Willerick v. Hanshalli

356 N.W.2d 36, 136 Mich. App. 484

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: August 6, 1984
• Docket: Docket 73259
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mackenzie, P.J.

In this paternity action, defendant appeals as of right from an order of filiation entered by the trial court after a jury had determined that defendant is the father of plaintiffs daughter. The sole issue before us is whether the trial court erred in admitting the depositional testimony of Dr. Kately and an exhibit relating the results of a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) blood test, which results indicated a 95.1 percent likelihood that defendant was the father. Defendant argues on appeal, as he did below, that plaintiff had not laid a sufficient foundation for the admission of this evidence. We agree.

Since its amendment by 1982 PA 129, MCL 722.716(1); MSA 25.496(1) expressly has provided for HLA testing of the mother, child, and alleged father in paternity proceedings pursuant to court order, as was done in this case. Furthermore, MCL 722.716(4); MSA 25.496(4) provides as follows:

"(4) The result of a blood or tissue typing test, and if a determination of exclusion of paternity cannot be made, a calculation of the probability of paternity made by a person the court determines is qualified as an examiner of blood or tissue types based on the result of a blood or tissue typing test shall be admissible in evidence in the trial of the case.”

The statute now permits admission of positive test results indicating the probability of paternity, and not merely negative test results excluding the defendant as was the case prior to the 1982 amendment. While the statute as amended does not set forth any foundation requirments for ad mission, except that the probability of paternity be calculated by a person deemed qualified by the court, we do not believe that the Legislature intended that no other foundation requirements be applied.

To our knowledge, no prior appellate decision of this jurisdiction has addressed what foundation requirements must be met for admission of HLA test results in a paternity action. In cases involving admissibility of blood tests for alcohol, this Court has required the following foundation requirements:

" '[T]he party seeking introduction must show (1) that the blood was timely taken (2) from a particular identified body (3) by an authorized licensed physician, medical technologist, or registered nurse designated by a licensed physician, (4) that the instruments used were sterile, (5) that the blood taken was properly preserved or kept, (6) and labeled, and (7) if transported or sent, the method and procedures used therein, (8) the method and procedures used in conducting the test, and (9) that the identity of the person or persons under whose supervision the tests were conducted be established.’ ” Gard v Michigan Produce Haulers, 20 Mich App 402, 407-408; 174 NW2d 73 (1969), lv den 383 Mich 777 (1970) (quoting Lessenhop v Norton, 261 Iowa 44; 153 NW2d 107 [1967]). See also People v Cords, 75 Mich App 415, 427; 254 NW2d 911 (1977); Clark v Flint, 60 Mich App 364, 367; 230 NW2d 435 (1975); Rose v Paper Mills Trucking Co, 47 Mich App 1, 4; 209 NW2d 305 (1973), lv den 390 Mich 802 (1973).

We find we cannot simply impose these same requirements to HLA blood tests since not all of the requirements are applicable in the context of a paternity suit. For example, while (1) above regarding the timeliness of the blood test is relevant where a test for alcohol is conducted, it has no application to a test for paternity. Also, (3) above does not wholly comport with the paternity statute, since MCL 722.716(2); MSA 25.496(2) states simply that the test be done by a person determined by the court to be qualified. Furthermore, with regard to (4) and (5) above, we are without knowledge as to whether sterility of the instruments, or any particular mode of storing the blood samples, is a prerequisite to accurate HLA test results. We question the pertinence of (8) above to paternity suits, since the Legislature in MCL 722.716(1); MSA 25.496(1), as amended, has seen fit to specifically describe the types of paternity blood tests that are acceptable and we are unaware as to whether differing methods exist as to each type of test. Finally, as to (9) above, we question the need for the identity of those who supervised the test except to the extent of showing compliance with MCL 722.716(2); MSA 25.496(2), which requires that the paternity calculation be done by a person determined qualified by the court.

Nevertheless, we believe certain minimal foundation requirements are necessary to insure reliability of the test results and relevancy under MRE 401. To this end, we hold that plaintiff was required to show that the blood tested was in fact that of the defendant, the plaintiff, and the child, and that the test results were based on reliable blood samples. See People v Cords, supra, p 428. This includes establishing a chain of identification from the time the blood samples are taken to the time the samples are analyzed:

" 'Where it "appears that the various steps in the keeping and transportation” of the specimen, part, or object from the time it was taken from the body until the time of analysis "were not traced or shown by the evidence” the identification of the thing analyzed is insufficient and the presumptions that official duty is properly performed and that public records are correct will not supply missing links in the chain.’ ” Bauer v Veith, 374 Mich 1, 3; 130 NW2d 897 (1964) (quoting from 21 ALR2d 1216, § 4, p 1220).

Such a chain of identification must be shown by way of testimony based on personal knowledge. Bauer, supra; MRE 606.

In the present case, the sole testimony presented was that of Dr. Kately, who indicated that he only compiled and analyzed the test results. The blood samples were drawn, and the testing was done, by other department personnel. Dr. Kately could only testify as to the usual methods used by his staff personnel to verify the identity of the persons from whom the blood samples were drawn and to identify the samples as belonging to those persons; Dr. Kately had no personal knowledge as to whether those methods were indeed employed in the present case.

Plaintiff argues that Dr. Kately’s testimony should be deemed sufficient, citing Mason v Lovings, 24 Mich App 101; 180 NW2d 73 (1970). In Mason, supra, pp 108-112, this Court found a sufficient foundation for admitting the results of an alcohol urine test where the police officer who took the defendant’s urine sample had no independent recollection of receiving and tagging the sample, but was able to testify that in all suspected drunk cases he invariably took a urine sample, tagged it, and stored it and that he was sure that he had followed this procedure with respect to defendant. The Mason Court emphasized that the police officer "testified as to the standard procedures which he followed, not merely the procedures generally followed in his department”. Mason, supra, p 110. Mason is distinguishable, since here Dr. Kately could only testify to the usual procedures of others in his department. While a sufficient foundation would have been laid had plaintiff called the other staff members who could have testified based on their recollection or own personal habit, Dr. Kately’s testimony was not adequate. Compare Bauer, supra.

We conclude that a sufficient foundation was not laid in the present case. Plaintiff’s alternative argument is that defendant’s objection at trial to admission of the HLA test evidence for lack of sufficient foundation was waived by reason of defendant’s failure to object at the time of the taking of Dr. Kately’s deposition, citing GCR 1963, 308.3(1):

"Objections to the competency of a witness or to the competency, relevancy, or materiality of testimony are not waived by failure to make them before or during the taking of the deposition, unless the ground of the objection is one which might have been obviated or removed if presented at that time.”

We cannot agree. Challenges to the admissibility of deposition testimony constitute "an exception to the waiver provisions of the court rules”, since they can be "adequately disposed of only by an exercise of the trial judge’s discretion”. Moore v Lederle Laboratories, 42 Mich App 689, 695; 202 NW2d 481 (1972), aff’d 392 Mich 289, 294; 220 NW2d 400 (1974); see also Schalkofski v Lawrence, 37 Mich App 686, 689-690; 195 NW2d 292 (1972).

The admission of the HLA test results without a sufficient foundation having been laid constitutes reversible error. However, in the interest of judicial efficiency and to avoid the possibility of an unnecessary entire retrial, pursuant to our powers under GCR 1963, 820.1(7), we order that plaintiff, within 60 days, may file with the trial court a motion for an evidentiary hearing for the purpose of supplying the necessary testimony to lay a sufficient foundation for admission of the HLA test results. After the evidentiary hearing the trial court shall determine whether a sufficient foundation has been laid. Should the trial court find that a sufficient foundation was not laid, the trial court shall grant defendant a new trial. We do not retain jurisdiction.

Remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion. No costs, a novel question of public significance having been presented.