Opinion ID: 884294
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Did the District Court err in refusing to allow Toni and Kevin to testify by telephone?

Text: At the November 28, 1995 hearing, at the conclusion of the State's case, Toni's and Kevin's attorney requested that they be allowed to testify by telephone. The State objected relying upon Rule 611(e), M.R.Evid., and this Court's holding in Bonamarte v. Bonamarte (1994), 263 Mont. 170, 866 P.2d 1132. The State argued that it was important for the court to see Toni and Kevin in person in order to determine their credibility. The District Court denied the motion based upon the objections raised by the State and because the motion was untimely. Toni and Kevin contend on appeal that since Toni was allowed to testify by telephone at the June 20, 1995 hearing, she should have been allowed to testify by telephone at the November 28, 1995 hearing. In addition, they contend that there were special and exigent circumstances in their case, as outlined in Bonamarte, that would allow telephonic testimony. In Bonamarte, the wife in a dissolution action was allowed to testify by telephone over the objections of the husband. We noted in that case that the right of confrontation required in all criminal cases in Montana is also required in all civil cases under Rule 611(e), M.R.Evid., and we held that allowing the wife to testify by telephone constituted reversible error. Rule 611(e), M.R.Evid., provides: Confrontation. Except as otherwise provided by constitution, statute, these rules, or other rules applicable to the courts of this state, at the trial of an action, a witness can be heard only in the presence and subject to the examination of all the parties to the action, if they choose to attend and examine. We stated in Bonamarte that requiring a witness to testify personally at trial serves a number of important policies and purposes. These policies and purposes include: assisting the trier of fact to evaluate the witness' credibility by allowing his or her demeanor to be observed firsthand; helping to establish the identity of the witness; impressing upon the witness the seriousness of the occasion; assuring that the witness is not being coached or influenced during testimony; assuring that the witness is not referring to documents improperly; and, in cases where required, providing for the right of confrontation of witnesses. Bonamarte, 866 P.2d at 1134. We concluded that: The integrity of the factfinding process at trial is undermined where the parties do not have the opportunity to confront each other or the witnesses, where the finder of fact does not have the opportunity to observe the parties and the witnesses and where the opposing party cannot effectvely cross-examine the other party or the witnesses. Bonamarte, 866 P.2d at 1135. Nonetheless, we did not adopt a per se rule in Bonamarte that would preclude the use of telephonic testimony at trial in all cases or circumstances. Instead, we stated that Where the trial court approves and all parties consent, or at least have sufficient notice to object and/or make alternative arrangements, we see no reason why telephonic testimony cannot be utilized in appropriate situations where special or exigent circumstances dictate the necessity for that type of testimony, where rights of confrontation and cross-examination are not substantially compromised or are otherwise adequately preserved, where the identity and credibility of a witness are not critical and where there is no need to use documentary or tangible exhibits in examining the witness. Bonamarte, 866 P.2d at 1136. However, the circumstances set forth in Bonamarte, which would allow telephonic testimony are not present in the case before us on appeal; all parties did not consent, there was not sufficient notice to make alternative arrangements and this was not a situation where special or exigent circumstances dictated the necessity for this type of testimony. The reasons the wife in Bonamarte gave for not being able to testify in person included fear of her husband, the cost of traveling from New Jersey to Montana, and the inability to obtain adequate child care for her son while she traveled to Montana for the hearing. We concluded that none of these reasons constituted special or exigent circumstances necessitating telephonic testimony and we held that the District Court abused its discretion in allowing the wife to testify by telephone over objection. Bonamarte, 866 P.2d at 1137. As was the case in Bonamarte, financial inability of Toni and Kevin to travel to Montana for the hearing does not constitute special or exigent circumstances. Moreover, the credibility of Toni and Kevin as to their compliance with and completion of the treatment plan was critical to the disposition of their parental rights. It was necessary for the court to observe their demeanor while testifying in order to determine whether the conduct rendering them unfit was likely to change within a reasonable time. Hence, this was not a case where telephonic testimony would have been proper. Furthermore, Toni's and Kevin's motion to testify by telephone was not made until after the conclusion of the State's case. The District Court, stating that other arrangements could have been made if their had been sufficient notice, deemed the motion untimely and unreasonable. We find no abuse of discretion with the District Court's ruling. Accordingly, we hold that the District Court did not err when it refused to allow Toni and Kevin to testify by telephone.