Opinion ID: 1161511
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Cross-examination of George Frusetta

Text: [28] Plaintiffs contend that they were deprived of their right to cross-examine George Frusetta as an adverse party under former Code of Civil Procedure section 2055. [50] (Now see Evid. Code, ง 776, subd. (a).) In presenting their case in chief plaintiffs called George Frusetta as a witness on February 14, 15, 16, and 19, 1962. Plaintiffs' attorneys then sought to question him about whether he knew that at the time his father purchased the Syncline Ranch the oil and gas rights in section 31 had been transferred to the corporations. The trial court expressed doubts as to the relevancy of this line of questioning and ruled that the evidence, if relevant, could more appropriately be presented during plaintiffs' rebuttal. Plaintiffs' attorneys did not question Frusetta further and defense counsel asked him no questions. The trial court excused Frusetta from the stand but told him that on 48 hours' notice he could be called again. In March 1962 Frusetta, who was then 75 years old, was hospitalized and underwent an operation, following which he developed a serious infection. In May 1962 his physician testified in court that further participation in courtroom proceedings would endanger Frusetta's life. The trial court decided not to order him to appear again as a witness; instead, it gave plaintiffs permission to prepare questions to be submitted to Frusetta by the court reporter after the court had ruled on any objections to the questions. Although plaintiffs did not object to this procedure at the time of the court's ruling, they did so following the time set for submission of questions to the court, offering instead to examine Frusetta at his home or in other surroundings. The trial court adhered to its original ruling, and plaintiffs submitted no questions. Plaintiffs now claim they were denied their right to cross-examine Frusetta. This is not a case, however, in which a witness' direct testimony remains untested by the probe of cross-examination; defendants' attorneys did not call or question Frusetta. [29] The purpose of former section 2055 was to permit one party to call and question an adverse party without the much-condemned disadvantage of being bound by the adverse party's testimony. (Witkin, Cal. Evidence (2d ed. 1966) pp. 1098-1099.) The section gave no absolute right to examine a witness claiming adversely; plaintiffs can no more claim a complete right to examine an adverse party unavailable because of illness (cf. Evid. Code, ง 240, subd. (a) (3)) than can defendants vindicate a right to examine plaintiffs' deceased predecessors. The trial court found that Frusetta would be too ill to testify in court during the expected duration of the trial; this finding cannot be disturbed on appeal. The court outlined certain arrangements for obtaining any further testimony; plaintiffs have not shown that the court abused its discretion in failing to allow the procedure belatedly suggested by plaintiffs. Moreover, plaintiffs suffered no prejudice because of Frusetta's illness. Even if Frusetta's prior knowledge of the Ashurst and COP interest would be relevant to any issue properly in this case, plaintiffs questioned him at length on this subject in his deposition, which was in evidence at the trial.