Opinion ID: 71564
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Exclusion of Evidence on Relevance Grounds

Text: Fourth, York argues that the trial court should have admitted testimony from York's father about York's birth which led his father to suspect that Mr. York suffered organic brain damage. In attempting to elicit this testimony, the defense did not ask the father what his profession or education was. The Government objected to relevance and the trial court sustained the objection. This court reviews evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Garcia Mendoza, 587 F.3d 682, 689 (5th Cir.2009). This Court examines what effect the error had or reasonably may be taken to have upon the jury's decision. United States v. George, 201 F.3d 370, 372 (5th Cir.2000). Even if proper evidence that York had suffered organic brain damage were relevant, the error was harmless because the defendant merely offered inadmissible opinion. See id. at 373 (affirming based on other grounds). The rules forbid lay opinions based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge within the scope of Rule 702. FED.R.EVID. 701. The drafters added this language to Rule 701 to prevent parties from offering expert testimony as lay opinion and circumventing discovery rules. FED.R.EVID. 701 advisory committee's note. The distinction between lay and expert testimony is that lay testimony results from a process of reasoning familiar in everyday life, whereas expert testimony results from a process of reasoning that can only be mastered by specialists in the field. United States v. Cooks, 589 F.3d 173, 180 (5th Cir.2009). The advisory committee notes to Rule 701 adopt the distinctions between lay and expert testimony as set forth in State v. Brown, 836 S.W.2d 530, 549-50 (Tenn. 1992). In Brown one witness testified about the cause of certain bruises and the length of time it would take those bruises to develop. Id. at 549. Another testified about cause of an injury to an individual's toe. Id. The court found both of these medical causation opinions to be expert opinions. Id. at 550. Like Brown, York's father's testimony seems to be speculative medical causation testimony. Testimony about York's birth and any brain damage caused by his birth requires specialized medical knowledge. It is not the type of opinion that one could reach as a process of everyday reasoning. Thus, district court did not abuse its discretion.