Parks v. Ford , 33 Ohio Op. 2d 432 ( 1965 )

Zimmerman, J.

There are two questions for determination: (1) May a defendant’s deposition taken by her attorney and duly filed in the action before her death be read into evidence at the trial by plaintiff as a part of her case in chief? (2) If the reading of snch deposition by plaintiff is proper and authorized, may plaintiff then testify in her own behalf with respect to the competent and relevant matters contained in snch deposition?

In asking a reversal of the judgment of the Court of Appeals, plaintiff relies principally on two sections of the Revised Code.

Section 2319.22, as effective since 1955, reads:

“Depositions taken by either party in an action for damages for personal injuries, and before the death of such party taking the depositions, may be read by the surviving party or parties to the action or by the administrator or executor of the estate of such deceased party in an action for personal injuries, or in any action for damages or wrongfully caused death resulting from the same personal injuries, so far as such depositions are relevant to the issues in the action for damages or wrongfully caused death.”

To the writer, at least, the quoted statute is not altogether clear. But, when it is interpreted in connection with the second paragraph of the syllabus in the case of Goehring v. Dillard, a Minor (1945), 145 Ohio St. 41, 60 N. E. 2d 704, 158 A. L. R. 299, it probably means that the deposition of a party to an action, taken before his death, may be introduced and read on the trial by any surviving party to the action, no matter on which side of the case he may be, and, of course, it may be introduced and read by the executor or administrator of such deceased party.

Section 2317.03, as effective since 1955, recites in part:

“A party shall not testify when the adverse party is # # * an executor or administrator * # * except:

i i * # #

“(H) If a party dies and his deposition is offered in evidence, the opposite party may testify as to all competent matters therein.”

Such last-quoted section, then subparagraph 8, Section 11495, General Code, was interpreted and applied in the case of Goehring v. Dillard, a Minor, supra, where the deposition of a deceased defendant was held properly admitted in evidence by plaintiff against the decedent’s administrator. The second paragraph of the syllabus in that case reads:

“Where the deposition of a defendant is duly filed in an action properly revived against defendant’s administrator, such deposition may be read in evidence [by plaintiff] and the plaintiff may thereafter testify as to all competent matters contained in such deposition.”

Previously, the same case was decided by the Court of Appeals for Summit County and is reported in 74 Ohio App. 259, 58 N. E. 2d 435. The language used by Judge Washburn in the opinion seems logical and persuasive to a majority of this court. He said:

“In the consideration of the question involved, it should be kept in mind that the deposition in this case was not that of a mere witness, but was of a party to the suit; that at the same time said deposition was taken, the deposition of the other party to the suit (the plaintiff) was taken; that at said time both of the parties were competent to testify to the matters contained in their respective depositions; that at the time of the taking of such depositions the case was at issue; that, owing to war conditions, the taking of such depostions was somewhat in the nature of perpetuation of evidence; that, regardless of which party took the depositions, they were, when filed, available to both parties alike, and thus the plaintiff had a perfect right to introduce the deposition of the defendant; and that the statute (Section 11495, General Code, paragraph 8) provides that ‘If a party dies and his deposition be offered in evidence, the opposite party may testify as to all competent matters therein. ’ It should also be borne in mind that the spirit of the statute of which the foregoing is a part, is to protect a party whose mouth has been closed by death and who is unable to give his version of the controversy to the jury, and should not be construed to protect one who has given his version of the controversy by deposition.

“The administrator for the defendant had a perfect right to introduce the defendant’s deposition in evidence, and had that been done, there could be no question about the right of the plaintiff to testify as to the facts testified to by the defendant in said deposition. Under sncli circumstances, it seems to ns that the mere fact that the deposition was introduced by the plaintiff should not defeat his right to testify.”

We can see no real difference in principle between the instant case and that of Goehring v. Dillard. Compare Coble v. McClintock, Exr., 10 Ind. App. 562, 38 N. E. 74; and Wolfson v. Chelist, Exr. (Mo.), 284 S. W. 2d 447. See, also, 58 American Jurisprudence 208, Section 354.

In our opinion, the two questions posed at the beginning of this opinion should be answered in the affirmative. Lending support to the position taken is the case of In re Estate of Butler, 137 Ohio St. 96, 113, 28 N. E. 2d 186, 195, where it is remarked:

“Section 11493, General Code [Section 2317.01, Revised Code], abrogates the common-law rule as to the competency of witnesses and makes all persons having sufficient mentality and comprehension competent to testify in all cases. Sections 11494 and 11495, General Code [Sections 2317.02 and 2317.03, Revised Code], are exceptions to Section 11493, General Code, and must be strictly construed. Stream v. Barnard, Exrx., 120 Ohio St. 206, 211, 165 N. E. 727. * * *”

The above language is quoted with approval in Smith v. Barrick, 151 Ohio St. 201, 207, 85 N. E. 2d 101, 105.

As is pointed out in the case of Roberts v. Briscoe, 44 Ohio St. 596, 601, 10 N. E. 61, 64, the purpose and policy of a statute like Section 2317.03, Revised Code, are to guard the estates of decedents against the setting up of fraudulent claims or unfounded causes of action. Where one of the parties to a controversy cannot give his side of it, the other party should not be permitted to testify in his own favor. “Where there is no mutuality there should not be admissibility; and when the lips of one party # # * are closed by death the other party should not be heard as a witness. * * *” Ibid., 602.

But, in the present case the original defendant by deposition voluntarily given before her death and filed in the action related the manner in which the collision occurred, and it would seem only fair in such circumstances to allow plaintiff to give her version of the incident.

The judgment of the Court of Appeals is reversed, and the cause is remanded to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.

Judgment reversed.

Taut, C. J., Matthias, Herbert and Silbert, JJ., concur. O’Neill and SchNeider, JJ., dissent. Silbert, J., of the Eighth Appellate District, sitting for BrowN, J.