Opinion ID: 511846
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Evidence Reference Charts

Text: 58 The County also contends that the district court improperly submitted to the jury unrebutted, argumentative evidence reference charts produced by Briscoe. A decision whether to allow the jury to use charts, indexes, or other visual aids which organize or summarize evidence admitted at trial is reviewed for abuse of discretion. See Pierce v. Ramsey Winch Co., 753 F.2d 416, 431 (5th Cir.1985). We cannot simply substitute our judgment for that of the district court to reverse under this standard, but must be left with the definite and firm conviction that the court committed a clear error of judgment in reaching its conclusion after weighing the relevant factors. See Fjelstad v. American Honda Motor Co., 762 F.2d 1334, 1337 (9th Cir.1985). 59 In light of the length and complexity of this case, the court reasonably was concerned about the jury's ability to organize and analyze the evidence. Judge Foley instructed Briscoe at the close of its case-in-chief to prepare charts of the various breaches of contract underlying the major delay-causing events it claimed were caused by the County. The charts were to designate the witnesses, trial transcript citations, and exhibit numbers supporting each alleged breach, and list the delay-causing event that resulted. The County also was advised to consider preparing charts of its claims and defenses. 60 Judge Foley anticipated that the charts would assist him in considering directed verdict motions, help the jury during closing arguments, and serve as master topical indexes for the transcripts and exhibits used by the jury during deliberations. Contrary to the court's intentions and instructions, however, neither party submitted its charts until after closing arguments and jury instructions were completed. 61 Briscoe submitted individual charts corresponding to the ten contract breaches found in the interrogatories and listing consequences allegedly flowing from that breach. The charts served as indexes to binders containing references to trial exhibits and witness testimony. The actual documents and transcripts were contained in separate binders. The County objected to the charts before the jury began deliberations on the grounds that Briscoe had never attempted to tie specific consequences to particular contract breaches during the trial and that the charts constituted unrebutted argument. 62 Judge Foley acknowledged that the County's arguments were probably right, but overruled the objection because he believed that the jury had a strong need for an index of the voluminous trial materials. In denying the County's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or a new trial, the court stated: 63 [T]hese charts of Briscoe's did not accomplish what the Court wanted them to do. They did not clearly make the connection between each claimed breach of contract and each delay-causing event. Rather, in a shotgun type approach Briscoe's counsel listed a plethora of consequences flowing from each of the 10 claimed breaches of contract, stating that many of the same consequences flowed from different breaches.... [T]he jury was not assisted as the court had hoped and could not have intelligently relied upon the charts at all. It appears obvious the jury drew its own inferences in connecting the breaches of contract with the delay-causing events. 64 The district court thus concluded that because Briscoe failed to take advantage of this questionable opportunity to clarify its case to the jury, any error committed in submitting the charts to the jury was harmless. We agree. 65 Ironically, the County's forceful arguments for reversal on this issue actually support Judge Foley's harmless error analysis. The linking of contract breaches and consequences in Briscoe's charts lacked any evidentiary basis. Most of the charts were repetitive and vague. Many were confusing. Others were absurd. Even assuming that the court abused its discretion in permitting use of the charts, we are convinced that a reasonable jury simply could not have relied on them in reaching its verdict.