Opinion ID: 1744499
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: exclusion of videotape and photographs

Text: Cass and World assert that the trial court erred in refusing to admit into evidence a videotape and photographs of a reconstruction of the accident performed by a private investigator hired by Cass and World. Cass and World assert that the videotape and photographs would have shown the amount of spray from the Super Tube and its handling and arcing when towed behind a boat. The determination whether to admit demonstrative evidence, including experiments, demonstrations, and tests, is left to the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on appeal unless an abuse of discretion is shown. Van Ornum v. Otter Tail Power Co., 210 N.W.2d 188, 196-197 (N.D.1973). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts in an unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable manner. E.g., Eisenzimmer v. City of Balfour, 352 N.W.2d 628, 631 (N.D.1984). We have reviewed the videotape and photographs in the context of this record and we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding this evidence.