Opinion ID: 2160638
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Traffic controls

Text: The Ebachs concede that Ralston had a limited right to show whether this intersection was dangerous. See DeLair v. County of LaMoure, 326 N.W.2d 55 (N.D.1982); South v. National R.R. Passenger Corp., 290 N.W.2d 819 (N.D.1980). However, they assert that because the City owed no duty to them and therefore could not be a tortfeasor, the trial court erred in admitting Ralston's evidence about the City's fault in the choice of traffic signals at this intersection. They contend that Ralston's evidence blamed the City for the choice of traffic signals at this dangerous intersection and argue that its probative value was substantially outweighed by confusion and prejudice. Ralston responds that the evidence did not specify whether the State or the City was at fault for the choice of signals at this intersection and that, under NDREv 403, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting that evidence. In Williston Farm Equipment v. Steiger Tractor, 504 N.W.2d 545, 548-49 (N.D.1993), we recently outlined our review of a trial court's determination of relevancy and the admissibility of evidence under NDREv 403: Relevant evidence means evidence that would reasonably and actually tend to prove or disprove any fact that is of consequence to the determination of an action.... Relevant evidence is generally admissible.... A trial court has discretion to determine whether evidence is relevant, and its decision will not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion.... Relevant evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. ... A trial court has discretion to balance the probative value of the proffered evidence against the dangers enumerated in Rule 403, N.D.R.Ev., and we also review that determination under the abuse-of-discretion standard. (Citations omitted.) These standards apply here. Under the comparative negligence law in effect at the time of this accident, NDCC 9-10-07, we have approved the apportionment of fault among named defendants and unnamed settling or statutorily immune parties. Hoerr v. Northfield Foundry and Machine Co., 376 N.W.2d 323 (N.D. 1985) [apportionment of fault among non-settling tortfeasor, statutorily immune employer, and settling tortfeasors]; Layman v. Braunschweigische Maschinenbauanstalt, 343 N.W.2d 334 (N.D.1983) [apportionment of fault between non-settling tortfeasor and statutorily immune employer]; Bartels v. City of Williston, 276 N.W.2d 113 (N.D.1979) [apportionment of fault among settling and non-settling tortfeasors]. Under similar comparative negligence statutes in Minnesota and Wisconsin [ Bartels ], the fault of settling or immune parties is submitted to the jury. Lines v. Ryan, 272 N.W.2d 896 (Minn.1978); Connar v. West Shore Equipment of Milwaukee, Inc., 68 Wis.2d 42, 227 N.W.2d 660 (1975). Evidence of the responsibility or fault of an unnamed or immune tortfeasor is often relevant to the allocation of fault among named tortfeasors. A majority of this court has held that the State is immune from liability under the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Leadbetter v. Rose, 467 N.W.2d 431 (N.D.1991). Here, the challenged evidence depicts the relationship between the State and the City and their roles in the choice of traffic signals at this intersection. That evidence generally indicates that the City resisted the State's recommendation for an arguably safer method of controlling traffic at this intersection. The relationship between the State and the City regarding the choice of signals was interrelated. Despite that interrelationship, the State ultimately controlled the choice of traffic signals, and the City owed no legal duty to the Ebachs. Ebach v. Ralston. However, the Ebachs did not request an instruction explaining that issue to the jury. See NDREv 105. An instruction on that issue might have alleviated the Ebachs' claim of confusion and prejudice. The trial court determined that the evidence was relevant to accurately allocate fault for this accident, and we cannot say that it abused its discretion in admitting that evidence.