Opinion ID: 2567337
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Wayment's Evidence Against Fischer Is Inadmissible Hearsay

Text: ¶ 44 Whether proffered evidence meets the definition of hearsay in Utah Rule of Evidence 801 is a question of law, reviewed for correctness. See, e.g., Carter v. Univ. of Toledo, 349 F.3d 269, 274 (6th Cir. 2003) (holding hearsay determination is a legal issue); see also D.A. v. State, 2002 UT 127, ¶ 8, 63 P.3d 607 (explaining that we generally consider the admissibility of evidence to be a question of law). Nevertheless, because application of the hearsay rules in a specific case is so highly fact-dependent, a district court's conclusions on such issues are entitled to some measure of deference. See State v. Pena, 869 P.2d 932, 938-39 (Utah 1994); N.D. v. A.B., 2003 UT App 215, ¶ 11, 73 P.3d 971 (applying Pena to hearsay determinations); State v. Webster, 2001 UT App 238, ¶ 9, 32 P.3d 976 (same); cf. Boren v. Sable, 887 F.2d 1032, 1033 (10th Cir.1989) (The need for deference to a trial court ruling on a hearsay objection is particularly great because the determination of whether certain evidence is hearsay rests heavily upon the facts of a particular case. (internal quotation omitted)). ¶ 45 Wayment points to the following deposition testimony as evidence that Fischer made the allegedly defamatory statements in question: (1) Adam Rodriguez's testimony that Fischer's secretary, M'Lissa Holt, told him that Fischer told her that Wayment was fired because she was on the payroll with the Huntsman Institute; and (2) Jeremy Castellano's testimony that Adam Rodriguez told him that M'Lissa Holt told him that [Wayment] was receiving money from Huntsman and that she was on their payroll and that's why she was fired. ¶ 46 Wayment asserts that the statement by M'Lissa Holt, referred to in both Rodriguez's and Castellano's testimony, is not hearsay because it is a representative admission by a party-opponent under Utah Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(D). We reject this argument. Rule 801(d)(2)(D) allows admission into evidence of an out-of-court statement by a party-opponent's agent or servant concerning a matter within the scope of the agency or employment, made during the existence of the relationship. Utah R. Evid. 801(d)(2)(D); see State v. Worthen, 765 P.2d 839, 847 (Utah 1988). Although Holt is an employee of Fischer and of Clear Channel, there is no indication that Wayment's departure, or Fischer's alleged statements concerning the reasons therefor, fell within the scope of Holt's employment. Cf. United States v. Portsmouth Paving Corp., 694 F.2d 312, 322 (4th Cir.1982) (holding a secretary's account of her employer's statement was admissible under federal rule 801(d)(2)(D) where, in the course of performing her job duties, she had relayed a message from her employer to an associate on the telephone); McCallum v. CSX Transp., Inc., 149 F.R.D. 104, 110 (M.D.N.C.1993) ([E]mployee comments on employment decisions will not bind the organization if the individual had nothing to do with the decision.). Significantly, Holt made the alleged statement to Rodriguez while outside the office on a cigarette break, not while carrying out any aspect of her job. Rule 801(d)(2)(D) therefore does not apply. ¶ 47 Since Holt's statement does not qualify as a representative admission, Wayment's only purpose in offering Rodriguez's and Castellano's testimony on this point is to prove the truth of Holt's statement that Fischer told her Wayment had received money from Huntsman. The testimony thus meets the definition of hearsay, [18] and Wayment suggests no applicable exception that would render it admissible.