Opinion ID: 2017573
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Liability of Winningham, Zelka and Sumark Sand

Text: Winningham did not appear or testify at the trial. His discovery deposition was taken and was partially read. In closing argument to the jury, appellant's counsel commented on the absence of Winningham and the inferences that could be drawn from it. Counsel for Winningham objected but the trial court allowed the argument to proceed. Counsel for Winningham then presented a requested instruction to cover the argument of plaintiff's counsel to which Winningham's counsel had had no opportunity to reply. Appellant's counsel objected to the proposed instruction. The court commented that he could handle the matter. He undertook to do so by giving the following instruction to the jury: First of all, may I say to you that in the trial of this lawsuit, as in any civil lawsuit, all of the parties had the right to subpoena witnesses. This means to bring them here by the power of the court, under subpoena, and they may do so as to any witness, whether he is a party to the action or whether he is merely a person who has no interest in the lawsuit. So the parties involved in a lawsuit have the full right of the use of subpoena powers to bring before the court any and all witnesses. As a result, there is no inference to be drawn as to why or under what conditions certain parties were or were not here. The entire matter of bringing parties before the court to testify lies within the discretion of the attorneys who may so use the subpoena powers. No objection was made by appellant's counsel to the instructions given by the court. GCR 1963, 516.2, provides: .2 Objections. No party may assign as error the giving or the failure to give an instruction unless he objects thereto before the jury retires to consider the verdict, stating specifically the matter to which he objects and the grounds of his objection. Opportunity shall be given to make the objection out of the hearing of the jury. Opportunity to enter objections was afforded counsel by the court. No objection was made by plaintiff's attorney to the instruction given by the judge. We conclude that appellant's assignment of error in such regard is not properly before us under Hunt v. Deming (1965), 375 Mich 581, 584, 585. Liability on the part of Zelka of Sumark Sand must be predicated upon the finding of negligence on the part of Winningham. The jury found none. The trial judge did not err in denying plaintiff's motion for a new trial as to defendants Winningham, Zelka and Sumark Sand.