Opinion ID: 1655637
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The blood tests.

Text: In Richardson v. Richardson, 252 Ark. 244, 478 S.W.2d 423 (1972), we approved the use of blood tests to determine paternity, and undoubtedly the tests are valuable evidence. However, in order for such tests to be admissible, the proper procedure, as set forth in Ark.Stat.Ann. §§ 34-705.1 and 34-705.2 (Supp.1985), must be followed. Section 34-705.1 provides: Whenever it shall be relevant to the prosecution or the defense in an illegitimacy action, the trial court may direct that the defendant, complainant and child submit to one (1) or more blood tests or other scientific examinations or tests, to determine whether or not the defendant can be excluded as being the father of the child, and to establish the probability of paternity if the test does not exclude the father [defendant]. The results of the tests shall be receivable in evidence. The tests shall be made by a duly qualified physician, or physicians, or by another duly qualified person, or persons, not to exceed three (3), to be appointed by the court. The costs of the test shall be taxed as other costs in the case or, in the court's discretion, may be taxed against the county. Such experts shall be subject to cross-examination by both parties after the court has caused them to disclose their findings. Whenever the court orders such blood tests to be taken and one (1) of the parties shall refuse to submit to such test, such fact shall be disclosed upon the trial unless good cause is shown to the contrary. Section 34-705.2 provides: (a) A written report of the test results by the duly qualified expert performing the test certified by an affidavit duly subscribed and sworn to by him before a notary public, may be introduced in evidence in illegitimacy actions without calling such expert as a witness. If either party shall desire to question the expert in the case where he has performed the blood tests, the party shall have him subpoenaed within a reasonable time prior to trial. (b) Actions brought in the State of Arkansas to establish paternity may be brought at any time. Appellant made several objections to the admissibility of the blood tests based on non-compliance with these statutes. First, he argues that Roche was not properly appointed by the county court under § 34-705.1 to perform the blood tests. Based on the record before us, we cannot say that Roche Laboratories was not properly appointed by the county court to perform the tests. Second, he argues that the right to subpoena the expert performing the blood tests for questioning at trial, which is granted by § 34-705.2, was denied him. The appellant issued a subpoena to Dr. Scott Foster in North Carolina eight days before trial. However, Dr. Foster was not served until three days before trial, and he refused to honor the subpoena. [1] Over the appellant's objection, the trial judge ruled that under the circumstances a telephone deposition of Dr. Ronald Barwick would be a reasonable alternative. The deposition was conducted, reduced to writing, and introduced into evidence. While it appears that § 34-705.1 does not require a county judge to appoint a resident of Arkansas to perform blood tests in bastardy proceedings, we hold that the procedure ordered by the judge cannot effectively deny a party the right to subpoena that person and confront him in court. Ark.Stat.Ann. § 34-705.2 provides that the expert performing the test may be subpoenaed if a party wishes to question him at trial. In this case, when the non-resident expert subpoenaed by the appellant refused to honor the subpoena, there was no practical way to enforce it. ARCP Rule 45 only relates to the enforcement of subpoenas served inside the state. See ARCP Rule 45, note 5. In criminal cases, material witnesses may be compelled to honor out of state subpoenas under the Uniform Act to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses from Without the State in Criminal Cases, Ark.Stat.Ann. §§ 43-2005-43-2009 (Repl.1977). No such similar power exists in civil cases, and it is generally recognized that a court cannot compel the attendance of a witness who is beyond the court's jurisdiction. See 97 C.J.S. Witnesses § 17 (1957). We hold that if a county judge is going to use a nonresident firm or individual to perform blood tests in bastardy proceedings, it is his responsibility to see that the person performing the blood test is available for trial, if the proof requires his presence, as though that person were an Arkansas resident; he must be subject to subpoena just as the statute provides. Surely, the legislature did not intend to deprive a party of the right to directly confront the person performing a blood test in a paternity suit. Thus, while ARCP Rule 30(b)(7) authorizes a court to order a telephone deposition in some circumstances, we find that the trial court in this case abused its discretion in doing so. Reversed and remanded.