Opinion ID: 1368892
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Did the trial court improperly prejudice defendant Williams by allowing admission of a stipulation of the other defendants?

Text: In the same earlier civil action, the defendants had stipulated to certain facts regarding their conduct and the claim. The defendants contend the stipulation was improperly admitted in the present case against defendant Williams, who was not a party to the stipulation at the earlier trial. Defendants' arguments on this issue are without merit. The jury instruction on this matter stated: Prior to this trial, the defendants George Janovich, John Joseph Carbone and John M. Carbone made certain statements in another civil lawsuit. These statements are admissible in this lawsuit and are binding upon them. These statements were not made by Ronald J. Williams and so they are not binding upon him whatsoever. This instruction properly informed the jury of the use it was to make of the admissions and specifically prevented the very error Williams claims here. See Feldmiller v. Olson, 75 Wn.2d 322, 324, 450 P.2d 816 (1969) (trial court properly informed jury a statement by one defendant was only evidence as to that defendant, not the other defendant; no error found). We find no error.