Opinion ID: 557349
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Testimony of Donald Van Blaricom

Text: 58 Mason County objected to plaintiffs' police expert, Donald Van Blaricom, because he testified that Sheriff Stairs was reckless in his failure to adequately train his deputies, and that there was a causal link between this recklessness and plaintiffs' injuries. They contend that this was improper opinion testimony on a question of law. 59 This argument is without merit. Fed.R.Evid. 704 allows expert witnesses to express an opinion on an ultimate issue to be decided by the jury. Northrop Architectural Sys. v. Lupton Mfg. Co., 437 F.2d 889, 891 (9th Cir.1971). Moreover, Fed.R.Evid. 702 permits expert testimony comparing conduct of parties to the industry standard. Vucinich v. Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis, Inc., 803 F.2d 454, 461 (9th Cir.1986). The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Van Blaricom's testimony. 60