Evidence - Hearsay Flashcards
What is the “public records” exception to hearsay? NOTE: NY Distinction
Allows as ADMISSIABLE any public record of a public office or agency setting forth: 1) the activities of the office/agency (e.g. payroll records); OR 2) matters observed p/t a duty imposed by law; OR 3) findings of fact or opinion resulting from an investigation authorized by law (even if info come fron an outsider) EXCEPTION: the public record exception does NOT include police reports prepared for prosecutorial purposes against a CRIMINAL ∆ NY DISTINCTION: this doctrine is NOT well developed in NY; conclusions/opinions contained in a gov’t report are admissable ONLY IF (i) the report sets forth adequate facts; AND (ii) the person giving the opinion is qualified
What are 2 categoriesout-of-court statements asserted for their truth that are STILL admissible as “nonhearsay”? NOTE: NY Distinction
Nonhearsay = nws meeting CL definition of hearsay (they ARE stmts offered to prove the matter asserted), certain stmts are STILL admissible… 1) Certain pior statements of trial witness: Witness’s prior stmt of ID of a person after seeing him Witness’s prior inconsistent stmt if (i) oral; (ii) under oath; AND (iii) made during formal testimonial hearing» serves impeachment AND as substantive evidence NY DISTICTION: In NY this ONLY serves impeachment purpose Witness’s prior consistent stmt if being used to rebut a charge of recent fabrication or improper motive»_space; serves rehabilitation AND as substantive evidence NY DISTICTION: In NY this ONLY serves rehabilitation purpose 2) Party admissions aka Stmt of Opposing Party Any stmt (personal knowledge by declarant is NOT necessary) made by the opposing party is admissible if it is offered against the opposing party Adoptive admission: if a party expressly or impliedly adopts a stmt made by another person, it is AS THOUGH the party herself made the stmt Vicarious party admission: stmt by AGENT/EMP is admissible against principal/employer IF (i) the stmt concerns matters w/in scope of agency/employment; AND (ii) is made during the existence of the agency/employment relationship NY DISTINCTION: stmt is admissible against principal/employer ONLY IF the principal/employer gave agent the authority (express or implied) to speak on the matter Co-conspirator’s stmts: a stmt of a co-conspirator is admissible against a party who was a member of the conspiracy IF the stmt was made (i) during; AND (ii) in furtherance of the conspiracy
What is the “declaration of intent” exception to hearsay? NOTE: NY Distinction
Statement of intent by declarant to do something (i) in the future; OR(ii) w/another person. NY DISTINCTION: IF stmt is offered to prove JOINT particpation of another person, NY requires (1) corroboration of prior connection between declarant and other person; AND (2) requires unavailability
What are the 12 key EXCEPTIONS to the hearsay rule?
1) Excited utterance 2) Present sense impression 3) Present state of mind 4) Declaration of intent 5) Present physical condition 6) Stmt for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment/diagnosis 7) Business records 8) Public records Requiring UNAVAILABITY of declarant… 9) Forfeiture by wrongdoing (in 6th Am confrontation req on hearsay rules) 10) Former testimony 11) Statement against interest 12) Dying declaration
How can a party impeach a hearsay declarant?
ANY impeachment method may be used to attack the credibility of a hearsay declarant whose stmt was admitted into evidence
What is the “former testimony” exception to hearsay?
Former testimony of a now-unavailablewitness, from prior proceeding/dep is ADMISSABLE against a party who had: 1) Opportunity andmotive to cross the witness; AND 2) The issue was essentially the same NOTE: Don’t confuse w/prior inconsistent statementunder oath in formal proceeding = nonhearsay exclusion.
What is the “present state of mind” exception to hearsay?
Contemporaneous statement concerning declarant’s present state of mind, feelings, emotions, or INTENT (i.e. unique knowledge) NOTE: Can overlap w/ non-hearsay exclusion forcircumstantial evidence of declarant’s state of mind (e.g. insane)
What are the grounds for UNAVAILABILITY as required by certain hearsay exceptions? NOTE: NY Distinction
1) Privilege 2) Absence from the jx: (i) can’t find declarant w/ due diligence; OR (ii) declarant is beyond ct’s subpoena pwr 3) Illness or death 4) Lack of memory 5) Declarant’srefusal to testify (even if they’d be in contempt) NY has two ADDITIONAL grounds for unavailability (for CIVIL CASES ONLY)… 6) Declarant is > 100 miles from ct house 7) Declarant is a physician (public policy favors that the dr. continues their work rather than testify AGAIN)
What is the “medical/diagnoisis” exception to hearsay? NOTE: NY Distinction
Statement is admissible IF Made: 1) To medical personnel (e.g. doc, nurse, EMT, psychologist); 2) Concerning past/present symptoms OR GENERAL cause of condition; AND 3) For the purpose of diagnosis/treatment NOTE: this exception DOES NOT include stmts in which the declarant IDENTIFIES a tortfeasor or DESCRIBES the nature of alleged liability (i.e. it’s not relevant to treatment) UNLESS it’s an ID of an abuser in a domestic/child context NY DISTINCTION: this exception does NOT apply to stmts made to a physcian SOLELY for the purpose of helping the physican to develop an opinion for expert testimnoy at trial
What is the “present sense impression” exception to hearsay? NOTE: NY Distinction
Virtually contemporaneous stmt made WHILE event is occurring OR immediately thereafter (descriptive but not necessarily emotional) NY DISTINCTION: requires corroborating evidence of the contents of the present sense impression
When is a “statement” subject to the hearsay exclusion rule?
STEP 1: Is the stmt offered to prove the matter asserted? [No = (i) legally operative words; (ii) stmts offered to show effect on hearer/reader; (iii) stmts offered to show declarant’s state of mind] YES: STEP 2 NO: NOT HEARSAY, so not subject to hearsay exclusion rule STEP 2: Is the stmt a nonhearsay exclusion? [Exclusion = (i) prior inconsistent stmt given under oath; (ii) prior consistent stmt used to rebut a charge that witness is lying/has improper motive; (iii) stmt of ID of a person; (iv) party admission] YES: NONHEARSAY, so not subject to hearsay exclusion NO: STEP 3 STEP 3: Does a hearsay exception apply? [(i) excited utterance; (ii) present sense impression; (iii) present state of mind; (iv) declaration of intent; (v) present physical condition; (vi) stmt for medical treatment; (vii) business records; (viii) public records; (ix) former testimony; (x) stmt against interest; (xi) dying declaration (xii) forfeiture] YES: ADMISSIBLE, provided it’s not excluded under any other rules (e.g. best evidence, relevancy, etc) NO: INADMISSIBLE, stmt IS excluded by hearsay rule
What is the “dying declaration” exception to hearsay? NOTE: NY Distinction
Statement by a now-UNAVAILABLE declarant is admissible IF made: 1) In ALL civil cases OR homicide (criminal) case; NY DISTINCTION: ONLY available in criminal HOMICIDE cases 2) the declarant is under belief of impending & certain DEATH; AND 3) stmt is concerning cause or circumstances of declarant’s death
What is the “excited utterance” exception to hearsay?
Excited Utterance is a stmt: 1) Concerning startling event; 2) While declarant is still under stress of excitement it caused. Factors to consider… the nature of the event the passage of time (no bright line but >1hr is less likely to be valid) NOTE: if the fact pattern look for: (i) exclamatory language; (ii) excitement-oriented verbs; AND (iii) EXCLAMATION PTS!!!
What is the “present physical condition” exception to hearsay? NOTE: NY Distinction
Statement made to ANYONEaboutdeclarant’s current physical condition NY DISTINCTION: requires unavailability, if the stmt is made to a LAYPERSON (vs. medical professional)
What is hearsay?
Hearsay = (i) an out of ct stmt of a person (oral or written); (ii) offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted (in the stmt) RULE: Hearsay stmts are INADMISSABLE UNLESS an exception or exclusion applies Rationale: The credibility of the declarant (out-of-ct speaker or author) at the time the stmt was made WAS NOT TESTED thru cross examination in the presence of the CURRENT factfinder