Opinion ID: 2156532
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Doctor Mishra's Testimony & Advanced Chemical Test Results

Text: Suarez first contends that the trial justice's conclusion that Dr. Mishra's testimony as to the test results of Advanced Chemical Corporation would constitute expert testimony was erroneous and an abuse of discretion. We disagree. Rule 702 of the Rhode Island Rules of Evidence provides that [i]f scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of fact or opinion. However, it is well accepted in this jurisdiction that [w]hen a party seeks to introduce, through expert testimony, novel scientific or complex technical evidence, it is proper for the trial justice to exercise a gatekeeping function. Owens v. Silvia, 838 A.2d 881, 891 (R.I.2003) (citing DiPetrillo v. Dow Chemical Co., 729 A.2d 677, 685 (R.I.1999)). Accordingly, we give great deference to a trial justice's ruling on the admissibility of an expert witness's proffered testimony, and will uphold such rulings provided that the trial justice has soundly and judicially exercised his or her discretion in the light of reason applied to all the facts and with a view to the rights of all the parties to the action,    and not arbitrarily or willfully, but with just regard to what is right and equitable under the circumstances and the law. Morra v. Harrop, 791 A.2d 472, 477 (R.I.2002) (quoting DeBartolo v. DiBattista, 117 R.I. 349, 353, 367 A.2d 701, 703 (1976)). It is clear to us from the on-the-record statements of its counsel that Suarez intended to introduce Dr. Mishra as an expert witness and not merely in the capacity of a records custodian. There can be no other reasonable explanation for the stated intention to inform the jury about the witness's education and employment history other than to demonstrate his expertise in explaining the test results and thus attaching the weight of expert scientific validation to that evidence. Because Suarez failed to disclose Dr. Mishra as an expert witness in its response to the discovery requests made by Blue Coast, the trial justice was within her authority to exclude his testimony. Rule 26(b)(4)(A) of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure provides [a] party may    require any other party to identify each person whom the other party expects to call as an expert witness at trial[.] We previously have held that failure to notify an opposing party of the identity of an expert pursuant to a properly phrased interrogatory propounded in reliance upon Rule 26(b)(4)(A) may bar the expert from testifying at trial. See Owens, 838 A.2d at 902; Neri v. Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 719 A.2d 1150, 1152 (R.I.1998). See also Gormley v. Vartian, 121 R.I. 770, 403 A.2d 256 (1979). In this case, Suarez failed to disclose Dr. Mishra during discovery, thereby depriving Blue Coast of both the opportunity to prepare for adequate cross-examination or to secure its own expert. Thus, it is clear that Blue Coast was prejudiced by tardy notice of Dr. Mishra's testimony. Furthermore, it is apparent from our review of the test results that the trial justice did not abuse her discretion in denying their admission as business records under Rule 803(6). Once Dr. Mishra's proffered testimony was excluded because the trial justice determined it to be expert in nature, Suarez's counsel nimbly attempted to convert the witness into a records custodian in an effort to admit the test results without his testimony. Although they may have been relevant to the cause on trial, the trial justice excluded the test results because she found that the jury could not understand them without explanation. We hold that determination to be within her discretion. Rule 403 of the Rhode Island Rules of Evidence provides that [relevant] evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. As we have recognized, the question of whether to admit or exclude evidence under Rule 403 is within the sound discretion of the trial justice. State v. Martinez, 824 A.2d 443, 449 (R.I.2003). This Court will not interfere with the trial justice's determination unless a clear abuse of discretion is apparent. Cuddy v. Schiavonne, 568 A.2d 1387, 1389 (R.I.1990) (quoting State v. Martini, 460 A.2d 936, 938 (R.I.1983)). In this case, the trial justice, after examining the Advanced Chemical test results that Suarez sought to introduce, found them to be confusing, based on scientific principles and terminology, and beyond the comprehension of the jury without explanation by an expert. We have reviewed those documents and do not deem the trial justice's conclusion to be erroneous. The documents clearly involve specialized scientific and technical modes of analysis that cannot adequately be understood without the aid of expert testimony. The test results contain numbers and figures that exhibit no readily apparent meaning without explanation and interpretation. Moreover, it is clear that the methods of analysis employed by Advanced Chemical are well beyond the understanding of the average juror.