Court Opinion

ID: 9658570
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 21:05:02.2303+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:56.732832
License: Public Domain

*87On Rehearing
SIMPSON, Justice.
The contention is made by the appellant that we were in error in interpreting the record as meaning that the diagram was offered for the purpose of impeaching appellant’s witness, Highway Patrolman Parker. Appellant further contends that the record should be interpreted as meaning that Struthers offered the diagram in evidence for the purpose of impeaching appellant’s witness, Daniels; and that the diagram was not admissible for such purpose.
Under the impulsion of the cogent argument in appellant’s brief, we have restudied the terms of the offer of the diagram with meticulous care. We still entertain the opinion that the most reasonable interpretation of the record is that the diagram was offered for the purpose of impeaching Highway Patrolman Parker.
However, if the diagram had been offered for the purpose of impeaching Daniels, and if the diagram was not proper to be considered for that purpose, appellant still could not sustain his contention that admitting the diagram was error, because the diagram was correctly admissible for the purpose of impeaching Highway Patrolman Parker, even though not offered for that purpose. This results from the rule that if there is a purpose for which offered evidence is admissible, the trial court’s admission in the evidence is not error, even though the evidence was offered for an improper purpose. — Houston Biscuit Co. v. Dial, 135 Ala. 168, 185, syl. 6, 33 So. 268, 273; Cook v. Parham, 24 Ala. 21, 34 syl. 3; Goldsmith v. Picard, 27 Ala. 142, 151, syl. 6; Robinson’s Adm’r v. Allison, 36 Ala. 525, 531, syl. 2; Hart v. Freeman, 42 Ala. 567, 571; Campbell v. State, 23 Ala. 44, 77.
The remedy is, the party against whom the evidence is admitted is to request the trial court to instruct the jury that such evidence should be considered only for the purpose for which is proper. — Cases, supra.
The case of Collins v. Jones, 83 Ala. 365, 3 So. 591, is contrary to the six decisions just cited; but Collins v. Jones ignored five earlier decisions cited above; it relied on cases not in point; it has not been followed in any subsequent case; it was disregarded in the later case of Houston Biscuit Co. v. Dial, 135 Ala. 168, 185, syl. 6, 33 So. 268, cited above; it must be regarded as overborne by the decisions cited above.
It is well to observe that we have lain to one side consideration of whether the diagram was admissible under the Alabama Business Records Act (Code of 1940, Title 7, § 415), and it might also be observed that if the record is susceptible of two interpretations, the court will accept that which is favorable to the appellee. — Dutton v. Gibson, 226 Ala. 647, 148 So. 397.
We entertain the view that the application should be overruled.
Opinion extended and application for rehearing overruled.
All the Justices concur except LIVINGSTON, C. J. and STAKELY, J., not sitting.