s ee a l s o Mel en d

ez -Di az v. Ma s s a ch u set t

s , 5 5 7 U.S.

3 0 5

, 3 1 2 (III) n .2 (1 2 9 SCt 2 5 2 7

, 1 7 4 L E2 d 3 1 4) (2 0 0 9) (n o t i n g t h at m ed i cal reco rd s fo r t reat m en t p u rp o s es are n o t t es ti m o n i al i n n at u re).

5act i on s of t h e p art ies o b ject i vel y i n d i cat e th at t h e reco rd s w ere prep a r e d w i t h a

p ri m ary pu rp o s e o f faci l i t at i n g [h er] m ed i cal care.” 9 In d eed

, d es pi t e d es cri b i n g

Sam u el s as i n t o xi cat ed , t he reco rd s at i s s u e were n o t req u es t ed b y th e i n v es t i g at i n g

p o l i ce o ffi cers fo r t h e p u r p o s e o f ai d i n g t h e St at e’ s p ro s ecu t i o n , b u t rat h er, were

s i m p l y em erg en cy ro om i nt ak e fo rm s t h at are co m p let ed fo r ever

y i n co m i n g p at i en t

.

Gi v en t h es e part i cu l ar ci rcu m s t an ces , t h e ho s pi t al reco rd s were n o t t es ti m o n i al in

n at u re, an d t h u s , t h ei r ad m i s s i o n d i d n o t v i o l at e Sam u el s ’ s ri g h t s u n d er t h e

Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e. 1 0

Tu rn i n g n o w t o Sam

u el s ’ s hears ay o b

ject i o n t o t h e reco rd s , t h is Co u rt h as

p rev i o u s l y h el d t h at “ [o ] n ce a d et erm i n at i o n i s m ad e th at a st at em en t i s

n o n t es t i m o n i al fo r p u rp o s es o f t h e Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e, t h e s t at em en t i s ad m i s s i b l e

9 B o wl i ng , 2 89 Ga. at 8 8 7 (3 ); s ee al s o Ha r t zl er , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 9 -8 0 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at d efen d an t ’ s m ed ical reco rd s , an d tes t i m on y reg ard in g t h e b l o o d -t es t

res u l ts co n t ai n ed i n h i s m ed i cal reco rd s , were n o t t es t i m o n i al i n n at u re, an d t h u s , t h ei r ad m i s s i o n d i d n ot v i ol at e t h e Co n fro n t at i o n Cl au s e).

1 0 S ee Bo wl i ng , 2 8 9 Ga. at 8 8 7 -8 8 (3 ) (h o l d i n g th at ad m i s s i o n o f d efen d an t ’ s

m ed i cal reco rd s d i d n o t v io l at e t h e Co nfro n t at i o n Cl au s e wh en t h ey w ere prep ared

fo r t h e p r i m ary p u rp o s e o f faci l i t at i n g h is m ed ical care); Ha r tz l er , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. at
6 7 9 -8 0 (2 ) (s am e).

6i f i t fal l s u n d er o n e o r m o re ex cep t i on s t o t h e ru l e ag ai n s t h ears ay .” 1 1 In t h is m at t er,

p ri o r to Sam

u el s’ s t ri al

, th e St at e fi l ed a n ot i ce o f it s i n t en t t o o ffer reco rd s i n to

ev i d en ce 1 2 u n d er OCGA § § 2 4

- 8

- 8 0 3 an d 2 4-9 -9 0 2. 1 3 An d fo ll o wi ng p ret ri al

arg u m en t

, t h e t ri al co urt ru l ed th at t h e h o s p i t al reco rd s were ad m i s si bl e u n d er OCGA

§ 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (6 ), t h e b us i nes s -reco rd s ex cep t io n to h ears ay

. Sam u el s arg u es t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt erred i n d oi ng s o , b u t we d i s ag ree.

In co n s i deri n g t hi s as p ect o f Sam u el s’ s arg u m en t

, we n eces s ari l y b eg i n o u r

an al y s i s wi t h t he t ex t o f OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (6 ), wh i ch p ro v i d es :

1 1 Owen s v. S t at e , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 55

, 45 8 (1 ) (b ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 6 5 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ); s ee

a l s o Th o ma s v. S t a t e , 2 84 Ga. 5 4 0

, 5 4 3-4 4 (6 6 8 SE2 d 7 1 1 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ On ce a d et erm i n at i o n i s m ad e t h at a s t at em en t i s n o n t es t i m o n i al i n n at u re, n o rm al ru l es

reg ard i n g t h e ad m i s s io n o f h ears ay ap p l y .”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 2 Becau s e th i s c a s e wa s t ri ed aft er Jan u ary 1

, 2 0 1 3, o u r n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e

ap p li es

. S ee Ga. L. 2 0 1 1

, p p

. 9 9

, 2 1 4

, § 1 0 1 (p ro v i d i n g t h at Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e ap pl i es “ t o an y m o t i o n m ad e o r h eari n g o r t ri al co m m en ced o n o r aft er” J an u ary 1 , 2 01 3 ).

1 3 OCGA § 24 -9 -9 02 (1 1 ) p ro v i d es t h at “ [t ] h e o ri g i n al o r a d u p l icat e o f a d o m es t i c reco rd o f reg u l arl y co n d u ct ed act i v i t y t hat wo u l d b e ad m i s s ib l e u n d e r

p arag rap h (6 ) o f Co d e Sect io n 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 i f acco m p an i ed b y a wri t ten d ecl arat i o n o f

i t s cu s t od i an o r o t h er q u al i fi ed p ers o n cert ify i n g th at t h e reco rd

. . . was m ad e a t o r

n ear t h e t i m e o f t h e occu rre n c e o f t he m at t ers s et fo rt h b y , o r fro m i n fo rm at i o n

t ran s m i t t ed b y , a p ers o n wi t h k n o wl ed g e o f s uch m at t ers ; [w] as k ep t i n t h e co u rs e o f

t h e reg u l arl y co n d u ct ed act i v i t y ; an d [w] as m ad e b y t h e reg ul arl y co n d u ct ed act iv i t y

as a reg u l ar p ract ice.” It i s wo rt h n o t i n g t hat Sam u el s do es no t arg u e t h at th e St at e fai l ed t o co m

p l y wi t h t h is s t at u t e i n s u b m i t t i n g t h e reco rd s fo r ad m is si o n

.

7Un l es s t h e s ou rce o f i n fo r m a t i o n o r t h e m et h o d o r ci rcu m s tan ces o f

p rep arat i o n i n d ic a te la ck o f t ru s t wo rt hi n es s an d s u bject to t h e p ro v i s i o n s

o f Ch ap t er 7 o f t h i s t i t l e, a m em o ran d u m , rep o rt

, reco rd

, o r dat a

co m p il at i o n, i n an y fo rm , o f act s , e ven t s , co n d it io n s , o p i n i on s , o r

d i ag no s es , if (A) m ad e at o r n ear t h e t i m e o f t h e d es cri b ed act s , ev en t s ,

co n d i t i o n s, o p i n i o n s , o r d i ag n o s es ; (B) m ad e b y , o r fro m i n fo rm at i o n

t ran s m i t t ed b y , a p ers o n wi t h p ers o n al k n o wl ed g e an d a b u s i n es s d u t y

t o rep o r t ; ( C ) k ep t in t h e co u rs e o f a reg u larl y co n du ct ed b u s i n es s

act i v i t y; an d (D) it was t h e reg u lar p ract i ce o f t h at b u si nes s act i v i t y t o

m ak e th e m em o ran d u m , rep o rt

, reco rd

, o r d at a co m pi l at i o n , al l as s ho wn

b y t he t es t i m o n y o f t h e cu s t o d i an o r o t h er q u al i fi ed w i t nes s o r b y

cert i fi cat i on t h at co m

p l ies wi t h p arag rap h (1 1 ) o r (1 2 ) o f Co d e Sect i o n

2 4 -9 -9 0 2 o r b y an y o t h er st at u te p erm i t t i n g c ert i fi cat i o n

. T h e t erm

“ b u s i n es s ” as u sed i n t hi s p arag rap h in cl u d es an y b u s i n es s, in s t i t u t i o n ,

as s o ci at i o n, p ro fes s i o n , o ccu p at io n , an d cal l i n g o f ev ery k i n d

, wh et h er

o r n o t co n d u ct ed fo r p ro fi t

. . . .

As t h i s Co u rt has prev i o u s l y e x p l a i n e d

, b ecau s e o u r n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e i s

co m p arab l e t o t h e Fed eral Ru l es o f Ev i d en ce, t h i s Co urt wi l l “ g i ve co n s i d erat i o n an d

g reat wei g h t t o co n s t ru ct i o n s p l aced o n t h e Fed eral Ru l es b y t h e fed eral co u rt s .” 1 4

An d t ho s e co u rt s h av e h el d t h at “ h os p i t al reco rd s , in cl u d i ng m ed i cal o p i n i on s , are

.

1 4 Cu r ry v. S t a t e , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 0

, 6 13 ( 1 ) (7 6 8 SE2 d 7 91 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee, e.g

. , W i l l ia ms v. S t at e , 3 2 8 G a

. Ap p. 8 7 6, 8 7 9 (1 ) n .1 4 (7 6 3 SE2 d 2 6 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

8. . ad m i t t ed u n d er [Fed eral Ru l e o f Ev i d en ce 80 3 ( 6 )]

, wh i ch ex p res sl y p erm i t s

‘ op i ni o n s ’ an d ‘ di ag n o s es .’ ” 1 5 Gi v en t h i s co n st ru ct io n o f Fed eral Ru l e o f Ev i d en ce

8 0 3 (6 ), 1 6 t h e fact t h at OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (6 ) i s n earl y i d en t ical l y wo rd ed

, 1 7 an d, as

p rev i o u s l y n o t ed

, th e fact t hat t h es e reco rd s were m ad e t o fac i l i t at e Sam u el s ’ s

1 5 Ma n o cch i o v. Mo ra n , 9 1 9 F2 d 7 7 0

, 7 80 (I) (D) (2 ) (1 st Ci r. 1 9 9 0 ); s ee a l s o Un i ted S ta t es v. Ha l l

, 4 1 9 F3 d 9 8 0

, 9 8 7 (II) (A) (9 t h Ci r. 2 0 05 ) (h o l d i n g t h at m ed i cal

reco rd s fro m a ho s pi t al v is i t were k e p t i n t h e ord i n ary co u rs e o f b u s i n es s an d are

“ cl as s i c ex cep t i on s ” t o t he h ears ay ru l e u n der Fed eral Ru l e o f Ev id en ce 8 03 (6 )). Cf

. Co r b et t v. S t a t e , 2 6 6 Ga. 5 6 1, 5 6 5 ( 4 6 8 SE2 d 7 5 7 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (n o t i n g t h at u n d er Geo rg i a’ s fo rm er b u s i n es s ex cep t i o n ru l e, (3 ) wh i ch u n l ik e OCGA § 24 -8 -8 03 (6 ) d id

n o t ex pr e s s l y p erm i t o p in i o n s , h o s p i t al reco rd s were ad m i s s i b l e t o t he ex t en t t h ey

were m ad e i n t h e reg u l ar co u rs e o f b u s i n es s bu t wo u l d co n st i t u t e h ears ay t o t h e ex t en t

t h ey co n t ai n ed o p i n i o n s o f t h i rd p art i es n o t b efo re t h e co urt ).

1 6 S ee Fed

. R. Ev i d

. 8 03 (6 ) (“ T h e fo l l owi n g are no t ex cl ud ed b y t h e r u l e

ag ai n s t h ears ay , reg ard l es s o f wh et h er t h e d ecl aran t i s av ai l ab le as a wi t n es s . . . [a]

reco rd o f an act

, ev en t

, co n d i t i on , op i n i o n , o r di ag n os i s i f

. . . t h e reco rd was m ad e at

o r n ear t h e t i m e b y --o r fro m i n fo rm at i o n t ran s m it t ed b y --s om eo n e w i th k n o wl ed g e;

t h e r e c o rd was k ep t i n th e co u rs e o f a reg u l arl y co n d u ct ed act iv i t y o f a b u s i n es s ,

o rg an i zat i o n , o ccu p at i o n , o r cal l i n g , wh et h er o r no t fo r p ro fi t ; m ak i n g t h e reco rd was

a reg u l ar p ract i ce o f th at act i vi t y ; al l t h es e co n d it io n s are s h own by t he tes t im o n y o f

t h e cu s t o d i an or an o t h er q u al i fi ed wi t n es s , o r b y a cert i fi cat io n t h at co m p li es wi th

Ru l e 9 0 2 (1 1 ) o r (1 2 ) o r wi t h a s t at u t e p erm it t in g cert i fi cat i o n ; an d t h e o p po n en t d o es

n o t s ho w t h at t he s o u rce o f t h e i n fo rm at i on o r t h e m et h o d o r ci rcu m st an ces o f

p rep arat i o n i n di cat e a l ack o f t ru s t wo rt h i n es s .”).

1 7 S e e R O N A LD L. C A R LS O N & M I C H A E L S C O T T C A R LS O N
, C A R LS O N O N
E V I D E N C E 2 7 5 (2 d ed

. 2 0 14 ) (n o t i n g t h at OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (6 ) “ cl o sel y t rack s i t s fed eral co u n terp art ”).

9t reat m en t an d n o t i n an t i ci pat i o n o f p ro s ecu t i o n , th e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot err i n ad m i t t i n g

t h e h o sp i t al reco rd s u n d er OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 0 3 (6 ). 1 8

2

. Sam u el s al s o co n t en ds t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt erred i n fai l in g t o reb u k e t h e

St at e’ s p ro s ecu t o r an d fai l i ng t o p ro v i d e s u ffi ci en t l y cu rat i ve i n s t ru ct i o ns wh en t h e

p ro s ecu to r cl ai m ed du ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en t th at t he h o s p i t al reco rd s i n d i cat ed

Sam u el s h ad a h i s t o ry

o f al co h o l ab u s e. W e d i s ag ree.

OCGA § 1 7 -8 -7 5 p ro v id es t h at wh en

co u n s el i n t h e heari ng o f t h e ju ry m ak e s tat em en t s of p reju d i ci al m at t ers

wh i ch are no t i n ev i d en ce, i t i s t h e d u ty of t h e co u rt t o i n t erp o s e an d

p rev en t th e s am e. On o b

ject io n m ad e, t h e co u rt s h al l al s o reb u k e th e

co u n s el an d b y al l n eed fu l an d p ro p er i n s t ru ct i o n s t o t h e j u ry en d eav o r

t o rem o v e t h e i m

p ro p er i m

p res s i o n fro m t hei r m in d s ; o r, in h i s

d i s cret i o n , h e m ay o rd er a m i s t ri al if t h e pro s ecu t in g at t o rn ey i s th e

o ffen d er.

1 8 See Ha l l

, 41 9 F3 d at 9 8 7 (II) (A) (h ol d i n g t h at m ed i cal reco rd s fro m a h o s p it al v i s i t were k ep t in t h e o r d i n ary co u rs e o f bu s i nes s an d are “ cl as s i c

ex cep t i o n s ” t o t h e h ears ay r u l e p u r s u an t t o Fed eral Ru le o f E vi den ce 8 0 3 (6 )). Cf

. Th o mp so n v. S t a t e , 3 3 2 G a

. A p p

. 20 4

, 20 8 -1 0 (1 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 3 6 4 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at lo s s -p rev en t i o n rep o rt prep ared b y s t o re aft er s h o pl i f t i n g in ci d en t was

n ev ert h el es s n ot m ad e i n an t i ci p at i o n o f p ro s ecu ti o n an d , t h erefo re, was ad m i s s i b l e

u n d er OCGA § 24 -8 -8 03 (6 )).

10An d i t i s wel l es t ab l i s h ed t h at th e d eci s i o n o f wh et her t o g ran t a m is t ri al b ecau s e o f

i m p ro p er co n d u ct b y co un s el res t s wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt

, an d s u ch d eci si o n wi l l n o t b e

o v ert u rn ed ab s en t a m an i fes t ab u s e of d i s cret io n

. 1 9 In d eed

, t h i s Co u rt has rep eat ed l y

h el d t h at

i f t h e t ri al ju dg e act s i m

m ed i at el y , an d i n t h e ex erci s e o f h i s d i scret i o n

t ak es s u ch act i o n as in h i s ju d g m en t p rev en t s h arm t o t h e accu s ed as a

res u lt o f s u ch i m

p ro p er s t at em en ts

, a n ew t ri al wi l l no t b e g ran t ed un l es s

i t is cl ear t h at s u ch act i o n fai l ed t o el im in at e fro m co ns i d erat i o n o f th e ju ry s u ch i m p ro p er s t at em en t s

. 2 0

I n t h i s m at t er, d u ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en t

, th e St at e’ s p ro s ecu t o r ap p aren t l y

s h o wed a s li d e t o t h e ju ry s t at i n g t h at t h e h o s p i t al reco rd s i n d i cat ed t h at Sam u el s h ad

a hi s to ry o f al co h o l ab u s e. Sam u el s ’ s co u n s el o b

ject ed

, an d, d u ri n g a b en ch

co n feren ce, t h e p ro s e c u t o r rei t erat ed t h at t h e wri t t en co m m en t was b as ed o n

i n fo rm at i o n i n t h e h o s p i t al reco rd s

. Sam u el s ’ s co u n s el arg u ed t h at t h e reco rd s

co n tai n ed n o s u ch in d i cat i on , an d t h e tri a l c o u rt ag reed

. Co n s eq u en t l y , t h e co u rt

i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry

as fo l l o ws :

1 9 Ca mp b el l v. S t at e , 3 2 9 Ga. A p p

. 3 1 7

, 3 1 7 -1 8 (1 ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 8 9 5 ) (2 0 1 4 );

a cco rd Pu l l i n v. S t a t e , 2 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 , 4 2 (3 ) (5 7 2 SE2 d 7 2 2 ) (2 0 02 ).

2 0 Ca mp b el l , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p . at 3 1 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed ).

11L a d ies an d g en t lem en o f t h e ju ry , t h ere i s n o ev id en ce in t hi s cas e o f

p as t al co h o l ab u s e. Th ere’ s n o n e. I t h i n k t h ere was ju s t a m i s read i n g o f

t h at h o s p i t al reco rd

, an d y o u can l o o k at i t

, b u t i t was ju s t a m i s t a ke

ab o u t wh at i t say s

. Bu t t h ere ’s n o

– t h ere’ s no ev i d en ce i n t h i s cas e

ab o u t an y p as t al co ho l ab u s e, b y

t h e d efen d an t i n t h i s cas e. Ok ay ?

Th ereaft er, t h e t ri al co u rt al l owed t he p ro s ecu t o r t o res u m e h er cl o s i n g arg u m en t

.

On ap p eal

, Sam

u el s arg ues t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i ng t o reb u k e t h e

St at e’ s p ro s ecu t o r fo r p res en t i n g t h e ab o v e-referen ced s l id e an d fo r p r o v i d i n g an

i n s u ffi ci en t cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n

. Ho wev er, Sam u el s di d n o t o b

ject aft er t h e co u rt

p ro v id ed t h e in s tru ct i o n

. In fact

, a s h o rt t i m e l at er, wh i l e d i s cu s s i n g an o t h er

o b ject i on , Sam

u el s ’ s co u n s el s t at ed t h at t h e co u rt ’ s i n st ru ct i o n “ was ap p ro p ri at e fo r

t h e res p o n s e ab o u t al co h ol ab u s e.” An d i t i s wel l es tab l is h ed t h at “ [i ] f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n s are n o t s u ffi ci en t

, d efen d an t s h o ul d s eek ad d i t io n al rel i ef.” 2 1

Th i s , Sam

u el s fai l ed t o d o ; an d t h i s fai l u re wai v es ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t h e m at t er,

“ i n cl u d in g co m

p l ai n t s ab o u t i m

p ro p er co m

m en ts i n cl o s i n g arg u m en t .” 2 2

2 1 S t u b b s v. St at e , 31 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 2

, 4 8 4 (2 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 2 2 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ); s ee Ga r ci a v. S t a t e , 27 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 4

, 79 6 (2 ) (6 1 1 SE2 d 9 2 ) (2 0 0 5).

2 2 S t u b b s , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p. at 4 8 4 (2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

12Bu t ev en s et t i n g as i d e Sam u el s ’ s wai v er o f t h e i s s u e, g i v en t hat t h e t ri al co u rt

s u s t ai n ed S a m

u el s ’ s o bject i o n an d s p eci fi cal l y in s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry t h at t h e

p ro s ecu to r’ s arg u m en t i n t h i s reg ard was n o t s u p p o rt ed b y t h e ev i d en ce, Sam

u el s ’ s

arg u m en t o n ap p eal l ack s m eri t

. 2 3 In d eed

, wh i l e Sam u el s cl ai m s t h at t h e co u rt

n ev ert h el es s erred by n o t al s o re b u k i n g t h e p ro s ecu t o r i n ad d i t io n t o p ro v i d i n g a

cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n , t h e Su p rem e Co urt o f Geo rg i a h as h el d t h at wh en “ t h e

i n s t ru ct i o n b y t h e co u rt t o t h e ju ry t o d i sreg ard t h e rem ark s w a s fu l l

, i t i n effect

am ou n t ed t o a reb uk e o f co u n s el .” 2 4 A cco rd i n gl y , Sam u el s ’ s arg u m en t i n th i s reg ard

p res en t s n o g ro u n d s fo r rev ers al

.

3

. Sam uel s s i m il arl y co n t e n d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o p ro p erl y ap p l y

OCGA § 1 7 -8 -7 5 w hen i t ov erru l ed h er o b ject i o n t o t h e pro s ecu t or’ s co m m en t d u ri n g

cl o s i ng a r g u m en t t h at t h e h o s p i t al reco rd s i n d i cat ed Sam u el s was i n t o x i cat ed

. Yet

ag ai n , we d i s ag ree.

2 3 S ee Ca mp b el l

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 1 8 (1 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n wh en i t s u s t ai n ed d efen d an t ’ s o b ject i on , reb u ked t h e p ro s ecu t o r, an d

i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry t o n o t co n s i der t h e p ro s ecu t o r’ s s t at em en t t hat was n o t s u p p o rt ed

b y t h e ev i d en ce).

2 4 W ar d v. S t a t e , 2 5 2 Ga. 8 5

, 8 9 (2 ) (3 1 1 SE2 d 4 49 ) (1 9 84 ); s ee a l s o Co u n t s v. Mo o r eh ea d , 2 32 Ga. 2 2 0

, 2 2 1 (1 ) (2 0 6 SE2 d 4 0 ) (1 9 7 4 ).

13Du ri n g th e St at e’ s cl o s i ng , th e St at e’ s p ro s ecu t or su m m ari zed t h e ev i d en ce

ag ai n s t Sam

u el s an d arg u ed t h at “ [w] e al s o h av e t h e m ed i cal rep ort

. . . [an d ] i t s ay s

p reci s el y wh at [d efen s e co u ns el ] referred to in h i s cl os i n g arg u m en t : ‘ Pat i en t p res en t s

t o E.R. m o to r veh i cl e co l l i si o n an d in t ox i cat ed

. Nee d s t o b e c l eared t o g o t o jai l .’ ”

Sh o rt l y th ereaft er, t he p ro s ecu t o r ad d ed : “ An d a l ay p e r s o n c o u l d t el l s h e was

i n t o x i cat ed

. Th at ’ s ex act l y wh at t h e d o ct o r p u t i n t h e rep o rt

. ” Sam uel s o b j ect ed

, b ut

t h e t ri al co urt o v erru l ed t h e o b ject i o n

.

Sam u el s n o w co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ov erru l i n g h er o b j ect i o n an d,

i n d o in g s o , co m

p o u n d ed i t s earl i er erro r i n a dm i t ti n g t h e h o s p i t al reco rd s i n to

ev i d en ce. Bu t al t ho u g h i t i s im p ro p er fo r an at to rn ey d u ri ng cl os i n g arg u m en t s to

i n t ro du ce fact s t h at are n o t i n ev i d en ce, “ co u n sel m ay d raw reas on ab l e i n feren ces o r

d ed uct i o n s fro m t h e ev i d en ce.” 2 5 An d as d i s cu s s ed i n Di v i s i o n 1, su p ra , t h e co u rt d id

n o t err i n ad m i t t i n g t h e h o s p i t al reco rd s. Gi ven t h es e p art icu l ar ci rcu m s t an ces , t h e

2 5 Mes s ick v. S t a t e , 2 76 Ga. 5 2 8 , 5 29 (2 ) (5 8 0 SE2 d 2 13 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

14p ro s ecu to r m erel y m ad e reas o n ab l e in feren ces fro m p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed ev i d e n c e. 2 6

Th u s, Sam

u el s ’ s co n t en t i on i n t h i s reg ard l i k ewi s e l ack s m eri t

.

Fo r al l o f t h e fo reg o i n g reas o n s , Sam u el s ’ s co n v i ct i o n s are affi rm ed

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d McFa d den , J., co ncu r

.

2 6 S ee i d

. (h o l d in g t hat p ro s ecu to r’ s s t at em en t du ri n g cl o s i n g arg u m en t was a

p ro p er i n feren ce fro m t h e ev i d en ce an d

, t h erefo re, d i d n o t w arran t reb u k e an d

cu rat i v e i n s t ru ct i o n u n d er O CGA § 1 7 -8 -7 5 ); To l b er t v. S t a t e , 3 1 3 Ga. A p p

. 4 6

, 5 7 -5 8 (5 ) (7 20 SE2 d 2 44 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (s am e).

15