Opinion ID: 1773232
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Evidence of Similar Acts

Text: For her fourth point for reversal, Madden argues that the trial court erred in allowing evidence showing that Humphrey had been involved in similar adoption scams around the same time that he deceived the Aldriches. She argues further that the trial court erred in denying her motion for mistrial. The evidence in question came in first through Jon Aldrich, then through Debbie Aldrich and Ed Webb. The Aldriches assert that Madden has failed to demonstrate any prejudice, because the evidence came out during her cross-examination of Jon Aldrich. They assert further that the motion for mistrial was properly denied because Madden failed to seek a cautionary instruction to the jury. We agree. During cross-examination of Jon Aldrich, Madden's attorney, Mr. Bingham, asked the witness about the decision not to include Ed Webb as a defendant in their lawsuit. The following colloquy occurred: Q. Mr. Aldrich, you said you didn't sue Mr. Webb in light of the facts that came out. The facts didn't come out until after you filed this lawsuit, is that right?
Q. What's not right? A. The facts started coming out in April of `96, actually March of `96 that there were other adoptions through the Jean Madden Law Firm Q. I'm going to stop you right there. A bench conference then ensued, during which the Aldriches' attorney, Mr. Ginnaven, argued that the witness should be allowed to answer the question. The trial court agreed and instructed the witness accordingly. The following then occurred: A. Okay, in March there's a newspaper article in MR. BINGHAM: Your Honor, that's where he's going. THE COURT: Well, that's non-responsive. MR. BINGHAM: I agree with you. Let me go with another question. MR. GINNAVEN: Well, heI'm sorry, I want to make the record clear. Mr. Bingham is asking and trying to impeach this testimony, why did he not sue Mr. Webb? He said he didn't know anything about other facts because they didn't come out until sometime later. Mr. Aldrich is trying to explain to the Jury how he became aware that Mr. Webb wouldn't be responsible because the same thing had happened to other couples. He's opened the door to this line of inquiry. At that point, Mr. Bingham objected and asked for a mistrial based on Mr. Ginnaven's statements. The trial court denied the motion, and instructed the witness to answer the questions as asked. It is well settled that a mistrial is a drastic and extreme remedy that should be granted only when there has been error so prejudicial that justice cannot be served by continuing the trial or when fundamental fairness of the trial itself has been manifestly affected. See Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. v. Foote, 341 Ark. 105, 14 S.W.3d 512 (2000); Edwards v. Stills, 335 Ark. 470, 984 S.W.2d 366 (1998). The trial court has wide discretion in granting or denying a motion for a mistrial, and we will not disturb the court's decision absent an abuse of discretion or manifest prejudice to the movant. Id. A mistrial will only be granted where any possible prejudice could not have been removed by an admonition to the jury. Id. When there is doubt as to whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying a mistrial, a failure to request an admonition will negate a mistrial motion. Id. Here, Madden has failed to demonstrate how she was prejudiced by the admission of the testimony, as she opened the door to this line of questioning. See id. The same thing can be said about similar testimony elicited during Madden's cross-examination of Debbie Aldrich. Moreover, any possible prejudice resulting from the testimony or counsel's statements could have been cured by an admonition to the jury. Because Madden failed to request a cautionary instruction or other admonition to the jury, we do not reverse the trial court's ruling on this issue. Additionally, the testimony that Madden complains about from Webb was admitted without objection. Webb stated on direct that another attorney had told him that most likely there was not going to be a baby in our case and a couple of others. Madden did not object. In fact, when Madden did object later in Webb's testimony, she failed to obtain a ruling on her objection from the trial court. It is well settled that to preserve a point for appeal, a proper objection must be asserted at the first opportunity. See Foote, 341 Ark. 105, 14 S.W.3d 512; Edwards, 335 Ark. 470, 984 S.W.2d 366. Moreover, failure to obtain a ruling from the trial court is a procedural bar to our consideration of the issue on appeal. See Barker v. Clark, 343 Ark. 8, 33 S.W.3d 476 (2000); Ross Explorations, Inc. v. Freedom Energy, Inc., 340 Ark. 74, 8 S.W.3d 511 (2000). Accordingly, we find no merit to this point, and we affirm.