Opinion ID: 1954920
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: evidential claims

Text: Cole called Hedick as a witness. During direct examination Cole offered Hedick's notes as full exhibits. On cross-examination the court properly permitted inquiry into these notes. While it is settled Connecticut law that inquiry upon cross-examination is limited by the scope of the direct examination; Grievance Committee v. Dacey, 154 Conn. 129, 150, 222 A.2d 339 (1966), appeal dismissed, 386 U.S. 683, 87 S. Ct. 1325, 18 L. Ed. 2d 404, reh. denied, 387 U.S. 938, 87 S. Ct. 2048, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1006 (1967); that scope is determined by all of the evidence offered during direct examination. An exhibit offered and received as a full exhibit is in the case for all purposes. If admitted during direct examination it is as much a part of that examination as the testimony of witnesses. If Cole wished to preclude cross-examination with respect to the contents of the notes, he should not have offered them in evidence during the direct examination. Robinson v. Faulkner, 163 Conn. 365, 373, 306 A.2d 857 (1972). He could have had the notes marked for identification only and withheld the offer until Merrill Lynch presented its case. Shulman v. Shulman, 150 Conn. 651, 659, 193 A.2d 525 (1963). Cole, who appeared pro se, called himself as a witness and was duly sworn. While on the stand he used certain notes in connection with his testimony. On cross-examination counsel for Merrill Lynch was permitted, over objection, to examine these notes. Cole claims that since he acted in the dual capacity of an attorney and party litigant he had a right as an attorney to keep confidential his trial brief notes. The ruling permitting the notes to be examined was correct. If a witness, when testifying, uses a document to refresh his recollection, that document thereby becomes available for examination by the opposing party. State v. Grimes, 154 Conn. 314, 323, 228 A.2d 141 (1966); Neff v. Neff, 96 Conn. 273, 280-81, 114 A. 126 (1921). A pro se party who takes the witness stand is treated like any other witness. The fact that he is also an attorney does not ensconce him in a professional immunity blanket. Cole's further claim that exhibits in the Merrill Lynch (court) case should not have been shown to the jury is without merit in view of the stipulation of the parties that all evidence in both cases will be considered as evidence in both cases.... Parties are not obliged to stipulate with regard to the reception and use of evidence but when they do they are bound by their action.