Opinion ID: 1709406
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Partial Exclusion of Testimony of Dr. Wood Hiatt

Text: ¶ 39. Edwards's estate proffered Dr. Wood Hiatt, a licensed doctor and psychiatrist, as an expert on the effects Edwards's profound handicaps had on his life and the limitations those handicaps would place on a caregiver's ability to provide treatment to him. Mariner objected to Hiatt's designation as an expert in general medicine, arguing that he had not practiced general medicine in thirty-four years and did not possess the requisite knowledge about Edwards's treatment options. After allowing both sides to explore Hiatt's qualifications, the trial court ruled that Hiatt was qualified to offer opinions about Edwards's retardation, but could not testify to matters of general medicine. ¶ 40. The decision whether an expert is qualified rests in the sound discretion of the trial court. Smith v. State, 530 So.2d 155, 162 (Miss.1988). Rule 702 of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence states that, if scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise. The relevant inquiry is therefore whether the particular witness really is an expert in the field in which he or she is tendered. Stanley, 614 So.2d at 951; Harris v. Shields, 568 So.2d 269, 272 (Miss.1990). ¶ 41. Edwards's estate argues that Hiatt has been accepted as an expert in general medicine in numerous cases, and that we have never before questioned his qualifications. This contention misses the point. While at least one case held an expert qualified based on a previous designation by this Court, see Stanley, 614 So.2d at 951, nothing in Rule 702 would prevent two trial judges in the exercise of seasoned consideration from coming to two different conclusions regarding the qualification of an expert. The parties conducted an extensive voir dire of Hiatt's qualifications to testify to the treatment that should have been provided to Edwards in light of his extreme weight loss. The trial judge ruled that Hiatt was not familiar enough with those treatment options to offer an expert opinion. There was no error in partially excluding his testimony.