Opinion ID: 1918766
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court erred in excluding evidence of the safety precautions taken by the jitney jungle stores in crossgates, clinton, jackson, ridgeland, and castlewood.

Text: ¶ 5. At trial, the appellants sought to introduce photographs of Jitney Jungle stores at other locations to demonstrate that those stores used speed bumps, stop signs, pedestrian crossings, speed limits, or other precautions to deter drivers from speeding through their parking lots. Counsel for Jitney Jungle objected, arguing that the other stores' safety measures were irrelevant and contending that each parking lot has its own peculiar needs and circumstances. ¶ 6. The trial judge excluded the evidence regarding the other stores stating: All right. As I see it, the issue is not whether the parking lot at the subject Jitney Jungle could have been made safer, but whether it was unsafe or, as you put it, Mr. White, dangerous under the circumstances that existed on the 25th of October, 1993. And I'm afraid the photos of the other parking lots, showing speed bumps, directional markings and other safety devices, would tend to cause the jury to believe that the subject parking lot is unsafe simply because the others are more safe ... and allow them to ignore the circumstances. So, I'll have to stand by my previous ruling and sustain the Motion in Limine. ¶ 7. The Joneses rely upon the wrongful death action of Catholic Diocese of Natchez-Jackson v. Jaquith, 224 So.2d 216 (Miss. 1969) for their contention that the photographs should have been admitted. In Jaquith, a high school boy struck his head against a concrete wall while playing basketball in the gymnasium. The issue at trial was whether the failure to provide protective padding for the rear wall constituted negligence. On appeal, the school argued that the lower court improperly allowed evidence of custom and usage to be introduced. ¶ 8. We found that evidence of custom and usage can be a relevant consideration in determining negligence. Jaquith, 224 So.2d at 222. However, we have clearly established that while relevant, custom and usage evidence is disfavored and recognized as dangerous. Meridian Star v. Kay, 211 Miss. 536, 543-44, 52 So.2d 35, 37 (1951); Magnolia Lumber Corp. v. Czerwiec Lumber Co., 207 Miss. 738, 746, 43 So.2d 204, 205 (1949); Robinson v. Turfitt, 192 Miss. 160, 164, 4 So.2d 884, 885(1941). The danger is that the jury will define negligence simply by a departure from custom. For custom and usage evidence to be admissible, its relevancy and probative value must be clearly shown and must outweigh its prejudicial effect. Robinson, 192 Miss. at 164, 4 So.2d at 885. We review the trial judge's decisions based on relevancy under an abuse of discretion standard. Sperry-New Holland v. Prestage, 617 So.2d 248, 263 (Miss.1993). ¶ 9. The trial judge in this case recorded his efforts to balance the probative value of the evidence from other stores against its prejudicial effect. It is clear from the text of his ruling that he believed the pictures and testimony would likely prejudice the jury and would lead them to imply negligence simply because of the discrepancy between measures used at the five other Jitney Jungle stores. The judge properly balanced the evidence and documented his analysis. We find no abuse of discretion in the application of the law to the facts. ¶ 10. Though the judge denied introduction of the photographs, he allowed full exploration of the issue of safe traffic management. Counsel for the Joneses was allowed to question witnesses fully about the lack of speed bumps and other traffic control devices at the Magee store. Unfortunately for the Joneses, the jury found no liability against Jitney Jungle. Judge Payne, supported by a unanimous Court of Appeals, wrote below the loss of a child is a deplorable event and a blow to society as well as to the grieving family, but liability must be present for there to be an award against a defendant. We agree.