Opinion ID: 2372644
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Were the Payroll Records of Mrs. Griffin and Mrs. Callahan Properly Admitted into Evidence?

Text: Mrs. Griffin testified that on the morning of September 27 she arose at 5 a.m., as was her custom. She saw her son asleep in his bed and saw his girlfriend, Jacqueline L'Esperance, also asleep on the couch downstairs. Mrs. Callahan came to Mrs. Griffin's home at about 7 a.m. since she and Mrs. Griffin had planned to spend the morning shopping at the Ann & Hope department store. Mrs. Callahan recalled that she saw Edward when he came downstairs at about 8 a.m. Prior to that time she had heard someone in the shower (presumably it was Edward since everyone else was accounted for). She and Mrs. Griffin both testified that they were home that morning since the employees of the IMH were on strike and therefore they were not able to go to work. In rebuttal the state presented Mrs. Marie C. Judge who testified that she was the custodian of records for the Department of Elderly Affairs. Part of her duties included the handling of payroll records for senior companions. Mrs. Judge testified that she received payroll vouchers from the IMH which were signed by Mrs. Griffin and Mrs. Callahan. These vouchers were offered in evidence and tended to show that Mrs. Griffin and Mrs. Callahan worked during the morning of September 27. These vouchers further indicated that the strike at the IMH was not in progress on September 27 but had in fact occurred the prior week, September 17 through September 19. The defendant challenges the receipt of these records in evidence on the ground that they do not meet the common-law standards for introduction of business records. The defendant cites Quint v. Pawtuxet Valley Bus Lines, 114 R.I. 473, 481, 335 A.2d 328, 333 (1975), as setting forth the following common-law requirements for admissibility of business records: The record maker and each human link in the chain of information, if living and competent, had to testify that the entry was made in the regular course of business in his handwriting or under his immediate supervision and each provider of information contained in the report had to testify. If any necessary witness such as the maker was deemed incompetent or was absent from the jurisdiction at trial time, other witnesses had to identify the record and explain how and by whom it was kept. State v. Mace, 6 R.I. 85 (1859). The defendant further contends that the common-law test for admission of a business record is still in effect in this state in regard to criminal cases. For this purpose defendant cites State v. Guaraneri, 59 R.I. 173, 177, 194 A. 589, 591 (1937). Guaraneri dealt with the admission of a hospital record under circumstances wherein impertinent and highly prejudicial matter was allowed into evidence. Thus the trial justice's ruling would have been erroneous even if the record relating to treatment had been properly admitted. Id. at 178, 194 A. at 591. Nevertheless, our more recent cases such as State v. Jamgochian, 109 R.I. 46, 49-50, 280 A.2d 320, 322-23 (1971) and State v. Pope, R.I., 414 A.2d 781, 785 (1980), would give support to defendant's contention that the common-law restriction on introducing a business record is still applicable to criminal cases. The restriction of the common law in introduction of business records has been roundly criticized by Professor Wigmore in 5 Wigmore, Evidence § 1530 at 451-52 (Chadbourn rev. 1974): In such a case, it should be sufficient if the books were verified on the stand by a supervising officer who knew them to be the books of regular entries kept in that establishment; thus the production on the stand of a battalion of bookkeepers, salesmen, shipping clerks, teamsters, foremen, or other employees, should be dispensed with.    Such entries are dealt with in that way in the most important undertakings of mercantile and industrial life. They are the ultimate basis of calculation, investment, and general confidence in every business enterprise. Nor does the practical impossibility of obtaining constantly and permanently the verification of every employee affect the trust that is given to such books. It would seem that expedients which the entire commercial world recognizes as safe could be sanctioned, and not discredited, by courts of justice. Similarly, in commenting upon the common-law requirement of authentication, Professor McCormick suggests that [i]n light of present business practices, the common law requirement is clearly unreasonable. The complex nature of modern business organizations is such that all participants in the preparation of a record can most often not be identified or, if they can be pinpointed, could not reasonably be expected to have any helpful recollection concerning the specific transactions at issue. Moreover, production of the large numbers of participants that would be required would be a substantial burden on the offering party, a burden not likely to be justified by the benefits to be derived from requiring production of all participants. McCormick's Handbook of the Law of Evidence § 312 at 729 (2d ed. Cleary 1972). A most reasonable balance has been struck in the Federal Rules of Evidence dealing with the introduction of business records. Rule 803(6) provides as follows: Records of regularly conducted activity. A memorandum, report, record, or data compilation, in any form, of acts, events, conditions, opinions, or diagnoses, made at or near the time by, or from information transmitted by, a person with knowledge, if kept in the course of a regularly conducted business activity, and if it was the regular practice of that business activity to make the memorandum, report, record, or data compilation, all as shown by the testimony of the custodian or other qualified witness, unless the source of information or the method or circumstances of preparation indicate lack of trustworthiness. The term `business' as used in this paragraph includes business, institution, association, profession, occupation, and calling of every kind, whether or not conducted for profit. We are of the opinion that the time has come for this court to adopt a rule of reason for the introduction of business records in criminal cases and to strike off the meaningless shackles of the common-law requirements for introduction of such records in criminal cases. We are impelled to this conclusion because we believe that the common-law requirement adds nothing to the reliability of the record to be introduced, given the business practices of the twentieth century. Therefore, we adopt the standards set forth in Federal Rule 803(6) for the introduction of business records as evidence in criminal cases. Since the common-law rule was judge-made, this court has the authority to modify such a rule in order to meet changing circumstances and the requirements of modern developments in business and organizational practices. See, e.g., Ritter v. Narragansett Electric Co., 109 R.I. 176, 187, 283 A.2d 255, 261 (1971); Henry v. John W. Eshelman & Sons, 99 R.I. 518, 527, 209 A.2d 46, 51 (1965) (Joslin, J., concurring). Applying the standards set forth in Federal Rule 803(6), the foundation laid for introduction of these exhibits was adequate. Mrs. Judge was the custodian of the records. She was responsible for administering payroll. The claim for payment made by the two senior companions and approved by their supervisor was the type of information upon which her payroll records and authorization for payment were based. This is not unlike the circumstances described in 5 Wigmore, supra, at § 1530, wherein the custodian of records makes entries on the basis of information given by others. The defendant further objects to the receiving of these payroll vouchers into evidence because they were prepared prior to the making up of the payroll. This circumstance does not constitute a violation of the standards set forth in Federal Rule 803(6). It is specifically provided that a memorandum in any form of acts, events, or conditions made at or near the time by, or from information transmitted by, a person with knowledge, may be admitted into evidence. In the instant case Mrs. Judge testified that although the vouchers were made up in advance, she would be notified before the payroll was completed in the event that any information contained on the voucher should be changed. In this case no such change was transmitted. Consequently, the trial justice was not in error in admitting the payroll vouchers into evidence.