Opinion ID: 1209844
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Styrofoam Seat

Text: Over Plaintiffs' objection, Defendants were allowed to use and the jury allowed to touch a styrofoam seat for demonstrative purposes. The styrofoam seat was introduced during the testimony of Ribordy, who stated that it was not the same styrofoam seat used during the accident, but that the texture was the same. While the circuit court is afforded broad discretion in ruling upon the admissibility of demonstrative evidence, the circuit court abused its discretion in allowing the jury to touch the styrofoam. According to the record, Defendants obtained the styrofoam seat from McCulloh, and there was no testimony as to the age of seat. Even Ribordy admitted that the styrofoam seat used in trial differed from the accident seat because it was rougher, weathered and had holes in it. The use of the seat becomes particularly prejudicial when combined with the court's statement that it would allow the jury to touch the styrofoam so that the jury could get the feel of the seat that was used at the time of the accident. Clearly, it was not the same seat used at the time of the accident. Thus, because the texture of the styrofoam was in issue, the court abused its discretion by allowing the jury to touch the weathered chair.