Opinion ID: 2524947
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dr. Fleisher's profile testimony was properly admitted as rebuttal testimony.

Text: While conceding that expert testimony that sexual abuse victims fit a psychological profile is admissible as rebuttal evidence, Lance argues that it is inadmissible in this case because Dr. Fleisher's testimony went beyond the limits of permissible `profile' testimony. Tabitha's opposition to Lance's arguments on profile testimony breaks into two parts: (1) Dr. Fleisher's testimony as to the behavior patterns commonly exhibited by sexual abuse victims, and (2) Dr. Fleisher's testimony that [Tabitha]'s symptoms were consistent with a history of sexual abuse and that it was probable that she had been abused. As to the behavior pattern testimony, Tabitha notes that Lance's defense consisted, in part, of his contention that Tabitha's behaviors and diaries were proof that her claims against him were false and the product of her imagination. She argues that she was entitled to respond to Lance's defense with expert testimony to show that her conduct was not inconsistent with the occurrence of the claimed abuse. [50] Tabitha next contends that when Lance claimed (through the testimony of Dr. Younggren) that her undisputed symptoms were caused by factors other than sexual abuse by Lance, she was then entitled to rebut this claim with the testimony of Dr. Fleisher that her symptoms were consistent with a history of severe sexual abuse, not necessarily explained by the other instances, and as to the probability that she had been abused. Because Lance claimed that Tabitha's behaviors were inconsistent with her claims of abuse by him and showed that her memories were false and that her symptoms were caused by the conduct of others, it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial court to allow Dr. Fleisher's testimony for the purpose of rebutting those claims. It is undisputed that Tabitha was abused by another grandfather and that she experienced other instances of inappropriate sexual conduct by other people. However, Dr. Fleisher's opinion testimony as to profile evidence, whether Tabitha fit that profile, and whether it was likely abuse had occurred, was admissible to rebut Lance's defense.