Opinion ID: 1794630
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Acres Affected

Text: The trial court determined that the destruction of only 10 of the 15 acres flooded were proximately caused by Rasmussen's negligence. Bristol testified that based upon his own estimates and those of the ASCS, it was his opinion 15 acres of soybeans were in fact destroyed in the 1990 flooding. The court reduced Rasmussen's responsibility for the 1990 flooding by 5 acres because of Bristol's testimony that his land was subject to periodic flooding and that after a 5-inch rain in 1992, he experienced destruction of 5 acres of soybeans on this same land, even when Indian Creek was not obstructed. In reversing, the district court was critical of the county court's finding based upon this testimony. The district court concluded that expert witness testimony would have better established the acres damaged by Rasmussen's negligence. The trial court is given discretion in determining whether or not a witness is qualified to state his opinion, and such determination will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Paro v. Farm & Ranch Fertilizer, 243 Neb. 390, 499 N.W.2d 535 (1993). The trial court did not abuse its discretion by accepting Bristol's estimates as to the number of acres affected. Bristol testified that he relied on ASCS crop damage estimates just as other farmers in the area rely on these estimates to determine crop damage. Further, based upon Bristol's years of experience and specialized knowledge in farming that particular land, the trial court found that he qualified as an expert to testify in the form of an opinion as to the number of acres affected by the flooding. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-702 (Reissue 1995). While there may be alternate methods to establish the number of acres for crop damage purposes, there was adequate foundation laid for Bristol's testimony, and his testimony was unrefuted by either cross-examination or other expert or lay testimony.