Opinion ID: 2407465
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: error regarding chain of possession of headlights and opinion of expert?

Text: Plaintiff made a number of points with reference to alleged error in admitting in evidence the right front fender portion of the Judkins' Chevrolet. This fender, according to defendant Watkins' evidence was sent to one Frank M. Flannagan of Gainsville, Florida, for the purpose of having the headlights contained therein examined to determine, if possible, whether these headlights were or were not burning at the moment of the collision. Mr. Flannagan testified that he had a master of science degree in the general field of engineering, was a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Florida and had some twelve years' experience investigating automobile accidents. He further testified that from looking at the photographs of the Chevrolet, previously received in evidence, and noting the damage to that car, he was able to estimate that the force of impact causing the Chevrolet damage was about six or seven Gs (6 or 7 times the force of gravity). The gist of Mr. Flannagan's testimony, all given over timely and frequent objections by counsel for plaintiff, was to the effect that if the headlights were burning at the time the Chevrolet was involved in such six or seven Gs impact collision, the tungsten filament inside the headlight bulb would be bent and distorted. He further testified that if the headlights were not burning at the time of such an impact the tungsten filaments would not bend, but would remain in a normal condition. He stated that the headlights on such right front fender were not broken and that he could determine by visual inspection through the glass of the headlight that the tungsten filament was not distorted. From this inspection, over timely objection by plaintiff, he stated before the jury, It is my opinion at the time of the impact that these lights were not burning. Plaintiff devotes a considerable portion of her brief to many alleged errors in establishing a chain of possession of that right front fender, some of which seemingly have merit. According to the evidence of defendant Watkins, the chain of possession went from one Reardon, a wrecker operator who picked up the Chevrolet at the site, to one Dennis Clark, to one Louis Prawitz, to one Hubert Enfinger, driver for Watkins Motor Lines, to one Wallace Peterman at Thomasville, Georgia, to one David Bender to the expert witness, Frank Flannagan. In view of the fact that this case must be tried again for other reasons set forth in this opinion, it is quite likely that many of the alleged omissions and discrepancies in the testimony will be noted by defense counsel and efforts made to supply some of the alleged missing links in the chain of possession. Under the circumstances we will not undertake to further discuss or determine this chain of possession since it is unlikely that the same evidence will be adduced on new trial. The general rules with reference to such chain of evidence tracing possession of objects sought to be admitted in evidence are well stated in 29 Am.Jur.2d Sec. 774, and cases therein cited, and bear no need of repetition at this point. In the event that, on retrial, the chain of evidence would be found sufficient to warrant the introduction of such fender and the attached headlights in evidence, the trial court would then be faced with the problem of the admissibility of such opinion evidence of the witness Flannagan. Since this case must be reversed for other causes, we do not deem it necessary to make a complete determination of the admissibility of all of the testimony given by the expert witness. Some of the objections made by plaintiff's counsel appear to have merit. No cases involving the precise point of determining the question of whether the headlights were burning at the time of the collision, from an examination of the interior filament of a headlight bulb, have been cited by either counsel for the plaintiff or for the defendant. The question of whether the headlights of the Chevrolet were burning at and prior to the time of the impact would be material and relevant to the question of whether the Chevrolet was readily visible to the Watkins truck driver Chastain when the Chevrolet was still a considerable distance away from the scene of the collision. The subject matter of Flannagan's testimony, to the effect that an impact of 6 or 7 Gs would cause distortion of the filament of a burning automobile headlight is not within the ken of the average juror. It would appear, prima facie that such subject matter would be properly within the field of an expert's testimony. The question of the qualification of a witness as an expert in the field concerning which his testimony is sought    rests in the first instance in the sound discretion of the trial court, and its decision in those respects is not to be set aside in the absence of showing of an abuse of discretion. Yocum v. Kansas City Pub. Serv. Co., Mo., 349 S.W.2d 860, l. c. 864. As previously mentioned, since this case must be reversed as to defendant Watkins for the other reasons noted in this opinion, and since, on retrial the evidence will probably not be the same, in all respects, as given in the instant trial, we do not propose to further lengthen this opinion by analyzing and determining each and every point raised with reference to this subject matter of the chain of possession of the fender and headlights and the opinion of the expert on the question presented, nor the correctness of the court's rulings with reference to the objections made by plaintiff during the course of such testimony.