Opinion ID: 1238923
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the trial court abused its discretion when it denied the widow a two day continuance to respond to the medical center's motion for summary judgment.

Text: The widow argues that the trial court erred when it refused to allow her two additional days to obtain affidavits from her expert witnesses in order to respond to the Medical Center's motion for summary judgment. The Medical Center asserts that the widow had plenty of time to obtain evidence to support her claim. However, the medical center does not dispute that the trial court knew of the circumstances surrounding the widow's recent replacement of her attorney, or that she offered to provide the proper affidavits and to respond to the motion for summary judgment if she were given two additional days. For the first time on certiorari, the Medical Center contends that the widow's motion for continuance was fatally flawed because it was not supported by an affidavit. [5] We note that the Medical Center did not make this assertion in the trial court or in its response to the petition in error. [6] Nor does the record reflect whether the trial court considered the lack of an affidavit a factor in its decision to deny the widow's motion for continuance. Rather, it appears that the Court of Civil Appeals sua sponte recognized that the widow did not attach an affidavit to the motion for continuance, and subsequently the Medical Center made this assertion in its response to certiorari. We are not concerned by the form of the motion under these facts because it was signed by counsel of record, who is a member of the Bar of the State of Oklahoma and as such, has already sworn a solemn oath to do no falsehood in court, nor consent that any be done under his name. In addition, between the written motion and the hearing on the motion, it appears that the trial court was fully informed of the materiality of the evidence expected to be obtained and that counsel was proceeding with due diligence to obtain it. After a party moves for summary judgment, the trial court may order a continuance to permit the party opposing the motion to obtain affidavits or to take depositions as justice may require to properly respond to the summary judgment motion. [7] Generally, the granting of a continuance is within the sound discretion of the trial court and refusal to grant a continuance is not reversible error unless an abuse of discretion is shown. [8] In Matter of Estate of Katschor, 543 P.2d 560, 562 (Okla.1975), a will contest case, this Court stated that the general rule is that a continuance based on the absence of a witness or of evidence expected to be given by him is properly refused where the applicant fails to use due diligence to procure the witness or obtain his testimony by deposition. [9] However, quoting from State v. Duerkson, 191 Okla. 670, 132 P.2d 649 (1943), we also said: `The prompt trial and determination of cases in court is most commendable, but when a trial is forced with such dispatch as to result in depriving an interested party of reasonable opportunity to prepare for trial, and secure witnesses; and the whole circumstances are such as to convince that there was an abuse of judicial discretion, it is the duty of this court to reverse ... Whether the ruling of a court on a motion for continuance is within the proper exercise of its sound discretion usually depends on the facts of the particular case, the chief test being whether the grant or denial of the motion operates in the furtherance of justice.' Consequently, we found that where the applicant's attorney was not guilty of a lack of diligence and the evidence sought was essential to the cause, the circumstances justified a continuance and the denial thereof was an abuse of discretion and a denial of justice. [10] Similarly, in Highway Ins. Underwriters v. Evans, 204 Okla. 205, 206-07, 228 P.2d 361 (Okla.1946), 15 A.L.R.3d 1272, we held that the trial court erred and abused its discretion when it refused to grant an application by the defendant for a continuance of 24 hours because of the absence of a material witness. We recognized that no effort had been made at either the trial court or at the appellate level to show that a 24-hour continuance was unreasonable under the facts of that case. Here, although nine months passed from the time the widow filed her petition until she retained a new attorney, the widow promptly retained new counsel when she learned that her lawyer had failed to secure an expert witness. Just a few days after the new attorney was hired, he filed a written motion for continuance explaining that: 1) the widow had replaced her attorney and that the new lawyer had been retained for only a few days; and 2) new counsel would be able to take all necessary depositions of all parties involved, and that he could identify the genuine issues of material fact regarding the Medical Center's alleged negligence, if given until discovery was completed. The Medical Center agreed to an extension of time, and within a few days after filing the motion to continue, the widow's counsel retained two experts. By the time a hearing on the motion for continuance was held, the widow's lawyer identified for the trial court the two expert witnesses and assured the court that within two days she could provide the experts' affidavits and properly respond to the motion for summary judgment. After the motion for continuance was denied, within one month of being hired, the new counsel filed a motion for new trial and attached the affidavits of the two medical experts. Considering all of these facts, we are convinced that the attorney for the widow was not guilty of a lack of diligence. Deposing the experts and providing their affidavits was essential properly to respond to the motion for summary judgment. No showing was made at either the trial court, or at the appellate court, that a two day continuance was unreasonable under these facts. The circumstances justified a continuance and the denial thereof was an abuse of discretion. [11]