Opinion ID: 2451781
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: hearsay opinion

Text: Piercy contends that he was required to testify that one of his physicians, a Dr. Holmes, told him in 1989 that he should not have any trouble walking on the injured leg. He urges that the admission of this hearsay was a blatant violation of Ark.R.Evid. 801 and that there is no applicable exception under Ark.R.Evid. 803. Wal-Mart counters that the purpose of the question about Dr. Holmes's evaluation related to Piercy's motive for seeking a second opinion before the trial from Dr. Douglas Parker, whom he had not seen in two-and-one-half years. Dr. Holmes had told Piercy that he should not have difficulty walking on the leg later on. Piercy then sought a second opinion, which he testified to on cross-examination: Q. Now, did your going back to Dr. Parker in 1991, did that have anything to do with this lawsuit being set for trial?
Q. So, because this lawsuit was set for trial, you went back to see Dr. Parker? A. Yes, sir, my attorney requested that I get another leg evaluation. The circuit court did not err in overruling Piercy's objection on hearsay grounds. The fact that Dr. Holmes advised Piercy that he would be able to walk on the leg was offered on cross-examination to prove why Piercy sought a second opinion from Dr. Parker prior to trial. As such, it was not offered, according to Wal-Mart, to prove that Piercy could walk in the future, but rather to show why he went to Dr. Parker. Statements proving motive are not excluded by the hearsay rule. Ark. R.Evid. 803(3); see also Tandy Corp. v. Bone, 283 Ark. 399, 678 S.W.2d 312 (1984). This ruling was discretionary with the circuit court, and that discretion was not abused.