11th Court of Appeals
Eastland, Texas
Memorandum Opinion
Michael D. Rodgers, Sr.
Appellant
Vs. No. 11-02-00127-CV -- Appeal from Dallas County
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Appellee
After Michael D. Rodgers, appellant, had rested in the bench trial of his personal injury case, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) filed a motion for directed verdict and final judgment. The trial court granted the motion and entered a judgment that appellant take nothing. We affirm.
Appellant represented himself at trial and in this appeal. The record shows that appellant was a regular user of the DART system. The record further shows that, on the occasion made the basis of this lawsuit, appellant was a passenger of DART. As he was attempting to exit the crowded DART train, appellant tripped and the door of the train closed on his arm while he was still on the train. Appellant alleged that he suffered damages from the injuries he received in that accident.
The take-nothing judgment entered by the trial court in response to DART’s motion contained the following language:
[A]fter considering the motion and finding that Plaintiff failed to introduce legally sufficient evidence on the material elements necessary to Plaintiff’s cause of action against Defendant, this Court is of the opinion that said motion for directed verdict should be granted.
In his first issue on appeal, appellant argues that the issue is: “Whether the trial court erred in not allowing Ms. Linda Bermingham who gave testimony as to being the record keeper for Kiest Park Medical Clinic to give testimony as to the authenticity of evidence.” Linda Bermingham was the custodian of the medical records in question. In his second issue on appeal, appellant frames the issue in this manner: “Whether the hearsay rule would have applied had Ms. Bermingham been given the opportunity to give testimony as to the authenticity of evidence.”
In response to appellant’s first two issues, DART argues that the trial court ruled against appellant not only on the damage issues, but also on the issue of liability, and that appellant has not taken an appeal from the adverse judgment on the liability issue. Therefore, DART argues that, even if the trial court erred in excluding the evidence, such error would not affect the outcome of the case. Alternatively, DART takes the position that the trial court did not err in connection with the admissibility of the medical records because there was no proper predicate for their admissibility. Further, DART takes the additional alternative position that there was no evidence that the medical expenses claimed by appellant were reasonable and necessary. We agree with all of DART’s propositions.
A negligence claim consists of the following elements: (1) a duty owed to the one making the claim; (2) a breach of that duty; and (3) damages which are proximately caused by the breach of that duty. Greater Houston Transportation Co. v. Phillips, 801 S.W.2d 523 (Tex.1990). Appellant has not attacked the directed verdict and judgment insofar as the same relates to the liability issue. We agree with DART that, even if we were to hold, which we do not, that the trial court was incorrect in its ruling regarding the medical records, no substantial rights have been affected and that error cannot be predicated upon such a ruling. TEX.R.EVID. 103(a).
Moreover, the trial court did not err in excluding the evidence. The medical records were hearsay. See TEX.R.EVID. 801(d). Hearsay is not admissible except as may be provided by rule or statute. TEX.R.EVID. 802. One such exception is provided in TEX.R.EVID. 803(6). See Clark v. Walker‑Kurth Lumber Company, 689 S.W.2d 275, 281 (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] 1985, writ ref'd n.r.e.). Rule 803(6) provides in relevant part:
A memorandum, report, record, or data compilation, in any form, of acts, events, conditions, opinions, or diagnoses, made at or near the time by, or from information transmitted by, a person with knowledge, if kept in the course of a regularly conducted business activity, and if it was the regular practice of that business activity to make the memorandum, report, record, or data compilation, all as shown by the testimony of the custodian or other qualified witness, or by affidavit that complies with Rule 902(10).
We have examined the record in this cause; and we do not find, nor have we been pointed to any testimony which provides the predicate required for the admissibility of the records. Bermingham testified that she was in charge of the records at Kiest Park Medical Clinic. She also testified that the records were made in the regular course of business. Appellant then began to question Bermingham about the contents of the records. DART interposed an objection which the trial court took to be a hearsay objection regarding Bermingham’s testifying without having personal knowledge as well as her testifying from documents that were hearsay and which had not been introduced into evidence. The trial court informed appellant that the medical records were hearsay and also informed him of the basic definition of hearsay. The trial court also told appellant that there were certain exceptions to the hearsay rule if he wanted to try to establish one of the exceptions. Furthermore, we note that the trial court admonished appellant regarding the complexities of the law and the advisability of hiring an attorney. The trial court also told appellant that it would be inappropriate for the court to assist him. Appellant did not ask Bermingham any further questions, but rather called himself as a witness. He did not have any further testimony regarding the admissibility of the medical records. Furthermore, appellant never offered the records for admission into evidence.
The trial court did not err in refusing to admit evidence which was never offered and which, under this record, was not admissible. Moreover, even if the court had erred in connection with the medical records, no reversible error is shown because no appeal has been taken from the adverse judgment regarding the liability issue. Appellant’s first and second issues are overruled.
Finally, in his third issue on appeal, appellant states that the inquiry is: “Whether the Appellant gave all diligence in his efforts to have evidence admitted before and at the time of trial.” The issue does not claim any error on the part of the trial court, and it is overruled.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
PER CURIAM
March 27, 2003
Panel consists of: Arnot, C.J., and
Wright, J., and McCall, J.