Opinion ID: 2046588
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the Trial Court Erred in Failing to Sustain the Plaintiff's Objections to the Questioning of her Expert Witness by the Defendant?

Text: The plaintiff objected to the defendant's cross-examination of her expert witness concerning a one-second perception/reaction time. She objected on the ground that there was no factual basis in the record for the assumption that a one-second perception/reaction time was appropriate. The trial court overruled the plaintiff's objection. Our review of the record reveals that on direct examination the plaintiff's expert testified that it was possible for Allen to have stopped prior to reaching the intersection under certain assumptions he had made, including a one-second perception/reaction time. On cross-examination, the defendant merely sought to elaborate on this testimony. The plaintiff contends, however, that the evidence showed Allen's perception and reaction were delayed and, therefore, a one-second perception/reaction time was not applicable. Because the expert gave an opinion on direct that was premised on a one-second perception/reaction time, the trial court did not err in allowing questions on cross-examination that were also premised on a one-second perception/reaction time. Whether this typical perception/reaction time was a reasonable assumption under the circumstances of this case was a disputed issue for the jury to resolve. [4]