Court Opinion

ID: 9773913
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:03:31.18462+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:35:04.013291
License: Public Domain

WINTERSHEIMER, Justice,
dissenting.
I must respectfully dissent from the majority opinion because I beheve the Court of Appeals was correct that the records in question are admissible under the business records exception.
I can agree with much that is written in the lengthy and learned majority opinion which is an effort to clarify the application of the Kentucky Rules of Evidence. However, I beheve the result in this case is in error.
*961The crucial issue before this Court is the relationship between KRE 803(4), KRE 803(6) and KRE 803(8)(B). The specific issue involves the admissibility of records of the CHR and the testimony of CHR employees based on those records. The Cabinet argues that the various records were properly admitted under the medical records exception or the business records exception to the hearsay rule. Prater, through his counsel, claims that the hearsay evidence used in this case is specifically excluded under KRE 803(8)(B) relating to investigative reports prepared for or by a government or an agency when offered by it in a case in which it is a party.
Cabinet for Human Resources v. E.S., Ky., 730 S.W.2d 929 (1987), held that a social worker’s entries which consisted of factual observations and not opinions and conclusions carry with them the requisite amount of trustworthiness and are admissible under the business records hearsay exception. Consequently, I must agree with the unanimous Court of Appeals panel that those records which are admissible under the business record exception should not be prohibited under the public records exception in this case.
It is beyond question that CHR established by clear and convincing evidence that the children were abandoned, neglected and abused pursuant to KRS 625.090(1). The Cabinet also demonstrated that Prater failed to cooperate concerning treatment and rehabilitation. KRS 625.090(2). In addition, CHR also showed that the children are displaying signs of continued improvement and would continue to do so, and it would be in their best interests if parental termination was ordered.
The rationale for KRE 803(8)(B) is sound. It is simply to prevent hearsay to be added to hearsay when used in the investigative reports of governmental agencies. The potential for abuse of hearsay material found in government agency files at any level should be carefully scrutinized and guarded against. Here, it is not necessary to rely on such a technical rule. The real reason for the rule is to prevent any possibility of governmental tyranny in the prosecution of individual citizens.
In this case, the result is that the children now in foster care will never be eligible for adoption unless other significant evidence is uncovered. Although we must recognize that parental termination is a permanent condition, the best interests of the children cannot be ignored.