Art. 1450.  Use of depositions

A.  At the trial or upon the hearing of a motion or an interlocutory proceeding, any part or all of a deposition, so far as admissible under the Louisiana Code of Evidence applied as though the witnesses were then present and testifying, may be used against any party who was present or represented at the taking of the deposition or who had reasonable notice thereof, in accordance with any of the following provisions:

(1)  Any deposition may be used by any party for the purpose of contradicting or impeaching the testimony of deponent as a witness.

(2)  The deposition of a party or of anyone who at the time of taking the deposition was an officer, director, or managing agent, or a person designated under Article 1442 or 1448 to testify on behalf of a public or private corporation, partnership, or association, or governmental agency which is a party may be used by an adverse party for any purpose.

(3)  The deposition of a witness, whether or not a party, may be used by any party for any purpose if the court finds:

(a)  That the witness is unavailable;

(b)  That the witness resides at a distance greater than one hundred miles from the place of trial or hearing or is out of the state, unless it appears that the absence of the witness was procured by the party offering the deposition; or

(c)  Upon application and notice, that such exceptional circumstances exist as to make it desirable, in the interest of justice and with due regard to the importance of presenting the testimony of witnesses orally in open court, to allow the deposition to be used.

(4)  If only part of a deposition is offered in evidence by a party, an adverse party may require him to introduce any other part which, in fairness, should be considered with the part introduced, and any party may introduce any other parts.

(5)  However, any party may use the deposition of an expert witness for any purpose upon notice to all counsel of record, any one of whom shall have the right within ten days to object to the deposition, thereby requiring the live testimony of an expert.  The objecting counsel of record shall pay in advance the fee, reasonable expenses, and actual costs of such expert witness associated with such live testimony.  The fees, expenses, and costs specified in this Subparagraph shall be subject to the approval of the court.  The provisions of this Subparagraph do not supersede Subparagraph (A)(3) nor Code of Evidence Article 804(A).  However, the court may permit the use of the expert's deposition, notwithstanding the objection of counsel to the use of that deposition, if the court finds that, under the circumstances, justice so requires.

B.  Substitution of parties does not affect the right to use depositions previously taken; and, when an action in any court of this state, or the United States or of any state has been dismissed and another action involving the same subject matter is afterward brought between the same parties or their representatives or successors in interest, all depositions lawfully taken and duly filed in the former action may be used in the latter as if originally taken therefor.

C.  Conflicts between this Article and Code of Evidence Article 804, regarding the use of depositions, shall be resolved by the court in its discretion.

Acts 1976, No. 574, §1; Acts 1988, No. 515, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 134, §1; Acts 1991, No. 304, §1, eff. July 3, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 645, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1263, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000.