Opinion ID: 1669438
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Elaine Puckett's testimony and written memorandum.

Text: ¶ 35. Defendants argue that one of Dr. Blake's nurses, Elaine Puckett, should have been allowed to testify to the substance of the aforementioned phone conversation with Ann Maddox and/or her written memo of the conversation made at or near the time of the phone call should have been admitted into evidence. Portions of Elaine Puckett's memorandum concerning the phone call, on August 7, 1998, include the following: I answered a telephone call at about 10:15, and the lady asked to speak to Dr. Blake. I told her he was talking on another phone call and asked if she would like to leave a message. She said she had called yesterday and he wasn't in and she called back today to try to reach him. She said this is personal and I need to talk to him. `This is about legal stuff.' I asked her to leave her name and telephone number and I would ask him to return her call. She said this is about a lawsuit and she didn't want her name in it. `I think Dr. Blake needs to know what is happening.'    `This is my son-in-law and he is suing Dr. Blake. Dr. Blake needs to know this before he gives his deposition.'    `This is just not right. He is not taking care of his leg and did not before this. They are blaming Dr. Blake and he never took care of his leg.'    `He is seeing a psychiatrist and they are saying this is because he is upset because of what happened to his leg but he was having problems before all this and seeing a psychiatrist.'    `This is my daughter and what they are doing isn't right. Dr. Blake needs to know this. I have two grandchildren and if my daughter knew I was calling they would get mad at me.'    `my husband and I have talked this over and don't think it is right for them to blame Dr. Blake.'    `My son-in-law never took care of his foot. He is saying now that he wishes they would take it off up higher, but I told him that that is the last thing he should be wishing for.' The trial court erred in excluding this testimony. ¶ 36. Furthermore, because the trial court excluded Maddox's testimony and written deposition, she then became an unavailable witness as described in Miss. R. Evid. 804. According to Rule 804(4), unavailability includes situations where the witness is unable to testify due to then existing physical or mental infirmity. Defendants argue that this hearsay evidence should be admitted under Mississippi Rule of Evidence 804(b)(5) as having circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness. ¶ 37. Mississippi Rule of Evidence 804(b)(5) reads in pertinent part: (b) Hearsay Exceptions. The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule if the declarant is unavailable as a witness:    (5) Other Exceptions. A statement not specifically covered by any of the foregoing exceptions but having equivalent circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness, if the court determines that (A) the statement is offered as evidence of a material fact; (B) the statement is more probative on the point for which it is offered than any other evidence which the proponent can procure through reasonable efforts; and (C) the general purpose of these rules and the interests of justice will be best served by admission of the statement into evidence. . . . This Court finds that the conditions for admissibility under Rule 804 were satisfied with respect to Maddox's statements to Puckett. Maddox's statements made to Puckett were admissible only if Dr. Blake could show (1) necessity for the evidence, and (2) adequate indicia of reliability. Jones v. Hatchett, 504 So.2d 198, 202 (Miss.1987). The statement was offered because Maddox raised questions regarding the legitimacy of the plaintiff's claims and had information regarding Clein's physical and mental state before and after the surgery performed by Dr. Blake. All other avenues to elicit testimony from Maddox had been denied or excluded, and this was the only probative evidence of the information known by Maddox about Clein's injuries and about the legitimacy of his claims. From the information obtained in Maddox's written deposition, there is no dispute that Maddox called Dr. Blake's office. What Maddox allegedly failed to remember was the reason for the call and most of what she related. Puckett's testimony would have provided the jury with probative information concerning this phone call. This Court finds that Maddox's statements made to Puckett had circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness, and Puckett should have been allowed to testify as to the content of their conversation. ¶ 38. Additionally, Rule 613(b) of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence provides for the admissibility of prior statements of witnesses. The rule reads as follows: Extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement by a witness is not admissible unless the witness is afforded an opportunity to explain or deny the same and the opposite party is afforded an opportunity to interrogate him thereon, or the interests of justice otherwise require. If Ann Maddox had testified live and subsequently agreed to the contents of Puckett's memo, then this rule would not come into play. However, if her live testimony contradicted the contents of the memo, then Elaine Puckett's testimony would have been admissible. Had Maddox's written deposition been introduced into evidence, then Rule 613 would also apply to Elaine Puckett's testimony, as Maddox had admitted to making the call but denied remembering why.