Opinion ID: 2074915
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: financial condition

Text: During the cross-examination of Lynn Helferich, counsel for Haugen inquired into the financial condition of the Tree City Bar and whether it had difficulty meeting expenses. Helferich responded that the bar was self-supporting and that it had no problem meeting expenses. During Helferich's response, the State objected to the question on the grounds of relevancy. Outside of the jury's presence, Haugen's counsel pointed out to the trial court that while Helferich testified to the fact that she did not go along with [Haugen's] proposal to steal money from the gaming tables, she loaned out her keys anyway knowing that they would wind up in Haugen's possession. Haugen's counsel asserted that evidence of the bar's poor financial condition would have been relevant to demonstrate a motive for Helferich to assist Haugen in the commission of the offense and that Haugen would, therefore, be invited or otherwise privileged to be on the premises. Counsel for Haugen made no offer of proof to the trial court to show that the bar was actually in financial straits. The trial court subsequently sustained the State's objection on relevancy grounds, but also noted that the objection would be sustained if not strictly on relevancy, at least on Rule 403 [NDREv] because we are not getting into ... financial condition.... Upon resuming cross-examination, Haugen's counsel questioned Helferich regarding her personal financial condition. The State again objected to the question as both irrelevant and prejudicial under Rule 403, NDREv. The trial court sustained the State's objection. Rule 402, NDREv, provides that [a]ll relevant evidence is admissible, while [e]vidence which is not relevant is not admissible. Relevant evidence is defined as evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. See Rule 401, NDREv; State v. Haugen, 448 N.W.2d 191 (N.D.1989); State v. Huwe, 413 N.W.2d 350 (N.D.1987). Thus, the test as to whether evidence is relevant or irrelevant is whether or not it tends to prove or disprove a fact in issue. See Haugen, supra ; State v. Erdman, 422 N.W.2d 808 (N.D.1988). Even when evidence is found to be relevant, that evidence may still be excluded by the trial court under Rule 403, NDREv, if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.... See Haugen, supra ; Huwe, supra . The right to confront witnesses is of constitutional magnitude [U.S. Const. amend. VI; N.D. Const. art. I, § 12; State v. Buckley, 325 N.W.2d 169 (N.D.1982)] and defense counsel is given wide latitude in cross-examining prosecution witnesses. State v. Bartkowski, 290 N.W.2d 218 (N.D. 1980). Nevertheless, the latitude and extent of cross-examination has always been held to be within the trial court's reasonable discretion. Id. The determination of whether or not evidence is relevant, and the balancing of the evidence's probative value against its prejudicial effect are also matters for the trial court to resolve in the exercise of its sound discretion. See Huwe, supra ; State v. Schimmel, 409 N.W.2d 335 (N.D.1987); State v. Kringstad, 353 N.W.2d 302 (N.D.1984). On appeal, we will not overturn a trial court's decision regarding the admission or exclusion of evidence on the ground of relevancy unless the trial court abused its discretion. See Haugen, supra ; State v. Newnam, 409 N.W.2d 79 (N.D.1987); State v. Olson, 290 N.W.2d 664 (N.D.1980). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary, unconscionable, or unreasonable manner. State v. Kunkel, 452 N.W.2d 337 (N.D. 1990); State v. Erban, 429 N.W.2d 408 (N.D.1988). Ordinarily, [e]vidence of poverty, dependence on welfare or unemployment is not admissible to show motive or as evidence of a witness's credibility. People v. Conte, 152 Mich.App. 8, 14, 391 N.W.2d 763, 766 (1986). This principle stems from the belief that if impecuniosity were allowed to be admitted as relevant evidence to show a witness's motive or credibility, indigent defendants in criminal cases would immediately be placed under unfair suspicion and disadvantage. See United States v. Reed, 700 F.2d 638 (11th Cir.1983); State v. Moore, 221 Neb. 706, 380 N.W.2d 288 (1986); People v. Buggs, 109 A.D.2d 1052, 487 N.Y.S.2d 202 (1985); People v. Spencer, 130 Mich.App. 527, 343 N.W.2d 607 (1983); People v. Hogan, 31 Cal.3d 815, 183 Cal.Rptr. 817, 647 P.2d 93 (1982). See generally 1 B. Jones, Evidence § 4:47 (6th ed. 1972) [evidence of a party's financial circumstances is generally not relevant in civil actions as well as criminal actions, and evidence of a criminal defendant's financial condition is ordinarily not admissible because it would place poor individuals under unfair suspicion]; 2 J. Wigmore, Evidence § 392 (1979) [while defendant's lack of money may have some relevancy to show a motive to commit a crime, the practical result of such a doctrine would be to put a poor person under so much suspicion that for reasons of fairness such arguments have seldom been countenanced as evidence]. Although the problems of financial condition usually arise from prosecutorial evidence of a criminal defendant's poverty, references by defense counsel as to the financial status of the victim may also be improper and prejudicial. Cf. Rule 403, Rule 611(a), NDREv [the court shall exercise reasonable control over mode or interrogating witnesses so as to protect witness from harassment or undue embarrassment]. As we observed in State v. Bartkowski, supra, 290 N.W.2d at 219: [a]lthough we probably would not have limited the cross-examination in the manner that the trial court did, that is not the standard we apply in our review. Ordinarily it is preferable that trial courts permit overextended cross-examination rather than imposing limitations which may be unnecessary.... Some courts have expressed the view that doubts should be resolved on the side of liberality in allowing cross-examination. Nevertheless, as we explain below, we conclude that the trial court, if it erred in limiting Haugen's cross-examination of Helferich as to her financial condition, did not commit reversible error. Rule 52(a), NDRCrimP. The testimony of the Mandan police officers and Helferich demonstrated that after Helferich had learned of Haugen's plan, she immediately contacted and fully cooperated with law enforcement authorities. The testimony further indicated that Helferich consulted with Deputy Chief Bullinger whenever she had contact with Haugen or Serr, and that she tried to dissuade Haugen from committing the crime during phone conversations. Although Helferich loaned her car keys to Serr with a suspicion that the key ring would eventually wind up in Haugen's possession, she testified that Haugen had threatened to commit the crime with or without her help and that she did not want to bear the expense of having the bar extensively damaged. More importantly, Haugen did not make any offer of proof, whatsoever, to the trial court to demonstrate that the bar was in poor financial condition in order to support his Helferich motive theory. State v. Buckley, supra . Thus, in view of Helferich's statement that the bar was self-supporting and had no trouble meeting expenses, the absence of an offer of proof, and in light of all of the testimony of Helferich's full cooperation with police, there was no reversible error in limiting Haugen's cross-examination concerning the financial condition of the Tree City Bar and Helferich. Haugen introduced no evidence to show participation by Helferich in the crime due to financial stress and, under the circumstances of this case, the questions regarding the financial condition of Helferich and her business could only act to unfairly prejudice or impeach her testimony. Cf. People v. Conte, supra ; Rule 611(a), NDREv.