Opinion ID: 1721290
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: plaintiff's objections to dr. krause's testimony

Text: Menkens also assigns as error the trial court's overruling of her foundation, form, and relevancy objections to certain testimony of Dr. Krause. The admissibility of evidence is reviewed for abuse of discretion where the Nebraska Evidence Rules commit the evidentiary question at issue to the discretion of the trial court. Reavis v. Slominski, 250 Neb. 711, 551 N.W.2d 528 (1996); Walpus v. Milwaukee Elec. Tool Corp., 248 Neb. 145, 532 N.W.2d 316 (1995). During his deposition, on direct examination by the Finleys' lawyer, Dr. Krause stated there was nothing in the November 11, 1988, x rays that he could relate to an accident. He further stated there was nothing in these x rays that he could attribute to trauma, which he described as an injury resulting from an accident. In answer to a question on cross-examination, Dr. Krause asked, Was this patient [Menkens] injured in that [November 11, 1988,] car accident? He replied to his own question, I can't offer an opinion. Thereafter, Menkens' lawyer asked the following questions, and Dr. Krause gave the following answers: Q. You can't offer an opinion because you don't have the underlying clinical history; is that correct? A. That's correct. I have never examined the patient. I don't have the clinical history in detail. I have never examined the patient. Q. So, in order to proffer an opinion with regard to whether or not she sustained any injury, by reason of the trauma of the accident, you would have had to have a physical examination and obtain clinical history from this patient; is that correct?
Q. Someone would. But you have not; is that correct? A. No, I have not. I have not. Later, Dr. Krause testified, I cannot offer an opinion as to whether or not any pain this patient [Menkens] has is or is not related to that [1988] car accident. Expert testimony should not be received into evidence if it is evident that the witness does not possess such facts that enable him to express a reasonable, accurate conclusion as distinguished from a mere guess. Without an adequate basis of facts, the witness should not be allowed to give an opinion. Hoegerl v. Burt, 215 Neb. 752, 340 N.W.2d 428 (1983); Clearwater Corp. v. City of Lincoln, 202 Neb. 796, 277 N.W.2d 236 (1979). Dr. Krause testified that there was nothing in the x rays or CAT scan that he could relate to any trauma of the November 11, 1988, accident. Menkens objected to this testimony, claiming that it lacked foundation and was irrelevant. We agree with Menkens that any opinion by Dr. Krause as to whether or not Menkens' condition was caused by the collision was without foundation and lacked relevance. Dr. Krause testified that everything he saw on Menkens' x rays, CAT scan, and MRI exams he could have seen in a person who had never been in a car accident. He testified that to give an opinion in Menkens' case, a clinical history and a physical exam were required. Dr. Krause testified he had neither obtained a clinical history of Menkens nor had he physically examined her. Dr. Krause's own statements reveal he was not in possession of the facts necessary to testify to the effect the collision had on Menkens. Where an expert's opinion testimony does not have a sound and reasonable basis, it should be stricken. Wentling v. Jenny, 206 Neb. 335, 293 N.W.2d 76 (1980); Clearwater Corp., supra . Dr. Krause's opinion had no adequate, sound, or reasonable basis; therefore, it lacked foundation, and its admission was an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court. Relevant evidence means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-401 (Reissue 1995). Evidence is probative if it tends in any degree to alter the probability of a material fact. State v. Oliva, 228 Neb. 185, 422 N.W.2d 53 (1988). Dr. Krause's opinion had no adequate, sound, or reasonable basis and was, therefore, unreliable. An unreliable opinion does not tend to alter the probability of a material fact and, hence, is irrelevant. Additionally, Dr. Krause's testimony lacked certainty. Dr. Krause testified he could not offer an opinion regarding whether Menkens was injured in the November collision. Lack of certainty in an expert's opinion is a problem of relevance. See, McWhirt v. Heavey, 250 Neb. 536, 550 N.W.2d 327 (1996); Paulsen v. State, 249 Neb. 112, 541 N.W.2d 636 (1996). It is clear from Dr. Krause's testimony that his opinion regarding the effect of the November 11, 1988, collision on Menkens was without foundation and relevance.