Opinion ID: 2360438
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Cramer appeal

Text: In September 2007, appellant Joshua Cramer hit two parked cars in an apartment complex, fled the scene, and then returned upon the request of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Metro) officer. Cramer failed three field sobriety tests and was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). He was transported to the Clark County Detention Center, where he provided a blood sample. The blood analysis, conducted by Michael Stypa, a Metro forensic scientist, showed that Cramer's blood-alcohol concentration was over the 0.08 legal limit, registering at 0.132. Pursuant to NRS 484.385, [1] respondent State of Nevada, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) revoked Cramer's driver's license, and Cramer requested an administrative hearing. Among the evidence considered by the administrative law judge was an affidavit from Stypa testifying to his blood analysis findings. Cramer challenged the admissibility of Stypa's affidavit under NRS 50.320 because Stypa did not state in his affidavit that he had been qualified to testify as an expert in district court. The administrative law judge nevertheless admitted the affidavit and affirmed the revocation of Cramer's license, finding that NRS 50.320 permits an administrative law judge to exercise discretion in admitting an affidavit from a proposed expert in a revocation hearing. Cramer then filed a petition for judicial review in district court. The district court denied Cramer's petition, summarily stating that the administrative law judge's decision was supported by substantial evidence. This appeal follows.