Opinion ID: 4311816
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: challenges to expert testimony

Text: ¶45 Mr. Fullerton raises four challenges to statements made by one of the State’s medical experts, Dr. Hansen: (1) he did not receive notice of Dr. Hansen’s testimony that crying is a common trigger for inflicted rotational injury; (2) the “common trigger” testimony does not support a medical diagnosis; (3) Dr. Hansen’s opinion that Mr. Fullerton’s admitted actions could have caused N.L.’s injuries violated a pretrial order preventing similar testimony; and (4) Dr. Hansen improperly suggested that “I don’t believe that we’ve been told exactly what happened to N.L. yet.” ¶46 This court has consistently held that “a defendant who fails to preserve an objection at trial will not be able to raise that objection on appeal unless he is able to demonstrate either plain error or exceptional circumstances.” State v. Larrabee, 2013 UT 70, ¶ 15, 321 P.3d 1136 (citation omitted); see also State v. King, 2006 UT 3, ¶ 13, 131 P.3d 202. The defense did not object to any portion of the first three statements—these claims are unpreserved. Because the defendant has not argued plain error or exceptional circumstances, we do not consider the first three challenges. ¶47 Defense counsel did object to Dr. Hansen’s fourth statement, and the trial judge sustained the objection. If Mr. Fullerton believed that sustaining his objection was an insufficient remedy, he had a duty to ask the judge to do more. State v. Hummel, 2017 UT 19, ¶ 120, 393 P.3d 314. “Where the judge gave him everything he asked for (sustaining his objection), he is in no position to ask for more on appeal.” Id. Because Mr. Fullerton did not request any additional relief with his objection at trial, he is not entitled to any upon appeal.