Court Opinion

ID: 9661207
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 22:32:17.772486+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:26.275077
License: Public Domain

McGEE, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
At issue in this case is the former testimony exception to the hearsay rule. In order for the testimony given by a witness at a former trial to be admissible at a subsequent trial between the same parties, it is necessary to show that the former trial was on substantially the same issues, that there was an adequate opportunity for cross examination, and that the witness at the time of the subsequent trial was unavailable to testify. White v. Natural Gas Pipeline Co., 444 S.W.2d 298 (Tex.1969). The principal problem, as in this case, usually concerns satisfaction of the unavailability requirement. It has often been stated that this requirement is met when, among other things, it is shown that the witness is physically unable to testify. See Lone Star Gas Co. v. State, 137 Tex. 279, 153 S.W.2d 681 (1941); Houston Fire & Casualty Co. v. Brittian, 402 S.W.2d 509 (Tex.1966). Illness would certainly come within this category. I do not take issue with the majority’s statement that the proponent of the prior testimony has the burden of showing the degree and duration of the illness of the witness and that he has exercised due diligence. Such a rule will assist the trial courts in obtaining the best evidence necessary to resolve the issues before them.
I strongly disagree, however, with the holding of the majority that the trial court erred in admitting the prior testimony of Garner. I think that Tri-County .satisfied the rule as stated above and laid a sufficient predicate to allow the admission of Garner’s prior testimony. The majority opinion admits as much, but then states that the problem then becomes one of fairness to the respective parties, together with judicial efficiency, under the facts and circumstances shown to the trial court. Much reliance is placed upon the representations of Conner’s counsel that Garner had indicated that his testimony at the time of the second trial would be less favorable to TriCounty than before because Garner would now testify that the pipeline had “some value.” Based on this representation, this Court has concluded that Conner and Fidelity would be prejudiced by the admission of the former testimony. The majority, in effect, has held that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the prior testimony of Garner. My view of the facts and circumstances before the trial court does not lead me to the result reached by the majority.
Mr. Garner was an impartial witness in this case. He was not an employee for either of the parties to the suit. His testimony covered many phases of the construction and inspection of the water system. His testimony was most important, however, with regard to the market value of the pipeline. He clearly stated at the first trial that to put the pipeline in proper condition would require the complete replacement of the pipe, that it could not be salvaged, and, therefore, the pipeline had no market value.
The pertinent facts reveal that on January 20th, counsel for Tri-County personally conferred with Garner. Garner indicated by his answers to counsel’s questions that his testimony would be the same as that given at the first trial, including his opinion that the pipeline had “no value.” Counsel for Conner, on the other hand, stated that during a telephone call to Garner at the hospital on January 25th, Garner informed him that he would not give the same testimony at the second trial as he had at the first trial; that he would now testify that the pipeline had “some value.” Without more, admission of the prior testimony based on these two conflicting statements might constitute an abuse of the trial court’s discretion. However, other evidence was before the trial court which indicated that Garner’s testimony would not be any different from that given at the first trial. On January 26th, counsel for Tri-County visited Garner in the hospital, at which time Garner stated his unavailability for trial *474and inability to be deposed. When informed that his prior testimony would be transcribed, he responded by saying that he thought it would be a good idea because his testimony would be the same. Finally, in support of its offer of the former testimony of Garner into evidence, Tri-County offered a sworn statement by Garner, dated January 29th, which in pertinent part stated:
“If I were able to appear in the above trial, the facts that I would be able to furnish the Court and the jury would be the same as the facts that I formerly provided the Court and the jury in the previous trial of this cause.”
I think that it is clearly indicated by the affidavit and the conversations of January 20th and 26th that Garner’s answers would have been the same as those given at the first trial, including the fact that he believed that the pipeline had “no value.” Therefore, the testimony of Garner would not be less favorable to Tri-County as asserted by counsel for Conner. Given the opportunity to adequately cross-examine Garner at the first trial, I fail to see how Conner and Fidelity were prejudiced by the admission of the former testimony. Under the circumstances, I find no error that would call for a reversal and remand of this cause for a third trial.
I would affirm the judgment of the court of civil appeals.
GREENHILL, C. J., joins in this dissent.