Ridgway v. Dir. Revenue

• Decision Date: 16 April 2019
• Docket Number: No. ED 106535,ED 106535
• Citation: 573 S.W.3d 129
• Parties: James D. RIDGWAY, Jr., Respondent, v. DIRECTOR OF REVENUE, Appellant.
• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals

573 S.W.3d 129

James D. RIDGWAY, Jr., Respondent,

v.DIRECTOR OF REVENUE, Appellant.

No. ED 106535

Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, DIVISION TWO.

Filed: April 16, 2019

FOR APPELLANT: Daniel N. McPherson, PO Box 899, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102.

FOR RESPONDENT: Travis L. Noble, Jr., Megan D. Atzert, Sindel Noble, 8000 Maryland Avenue, Suite 910, Clayton, Missouri 63105.

Philip M. Hess, Presiding Judge

The Missouri Department of Revenue ("the Department") appeals the judgment of the trial court in favor of James Ridgway, Jr. ("Ridgway") after hearing his Petition for Trial De Novo Of License Suspension/Revocation. Ridgway’s license was suspended after his arrest during a traffic stop by a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper ("the Trooper") for driving while intoxicated on January 9, 2016. After multiple continuances attempting to compel by Missouri subpoena the presence of the Trooper, who had since become an FBI agent on traveling assignment, hearing was held; the only evidence received was the Department’s records related to the stop, submitted under Section 302.312 RSMo.¹ However, due to the non-attendance at trial of the trooper, the trial court found in favor of Ridgway, sua sponte raising a due process violation for Ridgway’s inability to cross-examine the witness against him and finding the Trooper lacked credibility.

The Department raises three points on appeal. For Point I, the Department argues the trial court erred in raising, sua sponte, a due process issue related to Ridgway’s inability to cross-examine the Trooper. For Point II, the Department argues the trial court misapplied the law in finding the inability to cross-examine the Trooper violated Ridgway’s right to due process of law. For Point III, the Department argues the trial court misapplied the law when it admitted the Department’s records submitted under Section 302.312 RSMo for a limited purpose, when the plain language of the statute requires their admission into evidence.

Agreeing with the Department, we reverse and remand.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On January 9, 2016, the Trooper stopped Ridgway in St. Charles for driving 38 miles per hour over the posted speed limit of 60 mph. Ultimately, the Trooper arrested Ridgway for driving while intoxicated. The Department’s certified records related to this traffic stop include: (1) a Notice of Suspension or Revocation of Driving Privilege completed by the arresting officer, the Trooper, for Ridgway; (2) an Alcohol Influence Report for Ridgway completed by the Trooper; (3) a Blood Alcohol Test Report conducted by the Trooper on Ridgway; (4) the Traffic Ticket issued to Ridgway by the Trooper for Driving while Intoxicated - alcohol; (5) maintenance records on the Blood Alcohol Test Machine used in the Blood Alcohol Test of Ridgway; (6) the Trooper’s Narrative Police Report describing the arrest of Ridgway; (7) Traffic Ticket issued to Ridgway by the Trooper for exceeding the posted speed limit by 26+ MPH; (8) Traffic Ticket issued to Ridgway by the Trooper for failure to drive in the right lane of a highway with 2 or more lanes in same direction; (9) a certificate supporting the calibration accuracy of the machine used; and (10) Missouri Driver Record Transcript for Ridgway.

The Department’s certified records identified Trooper’s statements, including: Ridgway had slurred speech, uncertain balance and a swaying walk, and glassy, bloodshot, and watery eyes; the vehicle and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol; and statements by Ridgway he was coming from "the after party" where he "had a couple of Crown and Cokes." The certified records indicate Ridgway failed the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus field sobriety test. Ridgway consented to a preliminary breath test which detected the presence of alcohol in excess of the legal limit. Due to extreme weather conditions, the Trooper did not request Ridgway perform Walk and Turn and One Leg Stand tests because it was too cold and windy. The Department’s certified records contained a certification of Field Sobriety Test Training and an attestation under penalty of perjury, signed by the Trooper. The records also reflect Ridgway was observed and tested approximately 44 minutes after his arrest with a valid breath sample obtained by consent indicating 0.134% blood alcohol concentration.

The Department notified him his driver’s license would be suspended or revoked on May 20, 2016. On May 17, 2016, Ridgway filed his Petition for Trial De Novo in the trial court to reinstate his driving privileges. The Department filed its Answer, attaching copy of their certified records under Section 302.312 RSMo.

Between the arrest and the ensuing litigation, the Trooper left employment with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and obtained employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As an FBI agent, the Trooper was sent on traveling assignment outside of the state of Missouri.

Trial was scheduled for July 14, 2016. The trial court repeatedly rescheduled the trial for over a year as the parties repeatedly sought to serve a Missouri subpoena on the Trooper to compel his attendance at trial, but the Trooper was never served. The Trial Court rescheduled trial one final time on December 14, 2017, stating "the case will be tried or dismissed on" on February 8, 2018.

On February 8, 2018, Ridgway’s attorney announced he was present and ready. Department’s attorney announced she was present but not ready because "we can't get our witness [the Trooper] here." Ridgway presented a Missouri subpoena seeking to compel the Trooper’s attendance at trial and a sworn statement from the officer of the court attempting to serve him explaining why he was not served. The trial court noted "I'm not 100 percent sure in this situation there’s a cross-examination issue being denied" over Department’s non-specific objection, "for the record," to admission of the subpoena and sworn statement, which were received only to explain the Trooper’s non-presence to answer questions regarding his Alcohol Influence Report.

The Trial Court then admitted into evidence the Department’s certified records under Section 302.312 RSMo, without objection. The Trial Court noted that the Trooper’s non-presence created a "credibility problem" as to Exhibit A and took the case under submission. Ridgway did not testify.

The Trial Court’s Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Judgment found in favor of Ridgway and ordered Department to reinstate his driving privileges and clear his driving record of the January 9, 2016 arrest. The Trial Court found Ridgway sought to subpoena the Trooper to attend trial as a witness, attempting service personally and through his new employer, the FBI. The Trooper stated the subpoena must be served through the FBI, and the FBI would not accept service because the subpoena did not relate to his work with FBI. The Trial Court found a due process violation given the inability to cross-examine the Trooper regarding the content of the Department’s certified records.

STANDARD OF REVIEW AND PRESERVATION

In reviewing a court-tried case, the appellate court will uphold the judgment of the trial court unless it is not supported by substantial evidence, is against the weight of the evidence, or erroneously declares or applies the law.

White v. Director of Revenue, 321 S.W.3d 298, 307-08 (Mo. banc 2010).

When the facts relevant to an issue are contested, the reviewing court defers to the trial court's assessment of the evidence. Id. at 308. When the evidence is uncontested, no deference is given to the trial court's findings. Id. A party may contest evidence by: putting forth evidence to the contrary; cross-examination; pointing out internal inconsistencies in the evidence; or arguing credibility as apparent from the witness's demeanor, bias, or incentive to lie. Id. When evidence is contested by disputing a fact in any manner, this Court "gives due regard to the opportunity of the trial court to have judged the credibility of witnesses." Hinnah v. Dir. of Revenue, 77 S.W.3d 616, 620 (Mo. banc 2002) ; Rule 84.13(d)(2)² ; see also White v. Dir. of Revenue , 321 S.W.3d 298, 311 (Mo. banc 2010) (noting "the inability of a [ ] court to determine credibility from the lifeless pages of a record").

DISCUSSION

The Department may suspend or revoke a driver's license upon a determination that the driver was arrested upon probable cause for driving while intoxicated. § 302.505 RSMo. The driver may then seek review of the suspension or revocation through a trial de novo. § 302.535.1 RSMo ; Lord v. Dir. of Revenue, 427 S.W.3d 253, 256–57 (Mo. App. E.D. 2014). At the trial de novo, the Department must prove by a preponderance of the evidence there was probable cause to arrest the driver for driving while intoxicated and that the driver's blood alcohol concentration was .08 percent or more. Id. "[P]robable cause to arrest exists when the arresting officer's knowledge of the particular facts and circumstances is sufficient to warrant a prudent person's belief that a suspect has committed an offense." White v. Dir. of Revenue , 321 S.W.3d 298, 312 (Mo. banc 2010). The probable cause required for the suspension or revocation of a driver's license exists "when a police officer observes unusual or illegal operation of a motor vehicle and observes indicia of intoxication on coming into contact with the motorist." Id. at 309.

POINT III

We begin our analysis with Appellant’s Point III, where Appellant argues the trial court’s disregard of the contents of the DOR’s records was error. The Department argues the trial court erred and misapplied the law in refusing to give any weight to the contents of certified records submitted under Section 302.312 RSMo without the Trooper’s attendance at the hearing to testify to them and be subjected to cross-examination. The decision of the Trial Court to admit the contents only "to demonstrate [the Trooper’s] important role in what happened on the night in question" was improper, the...