Opinion ID: 2403835
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: witness intimidation efforts admissible as substantive evidence

Text: In support of his motion to sever the malpractice claim from the tortious interference claim, Dr. Gehret's attorney argued that there is the tremendous danger that the jury would read into Dr. Gehret's alleged actions [in sending the message to Dr. Dein] an implicit concession of liability in the medical malpractice claim, resulting in irreversible prejudice. The Superior Court agreed. It granted Dr. Gehret's motion to sever on the basis that there was far too much opportunity for confusion among the jurors [and] for an inflammatory response from the jury. After the Superior Court granted the motion to sever, Dr. Gehret's attorney petitioned the court to preclude the McCools from offering any evidence in the malpractice trial of Dr. Gehret's efforts to interfere with Dr. Dein. The Superior Court granted this motion as well, ruling that evidence of the intimidation efforts was inadmissible because it was unduly prejudicial to Dr. Gehret. D.R.E. 403. Alternatively, the Superior Court viewed the evidence regarding Dr. Gehret's intimidation efforts as irrelevant to the McCools' malpractice claim against Dr. Gehret. This Court has held that attempts to improperly influence a witness' testimony are fundamentally unfair and pervert the truth-seeking function of trial. Weber v. State, Del.Supr., 457 A.2d 674, 679 n. 6 (1983). Similarly, the second trial judge condemned Dr. Gehret's conduct: [Dr.] Gehret's behavior in vicariously conveying insinuating messages to [Dr.] Dein by way of [Dr.] Krell was reprehensible. Surely this conduct is not within the scope of acceptable means to defend a suit properly before the Court. Thus, Dr. Gehret was undoubtedly correct that the jury may have reacted adversely to the evidence of his efforts to intimidate Dr. Dein. Nevertheless, it is precisely because of the egregious nature of such conduct that the law expressly permits the jury to make adverse inferences from a party's effort to intimidate witnesses or otherwise suppress probative evidence against him. According to McCormick: [W]rongdoing by the party in connection with its case ... is also commonly regarded as an admission by conduct. By resorting to wrongful devices, the party is said to provide a basis for believing that he or she thinks the case is weak and not to be won by fair means.... Accordingly, the following are considered under the general category of admissions by conduct ... undue pressure by bribery, intimidation, or other means to influence a witness to testify favorably or to avoid testifying; ... McCormick on Evidence § 265 (John W. Strong, et al. eds., 4th ed. 1992). Accord 2 John H. Wigmore, Wigmore on Evidence § 278(2) (Chadbourn Rev.1979). [7] The Maryland Court of Special Appeals, confronted by facts similar to those sub judice, applied the venerable legal principles described by Wigmore and McCormick. Meyer v. McDonnell, 40 Md.App. 524, 392 A.2d 1129, 1134 (1978). In Meyer, two expert witnesses were scheduled to testify against a doctor in a medical malpractice trial. The doctor telephoned associates of each witness and asked them to call the witness and communicate intimidating statements. Notwithstanding the doctor's efforts, both witnesses ultimately testified as experts for the plaintiff. In Meyer, the court held that evidence of the doctor's efforts at intimidation was: admissible as tending to show his consciousness of the weakness of his case and a belief that his defense would not prevail without the aid of such improper and unfair tactics as those in which he engaged. This, in conjunction with the other evidence in the case, may lead to the further inference that appellee considers his case to be weak because he, in fact, is guilty of the negligence which appellant asserts he committed. Such inferences are, of course, merely permissible and the jury is free to either accept or reject them as it sees fit. Id. Accord DiLeo v. Nugent, 88 Md.App. 59, 592 A.2d 1126 (1991); Miller v. Montgomery County, 64 Md.App. 202, 494 A.2d 761, cert. denied, 304 Md. 299, 498 A.2d 1185 (1985). The holding, in Meyer, that an attempt to intimidate a witness is admissible as tending to show a party's consciousness of the weakness of his or her case, has recently been reaffirmed. Shpak v. Schertle, 97 Md.App. 207, 629 A.2d 763, cert. denied, 333 Md. 201, 634 A.2d 62 (1993). The court stated further,  Meyer does not require the underlying testimony to be otherwise relevant; rather, it provides that testimony of spoliation is, in and of itself, substantive evidence in support of the other party's claim. Id. 629 A.2d at 772. Thus, a party's efforts to interfere with a witness are not simply admissible as impeachment evidence of the tampering party's credibility. Meyer v. McDonnell, 392 A.2d at 1134. The opposing party is entitled to introduce facts regarding efforts to intimidate a witness as substantive evidence. Although such evidence may not be sufficient to establish a prima facie case, it has probative value with respect to the tampering party's consciousness of the weakness of his or her position on the merits and may be considered by the jury for that purpose. See 18 Del.C. § 6853. Accord Meyer v. McDonnell, 392 A.2d at 1134. Consequently, from the evidence of interference and the other evidence in this case, the jury could infer that Dr. Gehret considered his case to be weak because he was, in fact, guilty of the negligence which the McCools alleged. Meyer v. McDonnell, 392 A.2d at 1134. The condition precedent to admitting evidence of interference with a witness is a demonstration that the acts alleged are attributable to the opposite party and that the acts alleged were done with the intent to interfere. See David B. Harrison, Annotation, Admissibility and Effect, on Issue of Party's Credibility or Merits of his Case, of Evidence of Attempts to Intimidate or Influence Witness in Civil Action, 4 A.L.R.4th 829 (1981). In this case, the second trial judge ruled: Having heard [Dr.] Gehret's testimony and observed his demeanor at trial, the Court finds that [Dr.] Gehret's characterization of his discussions with [Dr.] Krell was disingenuous. The Court concludes that the defendant's act of calling Dr. Krell was an intentional attempt to relay a message to [Dr.] Dein and to influence him concerning his participation in Mrs. McCool's case. Once a sufficient showing is established, the evidence of interference is presented to the jury, along with appropriate instructions from the trial judge. The jury can then either reject or accept that evidence. If the evidence is accepted by the jury, it may support an inference that the party charged with interference is conscious of the weakness or unjust nature of his or her case. Accordingly, it may be considered as substantive evidence in support of the other party's claim, e.g. negligence in this case. This Court has held that excluding evidence of efforts to influence a witness' testimony constitutes reversible error. Weber v. State, Del.Supr., 457 A.2d 674 (1983). [8] Even though evidence of Dr. Gehret's efforts to intimidate the McCools' expert witness would have been prejudicial to his case, it was the abhorrent nature of such conduct that made it admissible. In the case sub judice, the McCools were absolutely entitled to introduce the evidence of Dr. Gehret's attempt to intimidate Dr. Dein as substantive evidence during the trial of their medical malpractice claim. See Meyer v. McDonnell, 392 A.2d at 1134. See also McQueeney v. Wilmington Trust Co., 779 F.2d 916 (3d Cir.1985). Cf. Weber v. State, 457 A.2d at 678-83. The Superior Court's decision to exclude from the malpractice trial the evidence that Dr. Gehret attempted to interfere with the McCools' expert witness was reversible error. Accord Weber v. State, 457 A.2d 674.