Opinion ID: 1662260
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: opinion evidence of lay witness

Text: Jershin v. Becker, 217 Neb. 645, 351 N.W.2d 48 (1984), although a civil case, decided nearly the same question as is presented here. In Jershin, the plaintiff assigned as error the court's refusal to allow an eyewitness to testify with regard to the avoidability of the accident. This court held: Opinion testimony by a lay witness is permitted only where it is rationally based on the perception of the witness and it is helpful to a clear understanding of his testimony or the determination of a fact in issue. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-701 (Reissue 1979). It is generally admissible where it is necessary and advisable as an aid to the jury, but it should be excluded whenever the point is reached at which the trier of fact is being told that which it is itself entirely equipped to determine. Brugh v. Peterson, 183 Neb. 190, 159 N.W.2d 321 (1968). The questions asked of the witness sought his opinion as to each party's opportunity to avoid the accident. These were the precise issues to be determined by the jury. The testimony would merely have been the witness' conclusions, and would not be helpful to the jury in resolving the issues. There was no abuse of discretion in the exclusion of the opinions. 217 Neb. at 652, 351 N.W.2d at 53. The reasoning is equally applicable to the present case. An essential issue for the jury to decide was whether the defendant caused the collision leading to Stewart's death. The opinion evidence the defense sought to introduce was intended to have decided the issue for the jury. In discussing the provisions of Neb.Rev. Stat. § 27-701 (Reissue 1985), this court explained, `It is based on the premise that the lay witness' function is to describe what he has observed and that the trier of fact will draw the conclusion from the facts observed and reproduced by the witness....' Belitz v. Suhr, 208 Neb. 280, 285, 303 N.W.2d 284, 288 (1981), quoting from the comment to the Proposed Nebraska Rules of Evidence, rule 701 at 107 (1973). Finally, the full extent of the offer of proof on this issue was a statement by counsel that I think if they can be properly qualified as far as foundation and as far as being experienced drivers and if their opinions are helpful, they should be allowed to testify as to their opinion regarding the driving of the Corvette by Rodney Jenson. There is no merit to any of the errors assigned by the defendant, and the judgment of the district court is affirmed. AFFIRMED.