Opinion ID: 744916
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Iva Slade's Testimony

Text: 26 Over a hearsay objection, the district court allowed Iva Stade's testimony that her late husband Conch told her that he traded the collision pickup for parts. The district court admitted this hearsay under Fed. Rule Evid. 804(b)(5), the residual exception for an unavailable declarant. A statement having circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness may be admitted under that rule if the court determines that: (A) it is evidence of a material fact; (B) it is the most probative evidence on the point, and (C) the general purposes of the rule and justice are served. Id. The contested statement satisfies all three of these requirements. 27 Generally, the district court must make specific findings of trustworthiness when using this hearsay exception. See Mutuelles Unies v. Kroll & Linstrom, 957 F.2d 707, 713 (9th Cir.1992). If the district court fails to make such findings, we may review the record to determine if the prerequisites of the rule have been met. United States v. Bachsian, 4 F.3d 796, 798 (9th Cir.1993). 28 Upon our review of the record, we find that Conch Slade's statement possesses the threshold circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness and was properly admitted. First, Conch Slade would have no reason to lie to his wife about whether he traded the pickup for parts or left it to be sold on consignment. See Id.; FTC v. Figgie Int'l, Inc., 994 F.2d 595, 608 (9th Cir.1993). Second, there was corroborating evidence for the statement. Iva and Conch Slade planned to trade the collision pickup for parts. Later, Conch Slade returned from the garage without the pickup, having received from Jim's Garage the parts and service for which he sought to trade it. Third, the meaning of the declarant's statement is clear, despite attempts to make it appear ambiguous. Traded means the transfer of property in exchange for other property. Leaving the pickup with the garage to sell on his behalf is not a likely interpretation of the term.