Court Opinion

ID: 9539702
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:08:48.529139+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:59:14.940215
License: Public Domain

Donworth, J.
(concurring in the result) — In my opinion it is not necessary to pass upon the validity of the subpoena duces tecum served on the officials of the state department of employment security.
The information which appellant thereby sought to obtain was readily available to respondent without any subpoena duces tecum.
If on the new trial respondent testifies again that he has no knowledge as to how much unemployment compensation he drew during the material period following his injury, the trial court may compel respondent to produce such information as the court deems pertinent to the issues. He has access to his own records in the department of employment security.
The materiality of this information is apparent from the following portion of appellant’s testimony on cross-examination:
*769“Q. Do you know how much money you drew for unemployment compensation? Do you have the figures on that? A. No, I have not. Q. When did you stop drawing unemployment compensation? A. It was until February of this year. Q. So you drew it up until February of this year, and when you weren’t working you were drawing unemployment compensation? A. Yes, sir. Q. Then you quit drawing in February of this year because you went to work for somebody? A. Yes, sir. Q. So all the time since this accident you either have been working and drawing wages from somebody or drawing unemployment compensation, is that correct? A. No, sir. Not all the time. Most of the time.”
A somewhat analogous situation was before us in Randa v. Bear, 50 Wn. (2d) 415, 312 P. (2d) 640 (1957), where the cross-complainant sued on a medical service contract for hospital services rendered her. She declined to testify as to what her doctor had said and done in treating her, claiming the physician-patient privilege. The trial court sustained her objection to testifying as to these matters. In reversing the judgment in her favor, we held that, by filing her cross-complaint in which she sought to recover on her medical service contract, she had waived the privilege.
The principal object of a lawsuit is to present all material, competent evidence to the trier of the fact for decision on the factual issues. In the present case respondent, by commencing this action for personal injuries, was obligated to produce all material information available to him bearing on his physical condition between the date of the accident and the time of trial. In my opinion he should not again be permitted to suppress material evidence by testifying that he does not have the information as to how much money he drew for unemployment compensation.
In remanding the case, I would make appropriate reference to this matter in the opinion so that both parties will receive a fair trial as well as a new trial.
Rosellini, Foster, and Hunter, JJ., concur with Don-worth, J.