Opinion ID: 1674262
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: the trial court committed error through the admission of the testimony of james t. marsh.

Text: The relevancy and admissibility of evidence are largely within the discretion of the trial court and reversal may be had only where that discretion has been abused. Johnston v. State, 567 So.2d 237, 238 (Miss. 1990), citing Hentz v. State, 542 So.2d 914, 917 (Miss. 1989); Monk v. State, 532 So.2d 592, 599 (Miss. 1988). Unless the trial judge's discretion is so abused as to be prejudicial to a party, this Court will not reverse his ruling. Shearer v. State, 423 So.2d 824, 826 (Miss. 1983), citing Page v. State, 295 So.2d 279 (Miss. 1974). The discretion of the trial judge must be exercised within the boundaries of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence. Johnston, 567 So.2d at 238. See M.R.E. 103(a), 104(a). Marsh testified as an expert on tax preparations and calculations and loss of use of income in an effort to prove the amount of loss of use of income sustained by Jim Corson. It appears that Marsh was properly qualified as an expert based on his knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education as required by M.R.E. 702. Rule 702 also requires that testimony of an expert help the trier of fact understand the evidence or determine a fact in issue. Marsh's testimony did neither. The chancellor did not need assistance understanding the evidence and it does not appear that Marsh's testimony was offered for this purpose. Rather, it seems his testimony was offered to help the chancellor determine the amount of damages suffered by the Corsons, but this was not a fact at issue. Marsh testified as to the amount of income lost by the Corsons due to Jim Corson's failure to take the out of state job available to him in 1982. There was no proof that Jim Corson was unable to take the job; Jim Corson told the company he could not take the job as he was unable to move due to legal problems with his house. Jim Corson could have attempted to sell his house or could have rented his home and moved to accept the job, if it had been actually offered to him. Instead, he chose to remain unemployed. As Corson's unemployment was not a result of the liens on the house, any loss of income he sustained is not relevant to this case. Pursuant to M.R.E. 402, the testimony of James Marsh should not have been admitted. The trial court failed to exercise its discretion within the boundaries of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence. However, as Century 21 should not have been found liable to the Corsons even with the admission of Marsh's testimony, it can not be said that Century 21 suffered prejudice as a result of the chancellor's error. Error may not be predicated upon a ruling which admits or excludes evidence unless a substantial right of the party is affected... . M.R.E. 103(a). There is only harmless error here.