Opinion ID: 885841
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did the District Court err when it admitted expert testimony of Dr. Dwayne Schultz?

Text: ¶ 19 During its case-in-chief, the State offered the expert testimony of Dr. Dwayne Schultz. In seeking to establish his qualifications as an expert, Dr. Schultz testified that he was board certified in Pathology and that he had conducted over four hundred autopsies, approximately forty of which involved gunshot wounds. In response to voir dire by defense counsel, Dr. Schultz admitted he was not board certified in Forensic Pathology. Clausell's attorney then asserted the following objection: I would object to this Doctor's testimony regarding Forensic Pathology which would include discussions about homicide cases .... The District Court overruled the objection and Dr. Schultz testified, among other things, as to the cause of Trottier's death, the presence of soot and powder burns in her skull and brain, the trajectory of the bullet through her skull and brain, and the probable orientation of the gun when it was fired in order for the bullet to achieve its trajectory. Clausell did not object further to any of Dr. Schultz's testimony. ¶ 20 On appeal, Clausell contends only a forensic pathologist should be considered a qualified expert to testify concerning the cause of death where there is a suspicious circumstance surrounding the death as presented in this trial for deliberate homicide. Thus, Clausell appears to argue the District Court erred in accepting the qualifications of Dr. Schultz as an expert witness. Clausell also argues the District Court erred specifically in allowing Schultz to testify regarding the forensic aspects of Trottier's deaththe presence of soot and powder burns in the bullet wound, the trajectory and angle of the bullet and the likely orientation of the gun when it was fired. We address both arguments in turn. ¶ 21 Rule 702, M.R.Evid., sets forth the criteria for the admissibility of expert testimony: If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise. The determination of the qualification and competency of an expert witness rests within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a showing of abuse of discretion. State v. Maier, 1999 MT 51, ¶ 88, 293 Mont. 403, ¶ 88, 977 P.2d 298, ¶ 88 (citation omitted). Moreover, [t]he degree of a witness' qualifications affects the weight of the expert's testimony, not its admissibility. State v. Martin (1987), 226 Mont. 463, 466, 736 P.2d 477, 479 (citing State v. Berg (1985), 215 Mont. 431, 434, 697 P.2d 1365, 1367). ¶ 22 Clausell relies on In re K.H., 1999 MT 128, 294 Mont. 466, 981 P.2d 1190, in urging us to distinguish between Clinical and Forensic Pathology for purposes of whether an expert is qualified to testify at a homicide trial. Clausell's reliance is misplaced, if not disingenuous. In K.H., we held that a social worker with no training regarding Native American culture was not a qualified expert witness[ ] as that term is used in 25 U.S.C. § 1912(f) of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). K.H., ¶¶ 28-31. We noted, however, that the federal ICWA and its subsequently promulgated regulations and guidelines add a dimension to expert testimony not normally required under Montana law. K.H., ¶ 23 (internal citations and quotations omitted). Clearly, a qualified expert witness pursuant to the ICWA is not equivalent to an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education pursuant to Rule 702, M.R.Evid. Thus, K.H. is not applicable here. ¶ 23 Clausell cites no other legal authority for his assertion that a board certified clinical pathologist with four hundred autopsies to his credit, including forty gunshot wounds, is not qualified to offer expert testimony in a homicide case and we decline to adopt such a rule here. Therefore, we conclude the District Court did not abuse its discretion in accepting the qualifications of Dr. Schultz to testify as an expert witness. ¶ 24 Clausell also argues the District Court abused its discretion specifically in allowing Dr. Schultz to testify as to the probable orientation of the murder weapon based on the soot and powder burns and the angle of the bullet's trajectory through Trottier's skull and brain. He contends that, because Dr. Schultz did not examine the gun and was not qualified in forensics, such testimony was outside his area of expertise. However, as the State correctly responds, Clausell failed to contemporaneously object to the specific testimony about which he now complains. ¶ 25 In order to preserve an objection to the admission of evidence for appeal, the objecting party must make a timely and specific objection on the record. Rule 103(a)(1), M.R.Evid; State v. Benson, 1999 MT 324, ¶ 19, 297 Mont. 321, ¶ 19, 992 P.2d 831, ¶ 19. Pursuant to § 46-20-104(2), MCA, [f]ailure to make a timely objection during trial constitutes a waiver of the objection except as provided in XX-XX-XXX(2). The reason for the contemporaneous objection rule of § 46-20-104(2), MCA, is to allow the district court an opportunity, where possible, to remedy any error and we will not put a trial court in error where it has not been given such a chance to correct itself, absent an exception to the rule. See Benson, ¶ 19. See also State v. Stuit (1996), 277 Mont. 227, 230, 921 P.2d 866, 868; State v. Rodgers (1993), 257 Mont. 413, 418-19, 849 P.2d 1028, 1032. ¶ 26 Clausell's sole objection to Dr. Schultz's testimony raised the issue of Dr. Schultz's qualifications to testify as an expert at a homicide trial. Clausell has not previously argued that Dr. Shultz's specific testimony regarding soot and powder burns and the bullet trajectory was outside his area of expertise. Because Clausell has not argued that any of the exceptions set forth in § 46-20-701(2), MCA, apply here, he has waived any objection to this issue.