Opinion ID: 1197869
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Whether the district court erroneously admitted out-of-court statements by Imperial's employees regarding prior falls

Text: The district court did not base its order on this or the following two issues. However, a respondent may advance any argument to support a judgment even if the district court rejected or did not consider the argument. Ford v. Showboat Operating Co., 110 Nev. 752, 755, 877 P.2d 546, 548 (1994). Paul's friend, McCloud, testified to statements made by employees of Imperial regarding earlier falls by other people in the area where Paul fell. Imperial unsuccessfully objected to this testimony. It maintains that this evidence was improper because it was irrelevant and hearsay. First, we conclude that the employees' statements were relevant to the issue of whether Imperial had constructive notice of a hazardous condition, a question of fact which the jury generally decides. See Sprague v. Lucky Stores, Inc., 109 Nev. 247, 250-51, 849 P.2d 320, 322-23 (1993). Second, the employees' statements were not hearsay. A statement is not hearsay if it is offered against a party and is made by the party's agent or servant concerning a matter within the scope of agency or employment, before termination of the relationship. NRS 51.035(3)(d). The record indicated that the employees who made the statements were working in the area of the dining room and buffet line. Therefore, the statements concerned matters within the scope of the workers' employment and were admissible as statements against Imperial's interest.