Opinion ID: 1263029
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the court erred in excluding George Edwards as a rebuttal witness.

Text: Andrews contends that the court erred in excluding George Edwards, the driver who towed Andrews' motorcycle from the accident scene, as a rebuttal witness. We disagree. Rebuttal evidence explains, contradicts, or disproves evidence introduced by a defendant in his case-in-chief. Morrison v. Air California, 101 Nev. 233, 235-36, 699 P.2d 600, 602 (1985). The test for determining what constitutes rebuttal evidence is whether the evidence offered tends to contradict new matters raised by the adverse party. ( Id. ). Edwards was to have testified that the gas tank on Andrews' motorcycle had separated from the frame and was facing upwards. Andrews had already introduced evidence which showed that his gas tank was not in its normal position after the accident. Andrews' expert, for example, testified that the rear of the gas tank rose up and was responsible for Andrews' injuries. Andrews himself testified, from photographs of the accident, that the gas tank was not in its proper position after the accident. Since Edwards' testimony concerns matters already raised by Andrews it is not proper rebuttal testimony. Therefore, the court correctly excluded Edwards as a rebuttal witness.