Opinion ID: 2570160
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Did the District Court Err in Considering the Affidavit of Lost River's President in Granting the Motion for Summary Judgment?

Text: Lost River's motion for summary judgment was supported by the affidavit of its president. Esser Electric did not object to that affidavit in the trial court. On appeal, Esser Electric contends that the district court erred in relying upon it because it did not comply with Rule 56(e) of the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure. That rule states, Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein. The party offering the evidence must also affirmatively show that the witness is competent to testify about the matters stated in his testimony. Statements that are conclusory or speculative do not satisfy either the requirement of admissibility or competency under Rule 56(e). Dulaney v. St. Alphonsus Reg'l Med. Ctr., 137 Idaho 160, 164, 45 P.3d 816, 820 (2002) (citations omitted). Esser Electric contends that the district court should not have considered the affidavit of Lost River's president because it contained hearsay and conclusory statements. A trial court has the discretion to decide whether an affidavit offered in support of or opposition to a motion for summary judgment is admissible under Rule 56(e), even if that issue is not raised by one of the parties. Rhodehouse v. Stutts, 125 Idaho 208, 868 P.2d 1224 (1994). However, we have not required the trial court to rule on the admissibility of the affidavit when there is no objection to it. If there is no timely objection, the trial court can grant summary judgment based upon an affidavit that does not comply with Rule 56(e). State, Dept. of Agric. v. Curry Bean Co. Inc., 139 Idaho 789, 86 P.3d 503 (2004) (conclusory affidavit); Tolmie Farms, Inc. v. J.R. Simplot Co., Inc., 124 Idaho 607, 862 P.2d 299 (1993) (statements containing hearsay and lacking adequate foundation); East Lizard Butte Water Corp. v. Howell, 122 Idaho 679, 837 P.2d 805 (1992) (statements lacked adequate foundation). Because Esser Electric did not object to the affidavit of Lost River's president, the district court did not err in relying upon it when granting Lost River's motion for summary judgment.