Opinion ID: 1933203
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence of Prior Incidents at Xtra Mart

Text: [¶ 6] Xtra Mart argues that the evidence presented relating to previous calls from Xtra Mart to the Auburn Police Department was not relevant, and that to the extent it had any relevance, it should have been excluded on the basis of M.R. Evid. 403. We review a court's determination of relevance for errors of law as to the factual predicate; that is, as to the bare possibility that the evidence may have any tendency to make the existence of a fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more or less probable. M.R. Evid. 401; Rich v. Fuller, 666 A.2d 71, 73 (Me.1995). A fact may, however, be of consequence and yet of minimal value. The court's decision regarding the admissibility of relevant evidence therefore blends imperceptibly into its discretion under Rule 403. Field & Murray, Maine Evidence § 401.1 at 91. We review a decision to admit or exclude relevant evidence pursuant to Rule 403 for abuse of discretion because the determination involves the weighing of probative value against considerations militating against admissibility. [3] Rich, 666 A.2d at 73; see also Jones v. Route 4 Truck & Auto Repair, 634 A.2d 1306, 1308 (Me.1993). Thus, once the bare fact of relevance is determined, we accord the trial judge significant discretion in determining its admissibility. See Gurski v. Culpovich, 540 A.2d 764, 766 (Me.1988).
[¶ 7] We first determine whether the challenged evidence was relevant to the determination of any fact before the jury. The trial court must undertake an analysis of relevance by first examining the precise cause of action presented by the plaintiff and the elements of proof necessary to the factfinder's decisions on those elements. [¶ 8] Kaechele's claim of negligence springs from Xtra Mart's duty to exercise reasonable care regarding the safety of its patrons. [A] proprietor of an inn, hotel, motel, restaurant, or similar establishment is liable for an assault upon a guest or patron by another guest, patron, or third person where he has reason to anticipate such assault, and fails to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances to prevent the assault or interfere with its execution. Brewer v. Roosevelt Motor Lodge, 295 A.2d 647, 651 (Me.1972). [4] Thus, when a patron has been injured by a third party at an establishment with a duty to act reasonably to protect its patrons, the touchstone of liability will be the notice of the risk, both general and specific, and the exercise, or lack thereof, of reasonable care. [¶ 9] At trial, there was no real factual dispute regarding the place of the assault (on Xtra Mart's property), the results of the assault (relatively serious injuries to Kaechele's face), or the person who assaulted Kaechele (Roddy). The dispute for resolution by the jury centered on whether Xtra Mart anticipated, or should have anticipated, the assault, and if so, whether Xtra Mart exercised reasonable care to prevent the assault or interfere with its execution. [¶ 10] A proprietor must guard its patrons against not only known dangers but also those which it should reasonably anticipate. Brewer, 295 A.2d at 651. Therefore, whether Xtra Mart should have anticipated the assault must be analyzed from two perspectives: first, did Xtra Mart have notice that its facility generally presented a risk that third parties would assault its patrons; [5] and second, did Xtra Mart know, or should it have anticipated, that Roddy would assault a patron on the evening in question. Generally, evidence of similar incidents in the past will be relevant on the issue of notice. See Simon v. Town of Kennebunkport, 417 A.2d 982, 985-85 (Me.1980). When notice is contested in a matter involving allegations of a third-party assault, evidence demonstrating a pattern of prior substantially similar assaults on the premises is relevant on the issue of notice. See Brewer, 295 A.2d at 651. [6] [¶ 11] It was against this backdrop that the trial court was called upon to make its determination of the relevance of prior incidents at the Xtra Mart. After hearing from counsel, the court excluded evidence that it concluded had little probative value, including the specific details of a litany of reasons, unrelated to assaultive or dangerous behavior of third parties, that the police had previously been called to Xtra Mart. [7] It concluded, however, that general evidence regarding the frequency of calls to Xtra Mart and evidence of prior assaults on the premises was relevant. [¶ 12] The evidence regarding prior calls to the police was presented by two members of the Auburn Police Department. The officers testified generally that Xtra Mart was the source of many calls, that they regularly responded to calls regarding violence at the store, that Xtra Mart was one of the most frequent sources of calls in the area, and that not all calls related directly to violence. The court did not err in concluding that the evidence was relevant under Rule 401 because it tended to show that: (1) Xtra Mart was on notice that this type of dangerous behavior was not uncommon at this Xtra Mart location; (2) Xtra Mart had sufficient notice of the risk over time that precautions of some type could have been instituted; and (3) Xtra Mart knew that law enforcement officials were alert to problems at the site and could be called upon to respond promptly in an emergency. These inferences are directly probative on issues of Xtra Mart's notice of the general risk to patrons at its Auburn store, and its exercise or failure to exercise reasonable care to prevent assaults or interfere in their execution. See Marois v. Paper Converting Mach. Co., 539 A.2d 621, 625 (Me.1988). [8] The court did not err in concluding that the proffered evidence was relevant.
[¶ 13] We turn then to Xtra Mart's claim that the prejudicial effect of the evidence substantially outweighed its probative value. Xtra Mart does not point to any particularly inflammatory information about prior incidents. [9] Rather, it argues that the cumulative evidence of the numerous occasions on which police had been called to this location would tend to make the jury believe that it was a hotbed of criminal activity or public nuisance. The court was careful to restrict the inquiry to avoid testimony regarding the specific outcomes of previous assaults, particularly one involving serious physical injury. The court did not exceed the bounds of its discretion when it concluded that the probative value of evidence related to prior police calls to this Xtra Mart, as limited by the court, was not substantially outweighed by any possible prejudice that could result from the admission of the evidence.