Opinion ID: 2284361
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The See the Farmer Children Starve Comment

Text: In response to an interrogatory from the defendants, Farmer stated that Beckman told him he would see the Farmer children starve before giving Farmer any portion of the Laker fee. During Farmer's deposition, he stated that Beckman had made the comment on or about July 2, 1984 at the firm's offices, with no one else present. Farmer also stated that Beckman might have repeated the remark on later occasions, perhaps in Kirstein's presence. Beckman's position was that he did not make the comment. Accordingly, the defendants moved in limine to bar testimony on the comment, claiming it was irrelevant and inflammatory. The judge indicated he would rule on its admissibility before Farmer's opening statement. While the record on the day of opening statement does not contain the judge's express ruling, it is clear from the record that he decided to admit the evidence. Again we find no error. The comment, if the jury found it had been made, was probative on whether punitive damages were appropriate, since it tended to prove malice by Beckman toward Farmer, a necessary element of a claim for punitive damages. [35] While the remark undoubtedly was prejudicial, it was not unfairly so given the likelyand permissibleuse the jury would make of it. Beckman took the stand and denied having made the statement, and Kirstein testified that he had never heard it. The jury could weigh this against Farmer's uncorroborated testimony and decide whom to believe. The judge did not abuse his discretion in admitting the evidence.