Opinion ID: 1750964
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the use of the deposition.

Text: The first question which must be answered in this case is: Was the plaintiff entitled to read the deposition of William Burditt into evidence? This question must be answered because the Court of Appeals has stated flatly that in its opinion none of the depositions should have been received in evidence. Although this discussion is actually a blind alley so far as the decision in this case is concerned, the matter is an important one to the bench and bar, and merits our interpretation of the applicable court rules. It is important to note at the outset that there are two entirely different kinds of depositions contemplated by the rules. On the one hand, there are depositions of mere witnesses who are not parties to the lawsuit. On the other hand, there are depositions of parties, their officers, directors, agents and employees. The practice governing the use and effect of these two distinct and different types of depositions is clearly outlined in the court rules. [3] The difficulty in this case lies in the fact that under our trial practice it is possible for a party to call his adversary in one of two ways: either for cross-examination under the statute, [4] or as his own witness. If the former result is desired, counsel is required to announce the purpose for calling the witness. [5] The Court Rules permit parallel options in the use at trial of depositions. If the deposition of a party or his agent is offered under GCR 1963, 302.4(2), [6] there is a use of the deposition which parallels the calling of an opposite party for cross-examination under the statute. [7] If the deposition of an adverse party, however, is offered under General Court Rule 1963, 302.4(3), [8] it parallels the calling of an adverse party as a witness without announcing the purpose therefor and makes the deponent the witness of the party calling him. If, as we have seen, the use of depositions parallels the calling of witnesses at trial, it would be good practice for counsel to announce his purpose in offering the deposition, and better practice for counsel to indicate the court rule pursuant to which he offers the deposition. It is possible to conceive of situations in which such a failure would have the effect of making the deponent the witness of the party offering the deposition. Nevertheless, the making of such announcement will not be strictly required when under all of the facts and circumstances the intended use of the deposition is apparent. In the instant case, Burditt was present in the courtroom at the time his deposition was offered and he had not yet testified in the case. Therefore, it was obvious that his deposition was not being offered because of his unavailability under Rule 302.4(3), nor was it being offered to impeach him under Rule 302.4(1). To have permitted the use of the deposition under Rule 302.4(1) or 302.4 (3) would have been error under the circumstances, and error will not be presumed. Thus, it is obvious that the deposition of William Burditt was offered, though no announcement was made, pursuant to Rule 302.4(2), paralleling cross-examination of an adverse party. By such use of the defendant's deposition plaintiff did not make Burditt his own witness. GCR 1963, 302.6 clearly indicates this: .6 Effect of Taking or Using Depositions. A party shall not be deemed to make a person his own witness for any purpose by taking his deposition. The introduction in evidence of the deposition or any part thereof for any purpose other than that of impeaching the deponent makes the deponent the witness of the party introducing the deposition, but this shall not apply to the use by an adverse party of a deposition as described in subrule 302.4(2). (Emphasis supplied.) It is thus concluded that there was no error in permitting the Burditt deposition to be read in evidence. And under the circumstances of this case the introduction in evidence of Burditt's deposition did not make Burditt plaintiff's witness.