Court Opinion

ID: 9731641
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:53:11.919714+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:20.171237
License: Public Domain

WEISBERGER, Justice,
(concurring in the result).
I agree with the result reached by Justice Murray and the Chief Justice and with all the reasoning set forth in support of that result save that portion of the opinion which indicates that depositions, whether videotaped or otherwise, that are introduced at trial need not conform to the rules of evidence, including those rules that apply to the scope of cross-examination.
I am of the opinion that pursuant to Rule 26(d) of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, a deposition, when introduced at trial, must be subject to the same rules of evidence that would apply if the witness were there testifying in person. It must be noted that there are two purposes in the use of depositions. One purpose is that of discovery. In this connection, the rules of evidence do not play a significant role so long as the subject matter sought to be elicited either is relevant to the subject matter involved or is reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. With this limitation, there is no ground for objection in a discovery deposition that the testimony will be inadmissible at the trial. Super. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(1). Similarly, pursuant to Rule 26(c) cross-examination of a deponent need not be limited to the subject matter of the examination in chief. It is important to observe that the foregoing rules are applicable to depositions taken for purposes of discovery.
In contrast, depositions, when introduced at trial, must conform to the rules of evidence as though the witness were live and testifying before the tribunal. Professor Kent points out that the broad latitude accorded parties in obtaining pretrial discovery, including the taking of depositions, is not matched by the extent to which depositions may be used at the trial according to Rule 26(d). “The test is whether the specific question and answer sought to be introduced would be admissible were the witness present and testifying on the witness stand.” 1 Kent, R.I. Civ. Prac. § 26.17 at 231 (West 1969). See also DeCarvalho v. Gonsalves, 106 R.I. 620, 627, 262 A.2d 630, 634 (1970).
Although our rules of civil procedure were derived from the Federal Rules, the 1970 amendment to the Federal Rules included a new Rule 32(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This rule simply reemphasizes the principle that a deposition may be used at trial or upon the hearing of a motion or other proceeding “so far as admissible under the rules of evidence applied as though the witness were then present and testifying.” Id. See 8 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure: Civil § 2143 (1970). Consequently I believe that defendant was correct in asserting the proposition that, when used at trial, the cross-examination of a witness deposed must be conducted within the scope of the subject matter of the deposing party’s direct examination. The inquiry does not end here, however. It must be determined whether under the application of traditional standards the trial justice committed error in allowing the cross-examination of Dr. Indeglia on the subject of informed consent.
We have frequently stated that the scope of cross-examination lies within the sound discretion of the trial justice and will be reviewed only for abuse of that discretion. See, e.g., State v. Brennan, 526 A.2d 483 (R.I.1987); State v. Benevides, 420 A.2d 65 (R.I.1980). We have also stated that the subject matter of cross-examination includes inquiry that may contradict or explain the matter raised on direct examination or the inferences that may be drawn therefrom. See State v. Soto, 477 A.2d 945, 949 (R.I.1984); State v. Crowhurst, 470 A.2d 1138, 1143 (R.I.1984). This is a flexible standard. In the case at bar the testimony of Dr. Indeglia was extremely favorable to defendant. His testimony had suggested that defendant had met the standard of due care in all respects relating to *1044his treatment of plaintiff. The question of informed consent bears upon the issues of due care and negligence. See Wilkinson v. Vesey, 110 R.I. 606, 621, 295 A.2d 676, 686 (1972), wherein the court observed, “Where, as here, the procedure is authorized but the patient claims a failure to disclose the risks involved to a course of therapy, the claim sounds in negligence.” Consequently it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial justice to allow inquiry on cross-examination to be admitted into evidence on the subject of the standard of care to be applied in respect to informed consent.
Since the cross-examination in this case on the issue of informed consent was admitted by the trial justice without violating the traditional evidentiary standards, I reach the same result as did Justice Murray and the Chief Justice — but by a different route.
For the reasons stated, I concur in the result. Justice KELLEHER and Justice SHEA, join in this concurring opinion, thus constituting a majority of the court on this issue.