Opinion ID: 2281804
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Court of Appeals Erred in Vacating Conviction for Collateral Impeachment.

Text: This case forces us to apply the somewhat confusing rule against collateral impeachment. In fact, there is no particular rule in the Kentucky Rules of Evidence (KRE) clearly addressing impeachment on collateral facts, matters, or issues. [6] Yet, our case law continues to hold that impeachment on collateral matters by extrinsic evidence is not allowed. [7] Despite the clear prohibition from case authority against impeachment on collateral matters by extrinsic evidence, we still review the trial court's decision to admit evidence over objections of collateral impeachment under an abuse of discretion standard of review as we explain below. Professor Lawson notes that rules concerning collateral impeachment are easy to describe but very difficult to apply, because of the complexity involved in determining `collateralness.' [8] And because determinations of the collateralness are so fact-specific and generally not clear-cut, Kentucky precedent provides that a trial court's decision to admit impeachment evidence on a purportedly collateral matter is subject to an abuse of discretion standard: decisions on collateralness fall within the discretion of the judge and are reviewed for abuse of that discretion [; and this is] no surprise since they depend so heavily on the specific facts of the case and require a careful exercise of sound judgment in the heat of courtroom battle. [9] Applying the proper abuse of discretion standard of review, we disagree with the Court of Appeals' determination that Prater's conviction must be vacated. We hold that the trial court properly exercised its discretion to permit impeachment on this issue because Prater created the issue by offering on direct examination a misleading explanation of why she was taking the painkillers. It is plausible to infer that she did so in an effort to present herself to the jury in a sympathetic light.