If any witness in a civil action is beyond the reach of the process of the courts of this state, or cannot be found, and his testimony has been taken by the court stenographer or reporter upon a former trial of the action, a transcript of the record of the testimony, verified by the oath of the stenographer or court reporter, shall be admissible in evidence, in the discretion of the court, upon any subsequent trial of the action, in the same manner and to the same extent as a deposition of the witness would be if legally taken.
(1949 Rev., S. 7883; 1953, S. 3157d; P.A. 82-160, S. 76.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section.
Applies where substitute complaint modifying cause of action has been filed. 74 C. 694. Cited. 211 C. 555.
Testimony of witness taken during trial of a different cause of action does not fall under purview of section. 51 CA 24. An unemployment hearing, which is an administrative proceeding, was not same as or substantially similar to a civil action in which claims of a hostile work environment, retaliation, vexatious litigation and intentional infliction of emotional distress were claimed, therefore preclusion of prior testimony given at unemployment hearing was proper. 117 CA 680.