Brief Fact Summary. The parents of a boy who died from carbon monoxide poisoning files suit against the owners of the motel where he died. A chair near the gas heater caught on fire, and Plaintiffs claim the heater was improperly installed and vented.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. Relevant testimony within the knowledge of declarant of the lack of an act does not necessarily rise to the level of inadmissible hearsay.
Evidence which does not derive its value solely from the credibility of the witness but rests also on the veracity of another person is hearsay and is ordinarily inadmissible.
View Full Point of LawIssue. Did the trial court commit error in allowing testimony by the motel owners of the number of people who had occupied the same room and did not complain.
Held. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a per curiam ruling holding that the trial court did not commit error and the testimony was admissible.
Discussion. The Court of Appeals found that the testimony by the motel owners was relevant on the issue of where the carbon monoxide originated. It was not hearsay because its reliability was solely dependent on the witnesses and not on others not available for cross-examination.