Handwritten workplace incident notes can be admissible in a Macon workers’ compensation case, because the hearing follows the rules of evidence for civil nonjury cases in Georgia’s superior courts, and a contemporaneous note about an accident is often relevant to how and when an injury occurred. Under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-102, the Administrative Law Judge conducts the hearing in an informal manner consistent with due process, rules on offers of proof, and excludes evidence that is irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious.
A handwritten note can serve several purposes. A note made at or near the time of the incident can corroborate the worker’s account of what happened, establish that the employer received notice of the injury, or contradict a later version of events. Notes created close in time to an accident tend to carry weight because they precede the dispute and reflect a record made before positions hardened.
Admissibility depends on foundation. The party offering the note generally must authenticate it, showing who wrote it and when, often through the author’s testimony or the surrounding circumstances. Hearsay questions can arise if the note is offered for the truth of its contents, although recognized exceptions, such as those for business records or for statements made in the regular course of duties, may apply. The opposing party can challenge the note’s authenticity, the conditions under which it was written, or its completeness. A note that is properly authenticated and relevant can be considered and weighed, while gaps in its origin affect how persuasive it is. Whether a handwritten incident note is admitted turns on relevance and foundation, not on the informal form in which it was recorded.