Opinion ID: 1297437
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Alleged error in receipt in evidence of sales of cows without competent proof they were infected with brucellosis

Text: Eldon Odegard, an employee of the federal government, made blood tests of Olson's herd on March 31, 1964 and May 25, 1964. Odegard submitted written reports of such tests to Olson. The trial court refused to admit such reports under SDCL 1967 19-7-11, The Uniform Business Records as Evidence Act, and we believe properly so. They did not qualify as business records of Olson. Pruett v. Burr, 118 Cal.App.2d 188, 257 P.2d 690. Odegard was not called as a witness and the reports were not otherwise identified by the custodian thereof or any other qualified witness. See Bentz v. Cimarron Ins. Co., 79 S.D. 510, 518, 114 N.W.2d 96, 99, for foundation necessary to admit business records. Based on such tests and reports Olson was permitted to testify that between April 3, 1964 and June 3, 1964, he sold 14 head of infected cows for a total price of $2018.16 and sales slips showing such sales were received in evidence. Essential to Olson's claim for damages sustained by reason of such sales was competent proof that the cows sold were in fact infected. Olson was not qualified to establish such fact from his own knowledge, but had to rely on the report of Odegard. The report was obviously hearsay and since it did not qualify as a business record of Olson, his oral testimony to prove the same fact contained in the report should not have been allowed. The trial court appears to have permitted such testimony on the assumption that the report could be used to refresh Olson's recollection. A memorandum made by another person may be used to refresh the recollection of a witness if, after inspecting it, he can testify from his own recollection, or remembers having seen it when his memory of the facts was still fresh, and recollects that he then knew statements therein to be correct. Brown v. Smith, 24 S.D. 231, 123 N.W. 689. Before a witness may refresh his recollection from a document it is necessary that both the use of the writing and the testimony given are relevant and the witness is competent to testify to the matters therein contained. See Annot., 82 A.L.R.2d 485, 500. The record does not show that Olson was competent to testify from his own knowledge that the cows were infected. Without the foundational testimony of Odegard, or other competent evidence that the cows sold were infected, it is our opinion that the trial court erred in receiving into evidence the sales slips showing the sale of the 14 head claimed to have been infected as shown in said reports.