Opinion ID: 2585410
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admissibility of prior misconduct

Text: Appellant contends that the district court committed reversible error in permitting Barbara Fox-Judd to testify regarding appellant's prior misconduct. In the context of a criminal case, we have held that, prior to the admission of evidence of other wrongs, the district court must conduct a hearing on the record outside the presence of the jury and determine: (1) that the evidence is relevant to the crime charged; (2) that the other act is proven by clear and convincing evidence; and (3) that the probative value of the other act is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Qualls v. State, 114 Nev. 900, 902, 961 P.2d 765, 766 (1998) (citing Tinch v. State, 113 Nev. 1170, 1176, 946 P.2d 1061, 1064-65 (1997); Armstrong v. State, 110 Nev. 1322, 1323-24, 885 P.2d 600, 600-01 (1994)). The district court's decision to admit or exclude the evidence after conducting such a hearing, commonly referred to as a Petrocelli [1] hearing, is to be given great deference and will not be reversed absent manifest error. Qualls at 902, 961 P.2d at 766 (citations omitted). We now extend the rule to civil proceedings. Evidence of prior bad acts may be admitted provided the evidence is relevant and the prior incident is proven by clear and convincing evidence. Even if the trial court determines that the prior bad act evidence is relevant, the evidence is not admissible if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. NRS 48.035(1). The determination of the district court is to be given great deference and will not be reversed absent manifest error. Here, the district court properly held a Petrocelli hearing out of the presence of the jury and determined that: (1) the evidence of appellant's prior misconduct was relevant to opportunity, intent, or common plan or scheme; (2) the prior wrongs were proven by clear and convincing evidence; and (3) the probative value of the evidence was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Our examination of the record reveals no basis for appellant's claim that the district court's determination constitutes manifest error. We conclude that the district court did not err in admitting the evidence.