Opinion ID: 1164260
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Officer Layman's Testimony

Text: Officer Layman, the police officer who investigated the accident, measured the skid marks left by Lenord's vehicle and performed speed tests in his patrol car at the scene of the accident. At trial, plaintiffs asked Layman for his opinion of Lenord's speed prior to the accident. Defendant objected on the ground that a proper foundation for the admission of the testimony had not been laid. [9] The court allowed Layman to testify as to the speed the test vehicle would have to have been traveling to leave the same amount of skid marks as were left by Lenord's vehicle. Layman also testified that the differences between the test vehicle and the Lenord vehicle favored the Lenord vehicle. Plaintiffs claim the trial court erred in limiting Layman's testimony. The admission in evidence of expert testimony lies within the sound discretion of the trial judge whose determination is reviewable only for an abuse of discretion. City of Fairbanks v. Nesbett, 432 P.2d 607, 611-12 (Alaska 1967). See also, Ferrell v. Baxter, 484 P.2d 250, 267 (Alaska 1971) and Bachner v. Rich, 554 P.2d 430, 446 (Alaska 1976). The test for determining abuse of discretion with respect to the admission of expert testimony is whether the reasons for the exercise of discretion are clearly untenable and unreasonable. Lewis v. State, 469 P.2d 689, 695 (Alaska 1970). A review of the record reveals that Layman explained in detail the skid tests he performed and the instruments he used to determine Lenord's speed. In reaching his conclusion, Layman accounted for the differences in weight and brakes between the test car and Lenord's car and the effect of the collision on Lenord's speed. Although it is a close question as to whether the exclusion of Layman's opinion was an abuse of discretion, any error that may have been committed in that regard would have been harmless. Layman testified that his patrol car would have to have been traveling at least 40 miles per hour to leave the same skid marks as the Lenord car, and that any variable between the patrol car and Lenord's would mean that the latter must have been traveling somewhat faster than 40 miles per hour. It is apparent therefore that the essence of Layman's conclusions was before the jury.