Court Opinion

ID: 9885465
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-06 13:02:31.773765+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:53.979123
License: Public Domain

JohN A. Fogleman, Justice, concurring. I concur in the result reached. I consider the fact statements in the affidavit of Major Griffin with reference to the sufficiency of funds in the Rees accounts to have been inadmissible in evidence, not having' been within his personal knowledge and having been obtained only by an examination of records. Oliver v. Eureka Springs Sales Company, 222 Ark. 94, 257 S. W. 2d 367; Mevorah v. Goodman, 79 N. D. 443, 57 N. W. 2d 600. A movant for summary judgment must sustain his burden to clearly show that there is no genuine issue of fact by matters of which the court will take judicial notice or by evi-dentiary matters which the court is entitled to consider. 6 Moore’s Federal Practice, § 56.15[3], p. 2340. Affidavits must be made on personal knowledge. Ark. Stat. Ann. § 29-211 (e) (Repl. 1962); 6 Moore’s Federal Practice, § 56.11 [1-2], p. 2145; Walling v. Fairmont Creamery Co., 139 F. 2d 318 (8th Cir. 1943); Zampos v. U. S. Smelting, Refining & Miming Co., 206 F. 2d 171 (10th Cir. 1953). Testimony that would not he admissible at the trial may not be set forth in affidavits supporting or opposing summary judgment. DePinto v. Provident Security Life Ins. Co., 374 F. 2d 50 (9th Cir. 1951) Where written documents are relied upon, they must be exhibited in full. Neither the statement of their substance, the affiant’s interpretation of them nor his conclusions drawn therefrom are sufficient. Wailing v. Fairmont Creamery Company, supra. While an affidavit may be used to introduce documentary proof, the written material should be attached to the affidavit and served with it. Sprague v. Vogt, 150 F. 2d 795 (8th Cir. 1945) ; 6 Moore’s Federal Practice;, § 56.11 [1.-2], p. 2145. Statements of legal conclusions and references to papers to which no sworn or certified copy is attached should be disregarded. State of Washington v. Maricopa County, 143 F. 2d 871 (9th Cir. 1944). Important questions as to credibility and right of cross-examination might also arise, particularly in view of the fact that information as to the Rees bank accounts was peculiarly within the knowdedge of appellee. Yet, appellants did not file controverting affidavits, as they might have pursuant to Ark. Stat. Ann. § 29-211(e) (Repl. 1962), or move for a continuance under § 29-211 (f) (Repl. 1962), or avail themselves of discovery procedures under § 28-348 et seq. (Repl. 1962). Nor did they by any objection at any time raise any question of credibility, right of cross-examination or admissibility of testimony. By the great weight of authority it is not reversible error for a trial court to consider a defective statement or affidavit on motion for summary judgment in the absence of a motion to strike or other form of objection specifying the deficiencies therein. 6 Moore’s Federal Practice, § 56.22 [1], p. 2817; Mitchell v. Dooley Bros., 286 F. 2d 40 (1st Cir. 1960), cert. denied, 366 U. S. 911, 81 S. Ct. 1086, 6 L. Ed. 2d 236; Klingman v. National Indemnity Co., 317 F. 2d 850 (7th Cir. 1963); U. S. v. Western Electric Co. Inc., 337 F. 2d 568 (9th Cir. 1964); Scharf v. Waters, 328 Ill. App. 525, 66 N. E. 2d 499 (1946); Baum v. Martin, 335 Ill. App. 277, 81 N. E. 2d 757 (1948); Republic Chemical Corp. v. United Sterling Corp., 205 Misc. 730, 118 NYS 2d 368, aff’d, 281 App. Div. 1018, 121 NYS 2d 272 (1953). It has been said that the objection must be specific. See, e. g., Grubbs v. Slater, 266 S. W. 2d 85 (Ky. 1953). Failure to object is sometimes said to constitute a waiver. See Scharf v. Waters, supra; Republic Chemical Corp. v. United Sterling Corp., supra; Hall v. Fowler, 389 S. W. 2d 730 (Tex. Civ. App. 1965). Yet it would not be error for the: court to disregard inadmissible evidence on motion for summary judgment in the absence of any objection. Mitchell v. Dooley Bros., supra. It has been said, also, that objection should be made in the trial court in order to afford an opportunity for correction of the objectionable defects. Hall v. Fowler, supra. It is also said that objections to formal deficiencies based on incom-peteney of evidence should not be raised on appeal for the first time. Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Pennsylvania, 363 S. W. 2d 230 (Tex. 1963). These rules and the reasons therefor seem to me to be applicable in this case. I concur fully in the majority opinion on all other issues.