Court Opinion

ID: 9535237
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:47:06.399605+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:11.907143
License: Public Domain

MOLLOY, Chief Judge
(specially concurring).
I concur in the result reached, but the majority opinion inadequately expresses my reasons for believing that there should be a new trial granted to the plaintiffs in this action.
The plaintiffs’ case is predicated upon the assertion that the defendant was not using the proper methods to keep its floors free from the type of debris which might cause a slipping accident. In attempting to show this, the plaintiffs cross-examined the defendant’s district supervisor as to the methods used in keeping produce from getting on the floors of its stores. This witness, Mr. Ramsey, testified that the defendant knew of a hazard involved in handling “wet” produce, such as lettuce, but that the defendant used constant vigilance to protect against accidents caused by such produce being dropped on the floor. He described in detail the system used in such manner as to convey the impression that the floors were kept as clean as possible. Mr. Ramsey answered with a categorical “Yes, sir,” the following question:
“In November of 1961, I take it all dtiring the month of November 1961 you had the same policy at the Speedway store concerning sweeping and maintenance of the floors, clean-up of the floors; did you not?” (Emphasis added)
Mr. Ramsey was not at this store on the day of this alleged accident and had no personal knowledge of the occurrence to which the plaintiffs testified. Whatever knowledge he had of this particular incident he based upon the written report submitted by the store manager, Mr. Helms, which report indicated that the accident occurred on November 12, 1961. The plaintiffs were not permitted to introduce portions of Mr. Helms’ deposition at the trial, because Mr. Helms referred in his deposition to the fall of a “Mrs. Rhodes” which occurred on November 12, 1961, at 2 p. m., and the plaintiff had testified that she fell on November 21, 1961, at 9 a. m. Accordingly, the trial court concluded that Mr. Helms was talking about another accident so that his testimony was immaterial.
Though the defendant eventually stipulated that this accident occurred on November 21st, Mr. Ramsey refused, on cross-examination, to either admit or deny that the plaintiff had slipped on the floor of the *583Speedway store either on November 12th, or on November 21st. The plaintiffs’ position at the trial was that, regardless of whether Mr. Helms was talking about this same accident, or another one, the testimony was relevant. I agree with this contention.
Mr. Helms was a “managing agent” of the defendant, City of Tucson v. Koerber, 82 Ariz. 347, 354, 313 P.2d 411, 416 (1957), and therefore his deposition was admissible for “* * * any purpose,” Rule 26(d) (2), R.Civ.P., 16 A.R.S.
It is my view that the deposition of Mr. Helms was admissible for either one of the two purposes outlined by plaintiffs’ offer: (1) if Mr. Helms was testifying as to a slip and fall incident concerning this plaintiff, then his testimony would tend to indicate to some degree that the defendant was not as vigilant in sweeping its floors as Mr. Ramsey would have had the jury believe (“ * * * on this particular day the floor hadn’t been swept * * * we were busy at the time and there was nobody there to do it [sweep the floor] * * *”), or (2) if Mr. Helms had reference to another customer who slipped on this floor nine days before this accident in the same location, his testimony would have probative value towards showing that the methods being used by the defendant during November, 1961, to protect against slipping accidents, were inadequate and that the defendant had notice of this inadequacy. Slow Development Company v. Coulter, 88 Ariz. 122, 125, 353 P.2d 890, 892 (1960).
If the deposition was admissible for either of these purposes, it should have been admitted. Alires v. Southern Pacific Company, 93 Ariz. 97, 107, 378 P.2d 913, 920 (1963); and see 1 Wigmore, Evidence § 215, at 711 (3d ed. 1940). In weighing prejudice, it is important to note that there was no duplication of this evidence in the .record.
In addition to the portions of Mr. Helms’ deposition quoted in the majority opinion, the plaintiffs also separately offered a portion which would have shown that Mr. Helms had investigated two other falling accidents at this store. There is no showing as to when or where these falls occurred. This portion was properly rejected by the trial court. Montgomery Ward & Co. v. Wright, 70 Ariz. 319, 220 P.2d 225 (1950).
I concur in holding that this case is properly remanded for a new trial.