Opinion ID: 1749674
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did appellee's expert invade the province of the jury?

Text: Appellant contends the trial court erred in allowing John Kern to express an opinion as to the reasonable safeness of the vessel on the day the injury occurred. In Ford Motor Co. v. Dees, 223 So.2d 638 (Miss. 1969), a products liability case, this Court stated: We feel that Alvin Doyle was qualified by his thirty years experience as part owner and manager of a large automotive repair shop to testify as an expert on the construction and working of the steering mechanism of a pickup truck and also the manner in which the cab was bolted to the chassis. He was qualified to point out to the jury how the steering column would separate and cause the steering mechanism to fail if there was play between the cab and chassis. He did aid the jury with his expert knowledge, but he did not invade the province of the jury and furnish them the ultimate answer. He did offer, and we think rightly so, some light on the subject of the actual assembly and working of the steering mechanism. (223 So.2d at 641) This Court has also held that opinion testimony of one who has acquired special knowledge of a subject, either by study, training or practical experience, may impart to the jury such acquired knowledge so as to aid it in determining an issue with which the jury is not familiar. Bynum v. Mandrel Industries, Inc., 241 So.2d 629 (Miss. 1970). The hypothetical question propounded to John Kern as well as the answer given in response thereto did not invade the province of the jury. The ultimate issue to be determined by the jury was the seaworthiness of the vessel and not the condition and location of the ice chest on board the ship. John Kern's opinion was merely to the effect that the installation of the ice chest aboard the Nuevo was not reasonably safe. It was for the jury to determine whether the condition and installation of the ice chest rendered the vessel unseaworthy, and such condition contributed to the injury of the appellee. We find no error in the propriety of the hypothetical question and answer.