Opinion ID: 1312087
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dr Sopher's Argument: Off the Record

Text: Dr. Sopher could have properly presented the unrecorded alleged Rule 404(b) argument before this Court if such an argument was made and the argument was omitted from the transcript. Pursuant to Rule 9(f) of this Court's Rules of Appellate Procedure, [a]ny omission, misstatement, or error, either clerical or otherwise, in the record may be corrected at any time by stipulation filed with the Supreme Court. Under this provision of our appellate rules, Dr. Sopher was required to obtain and file with this Court a stipulation, agreed to by the opposing party (and trial judge had he not passed away), which outlined the substance of any omitted Rule 404(b) discussion. See Dupre v. Fru-Con Engineering Inc., 112 F.3d 329 (8th Cir.1997) (noting that under federal appellate rules counsel is required to file a motion to modify content of record to disclose what counsel alleged actually transpired off the record in district court). See also Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 10(e). The stipulation requirement of Rule 9(f) establishes a standard that is applicable to all attorneys who seek to have this Court consider an objection not appearing on the record. Counsel for Dr. Sopher, in the final analysis, would have this Court deviate from its long established standard and permit the averments in his brief to be accepted as accurately depicting what occurred. Lacking this documentation, counsel's [allegations] amounted to nothing more than an attorney's argument lacking evidentiary support. Powderidge Unit Owners Ass'n v. Highland Properties, Ltd., 196 W.Va. 692, 707, 474 S.E.2d 872, 887 (1996). [S]elf-serving assertions without factual support in the record will not [suffice]. Williams v. Precision Coil, Inc., 194 W.Va. 52, 61 n. 14, 459 S.E.2d 329, 338 n. 14 (1995). The majority has correctly held counsel for Dr. Sopher to the well-reasoned standard of Rule 9(f) with which all attorneys must comply.