Court Opinion

ID: 9764666
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 03:35:02.691737+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:59.847835
License: Public Domain

On Second Motion for Rehearing
WILLIAMS,’ Justice.
Appellee was permitted to introduce in evidence a series of three properly authenticated photostatic copies of Navy medical reports, each of which dealt with the alleged mental and physical condition of ap-pellee as a result of examinations made subsequent to March 20, 1943, date.of the deed.
The first medical report deals not only with the findings of that medical board as a result of their examination and his acts, conduct and responses on the occasion of the examination, but also proceeds further and details in great length this man’s life from the age of six; his alleged excessive drinking habits over past years; his alleged shock treatment in a Galveston medical center prior to his entry in the military service ; his past associates; his belief at the time that he was the subject of evil gossip and then being ostracized by his mates; and concludes that he was then suffering from dementia praecox, which condition existed prior to his entry in the military services. The second medical report in time, sets out with many details the contents of the first report, and likewise the third report made in still another city substantially sets out the detailed history that was contained in the former reports.
Neither the provisions of U.S.C.A., Title 28, Sec. 661 [now § 1733 of Title 28], urged by appellee in support of the admissibility of each report in its entirety, nor the provisions of Art. 3731a, Vernon’s Ann.Civ.St., that became effective subsequent to the trial, will authorize the introduction in evidence, over the timely and specific objections then urged by appellants, of such portions of the hearsay evidence in the reports which were based on further hearsay evidence. It appears that the second report was based in a large part on the detailed 'history in the first report and repeated in the second, and likewise the third report repeats the details of the first two.
 Neither statute expresses or implies an intent to abrogate the well-settled principle of the common law of the inadmissibility of hearsay evidence based on further hearsay evidence. As stated in 20 Am. Jur., p. 766, and applicable here, “Documentary evidence, when offered in evidence is subject to the same rule of evidence respecting relevancy, competency or materiality as to oral testimony.” And for the application of this rule see Joy v. Joy, Tex. Civ.App., 156 S.W.2d 547, 550 (r. w. m.); International & G. N. R. Co. v. Boykin, 32 Tex.Civ.App. 72, 74 S.W. 93, 95; Texas Indemnity Ins. Co. v. Gannon, Tex.Civ. App, 38 S.W.2d 181, 183.
In view of the prejudicial effect of the admission of such portions of the medical reports above alluded to; the intermittent character of his alleged ailment and appellee’s explanations of his execution of an instrument, justice will be better served by a reversal of the judgment and a remand of the cause, and appellant’s motion for a rehearing is granted.
The judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded.