Opinion ID: 422249
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Veterans Outreach Center Records

Text: 15 Crosby next challenges the trial court's refusal to allow the introduction in evidence of certain records created and maintained by the Veterans Outreach Center (Vet Center), a storefront counseling service which works closely with Vietnam veterans under the auspices of the Veterans Administration. Crosby sought admission of the records under Rule 803(6) of the Federal Rules of Evidence which allows admission of records compiled as a function of a regularly conducted business activity. The government objected on the grounds that the material contained opinions about PTSD which the Vet Center counselors, who had no training in psychiatry, were unqualified to give. Crosby complains that exclusion of this evidence was unfair in light of the fact that the court did allow admission of medical records compiled at the Veterans Administration Hospital. 16 We uphold the court's refusal to admit the records. First, this evidence was essentially cumulative of other testimony. Two counselors who had seen Crosby during his sessions at the Vet Center from June, 1981 to early January, 1982 testified in detail concerning those meetings. Each explained that Crosby had seemed very agitated and upset, that he complained of having violent nightmares, and that he felt he could not relate to his family and friends. Each also testified that Crosby appeared on the verge of crying when Vietnam was mentioned, and that Crosby was reluctant to talk about his experiences there. Most significant, each of the counselors repeatedly referred to the disputed Vet Center records to refresh his memory during his testimony. It is clear that the counselors' testimony adequately corroborated the complaints which were contained in the disputed records. 17 Moreover, we fail to see how exclusion of this evidence, even if erroneous, would have prejudiced the defendant. Crosby contends that the excluded material relates to his having suffered bad dreams and flashbacks as early as 1971, thus supporting his contention that he was a PTSD victim for some time prior to the events at the VA Hospital. However, testimony of Crosby's brother, mother, wife and friends had already established that Crosby had been suffering from these symptoms, as well as others, for many years prior to 1981. The substance of the records was presented through the testimony of the Vet Center Counselors, and whatever benefit the records might have had with respect to Crosby's defense had already been established by the testimony of other defense witnesses. The court's refusal to allow their admission was properly within its discretion.