Opinion ID: 1207558
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Objections to admissions of evidence.

Text: The appellant has objected to the admission of Exhibits 2, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, and 26-A on grounds of hearsay, immateriality and irrelevancy, or improper foundation. We find it unnecessary to examine the objections because of appellant's failure to show prejudicial error. The rule in this jurisdiction is that an error in admission of evidence is not reversible unless the appellant is able to show that the alleged inadmissible evidence influenced the decision of the trial judge and the decision therein was insupportable by other evidence. Aiona v. Ponahawai Coffee Co., 20 Haw. 724 (1911). This principle was explicitly applied in Tanaka v. Mitsunaga, 43 Haw. 119, 127 (1959):    Under H.R.C.P., Rule 61, we are enjoined to disregard any error or defect in the proceeding which does not affect the substantial rights of parties. In Builders Steel Co. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, [8 Cir.] 179 F.2d 377, 379, it is stated: An appellate court will not reverse a judgment in a nonjury case because of the admission of incompetent evidence, unless all of the competent evidence is insufficient to support the judgment or unless it affirmatively appears that the incompetent evidence induced the court to make an essential finding which would not otherwise have been made.    The court admitted Exhibit 2, an office memorandum dated January 30, 1964, from the West Coast office to Mr. Siegle for the limited purpose of showing that the Clark Enterprises, Inc. account was authorized by the West Coast office. This fact was not in dispute and no finding of fact rests upon this exhibit. The court admitted Exhibit 12, a letter dated April 2, 1965, from the assignee of Clark Enterprises to the attorney for plaintiff for the limited purpose of showing that the assignee had acknowledged receipt of the assignment of accounts receivable with warranties. No finding rests upon this evidence. The remaining exhibits complained of give evidence of the assignment of certain assets of Clark Enterprises, Inc. to another individual, and include various documents from the bankruptcy proceedings of Clark Enterprises, Inc., which reveal the assets and liabilities of the corporation. These were submitted to rebut defendant's theory that the alleged release was supported by a consideration of detrimental reliance on his part. The decision of the trial judge was that no release was given. Therefore, the judge clearly did not rely upon those exhibits because he did not have to decide any issue of detrimental reliance as consideration supporting the alleged release.