Opinion ID: 1748279
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Downey's Expert Testimony Was Properly Admitted at Trial.

Text: At trial, Downey, a construction safety consultant, gave expert testimony as to the safety precautions necessary to guard the danger posed by an open stairwell such as the opening through which Orduna fell and was injured. Downey testified that simply locking the front door of Orduna's home was not an adequate safety measure to prevent injuries in the stairwell. In addition, Downey stated: In my opinion what constitutes an adequate guardrail system for the prevention of falls would be a system of rail or rails, if you will, that would include a guardrail, top rail at 42 inches above the floor and a mid rail at approximately 21 inches above the floor. And this is seen as being adequate in preventing persons from unintentionally falling into open holes. Total objected to Downey's testimony and later moved to strike his testimony in its entirety, but the court overruled the objections. On appeal, Total assigns that the district court abused its discretion in admitting Downey's testimony because it was irrelevant, contrary to rule 702, and unfairly prejudicial under rule 403. Total argues that Downey's testimony that Total failed to adequately guard the open stairwell by locking Orduna's front door and that Total could have adequately guarded the stairwell by securing rails across the opening was neither helpful to the jury nor did it require special skill, knowledge, or experience. Further, Total asserts that Downey's testimony exceeded the scope of the court's order, which permitted Downey to testify only about his observations and conclusions. Total argues that Downey essentially testified to OSHA regulations without specifically mentioning OSHA. Orduna argues that Downey's testimony was properly admitted and was within the parameters set by the court in its order on Total's motion in limine. Downey's testimony did not exceed the specifications of the court's order regarding Total's motion in limine. Downey did not interpret OSHA regulations during his testimony or testify that Total violated OSHA regulations. Further, Downey did not testify that Total's alleged violation of the regulations proximately caused Orduna's fall or was negligence on Total's part. Downey testified within the scope of the court's order by setting forth observations based on his review of depositions and photographs in the matter and by making conclusions, based on his experience as a safety consultant, as to the safety precautions needed to guard the open stairwell and the inadequacy of the method used by Total. Total also argues that Downey's opinion was not helpful to the jury in this case. However, Downey's testimony regarding the use of rails to block open stairwells and the industry's general acceptance of that method as a sufficient safety precaution was within the realm of admissible expert testimony. Expert testimony as to the custom and practice of an industry, which may be of assistance to the trier of fact, is admissible even in areas where laypersons have competence to determine the facts. See Coppi v. West Am. Ins. Co., 247 Neb. 1, 524 N.W.2d 804 (1994). Although some people's understanding or experience might indicate that locking the front door of Orduna's house was possibly an adequate safety measure, expert testimony regarding the general practice in the industry, i.e., guarding the open stairwell with rails, provided specialized knowledge and experience to the jury regarding the standard safety practices in a construction zone, which may have helped the jury assess the actions of Total. Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing Downey's testimony.