Opinion ID: 72090
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of Lab Report Without Testimony of its Author

Text: 10 Pursuant to the business records exception and testimony of Dr. Duane Satzger, the district court admitted Government Exhibit 8, a lab report prepared by Lee Ellis of the F.D.A. Forensic Chemistry Center. It identified other drugs found in the five bottles of hydrocodone removed from Dr. Ulmer's office. The report was prepared in the ordinary course of business under the supervision of Dr. Satzger who is the director of the organic branch of the Forensic Chemistry Center. [R3:82-83]. Garnett contends that the court abused its discretion by admitting the report without the testimony of Ellis, its preparer. 11 The district court has broad discretion in ascertaining admissibility of business record evidence, which should not be disturbed on review in absence of abuse. Capital Marine Supply, Inc. v. M/V Roland Thomas, II, 719 F.2d 104, 106 (5th Cir.1983). In this case the report was properly admitted. See, e.g., U.S. v. Baker, 855 F.2d 1353, 1359 (8th Cir.1988)(lab reports identifying drugs were admissible as business records since they were made on a routine basis). Fed. R. Evid. 803(6) requires the testimony of a custodian or other qualified witness who can explain the record-keeping procedure utilized. It is not necessary for the person who actually prepared the documents to testify so long as there is other circumstantial evidence and testimony to suggest the trustworthiness of the documents. Itel Capital Corp. v. Cups Coal Co., 707 F.2d 1253, 1259 (11th Cir.1983). 12 Based on his personal knowledge of F.D.A. protocol and the procedures followed in this case, Dr. Satzger laid the foundation for admission of the lab report. He testified that reports like the one at issue are regularly prepared at the F.D.A. lab in the normal course of business and that he physically observed the drug samples and reporting in this case. Any matter affecting the credibility of the report was for the jury to weigh. There was no error. 13 AFFIRMED.