Defense counsel Robert Blasier called Andrea Mazzola as a witness under California Evidence Code section 776 (or 767), which allows calling adverse witnesses. Plaintiffs' counsel Daniel Petrocelli objected to both statutory bases cited, but Judge Fujisaki overruled before immediately calling counsel to a sidebar conference.
#6(The following proceedings were held at the bench with the reporter:)
Temperature
procedural
Key Quotes (3)
Robert Blasier
Your Honor, under 776 we call Andrea Mazzola.
Defense invokes adverse witness statute to call a prosecution-side criminalist
Daniel Petrocelli
Object to 776.
Plaintiff challenges the statutory basis for calling Mazzola as an adverse witness
Hiroshi Fujisaki
Overruled. Wait a minute. Approach the bench a minute.
Judge overrules but immediately pulls counsel for an unrecorded sidebar, suggesting a procedural complication
Notable Exchanges (1)
Robert Blasier•Robert Baker•Daniel Petrocelli
Defense cited section 776, then Baker corrected to 767; Petrocelli objected to both. The competing statute numbers suggest a dispute over whether Mazzola qualifies as an adverse or hostile witness.