You are viewing a free summary from Descrybe.ai. For citation checking, legal issue analysis, and other advanced tools, explore our Legal Research Toolkit — not free, but close.

State v. Mangano

Citations: 962 So. 2d 444; 2007 WL 2592996Docket: 2007-KK-1777

Court: Supreme Court of Louisiana; September 4, 2007; Louisiana; State Supreme Court

Narrative Opinion Summary

In the case of State of Louisiana v. Salvador Mangano and Mabel Mangano, the Supreme Court of Louisiana addressed the admissibility of a spreadsheet as evidence in a trial. The court granted the state's application for supervisory and/or remedial writs, reversing the trial court's earlier ruling that admitted the spreadsheet into evidence. The defendants failed to demonstrate that the spreadsheet was not hearsay or that it qualified under any exceptions to the hearsay rule. Consequently, the state's objection to the admission of the spreadsheet was upheld. Chief Justice Calogero, Justice Knoll, and Justice Weimer each expressed their dissent, indicating they would have denied the writ.

Legal Issues Addressed

Admissibility of Evidence

Application: The Supreme Court of Louisiana determined that a spreadsheet submitted by the defense could not be admitted as evidence because it was deemed hearsay and did not meet any exceptions to the hearsay rule.

Reasoning: The defendants failed to demonstrate that the spreadsheet was not hearsay or that it qualified under any exceptions to the hearsay rule.

Dissenting Opinions in Judicial Decisions

Application: Chief Justice Calogero, Justice Knoll, and Justice Weimer dissented from the majority opinion, indicating a disagreement with the decision to grant the state's writ application.

Reasoning: Chief Justice Calogero, Justice Knoll, and Justice Weimer each expressed their dissent, indicating they would have denied the writ.

Supervisory and Remedial Writs

Application: The court exercised its supervisory and remedial writs authority to reverse the trial court's decision, thereby excluding the spreadsheet from evidence.

Reasoning: The court granted the state's application for supervisory and/or remedial writs, reversing the trial court's earlier ruling that admitted the spreadsheet into evidence.