Opinion ID: 2610286
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The report of investigation of the alleged incident of child abuse was prejudicial to plaintiff.

Text: Defendant contends that the admission of this report was not prejudicial because any relevancy of the report went to the issue of damages, rather than that of liability, and there was an unanimous verdict in favor of defendant, presumably on the issue of liability. Nevertheless, it is our best judgment that the improper admission of evidence from which, if believed by the jury, it could properly find that decedent was a mother of such degraded character as to deliberately burn the hand of her child with an iron, was clearly and grossly prejudicial in the consideration by the jury of all issues in the case, including that of liability. This is far different from cases cited by defendants holding that improper instructions on the issue of damages may not be prejudicial where the jury has returned a defendant's verdict, including Foxton v. Woodmansee, 236 Or. 271, 289, 386 P.2d 659, 388 P.2d 275 (1964). Cases from other jurisdictions cited by defendant involving admission of improper evidence are also distinguishable on their facts and are not controlling. For all of these reasons, we hold that the judgment for defendant must be reversed and that the case must be remanded for a new trial. [3] Reversed and remanded.