Opinion ID: 359686
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence of Other Insurance Claims.

Text: 62 Each of the appellants objects to the admission of evidence relating to insurance claims which were not alleged in any of the substantive counts or any of the overt acts of the conspiracy count. The appellants particularly object to the use of the chart reproduced and attached hereto (Government's Exhibit No. 163). See Part II, A, Supra. The trial court has broad discretion in determining the relevance of proposed pieces of evidence, United States v. Williams, 545 F.2d 47, 50 (8th Cir. 1976); United States v. Johnson, 516 F.2d 209, 214 (8th Cir.), Cert. denied, 423 U.S. 859, 96 S.Ct. 112, 46 L.Ed.2d 85 (1975), and the admission of such evidence will only be grounds for reversal if the trial court abused its discretion. United States v. Kills Crow, 527 F.2d 158, 160 (8th Cir. 1975). We find no abuse of discretion on this record. 63 Evidence was admitted with respect to claims as to eight automobile accidents, four burglaries and one automobile larceny. Substantive counts were based upon claims filed with respect to three of the accidents, three of the burglaries and the one automobile larceny. Evidence as to the remaining claims was admissible under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b) to establish knowledge and fraudulent intent. See 2 J. Weinstein and M. Berger, WEINSTEIN'S EVIDENCE P 404(09) (1977). Evidence with respect to Greene's January 1, 1973, burglary claim was relevant to show that thirty-nine receipts submitted with respect to that claim were later submitted with respect to Greene's claim arising out of the December 2, 1973, burglary. Evidence as to the December 11, 1974, automobile accident was needed to establish that an automobile repair estimate submitted with respect to that accident was also later used in support of claims arising out of the February 10, 1975, automobile accident. The remaining automobile accident claims were used to establish that Greene had obtained insurance by misrepresentation and to help establish a recurrent pattern of claims. 64