Judge allows defense witness testimony

The plaintiff side in a civil court trial in Walhalla continues to call witnesses, but the judge today allowed the defense to present a witness out of order.  The Common Pleas jury heard Dr. Amy Garcia, who practices internal medicine and wound care, at the request of the defense for Sava Senior Care, also known as Seneca Health and Rehabilitation.  Judge Cordell Maddox told the jury that permitting Garcia’s testimony out of order solves a scheduling problem the rest of the week.  Earlier the jury heard another former certified nursing assistant, Jennie Riley of Spartanburg, testify about staffing numbers and other quality issues during Dorothy Reynolds’ time at the facility in 2010.  The damage lawsuit trial started its second week this morning in the Oconee Common Pleas Court and is expected to run until at least Friday or later.