Opinion ID: 2570789
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Schlumberger did make out a prima facie case for summary judgment with admissible evidence.

Text: In order to make out its prima facie case for summary judgment, Schlumberger had to do so with admissible evidence. [11] The parties here disagree about the admissibility of the evidence relied upon by Schlumberger. Sopko claims that the evidence relied upon by Schlumberger is not admissible. Citing Concerned Citizens v. Kenai Peninsula Borough, [12] Sopko notes that unsworn and unauthenticated documents are not admissible, and are therefore not competent proof for summary judgment. Sopko claims that Schlumberger, in its motion for summary judgment, relied primarily on the unsworn and unauthenticated, and therefore inadmissible, report of Dr. Grace Ziem, who treated Sopko and diagnosed him with various maladies in 1996. As an initial matter, any statements by Sopko to Dr. Ziem are not hearsay as they are admissions by Sopko and fall within the scope of Alaska Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(A). [13] Second, no party disputes the authenticity of the Ziem report; Sopko does not claim that the report relied on by Schlumberger was not actually written by Dr. Ziem. In fact, Sopko cited to Ziem's report himself to support his own factual claims on appeal. Therefore, Sopko cannot now claim that the Ziem report was not authentic and therefore inadmissible. Sopko has also waived his argument that the Ziem report was unsworn and therefore inadmissible. Sopko failed to object on this basis at the summary judgment hearing. Also, as noted, Sopko confirmed the relevant factual statements at the summary judgment hearing and relied on many of them in his opposition to summary judgment. Thus, if the superior court committed any error by allowing Schlumberger to rely on the unsworn Ziem report, the error was harmless. Therefore, Schlumberger properly presented admissible evidence in support of its motion for summary judgment.