Opinion ID: 1583193
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: cross-examination of dr. john plunkett

Text: Kuehn claims that the district court erred in overruling her objections to certain questions of a physician who testified on her behalf. The scope of cross-examination of a witness rests largely in the discretion of the trial court, and its ruling will be upheld on appeal unless there is an abuse of discretion. State v. Stark, 272 Neb. 89, 718 N.W.2d 509 (2006). During cross-examination, Dr. John Plunkett was asked about other cases in which he had testified as an expert witness. Kuehn posed numerous objections, including that the questions were beyond the scope of direct examination, and attempted to impeach the witness on a collateral matter. Kuehn requested a standing objection to impeaching a witness from nine years ago. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-611(2) (Reissue 1995) provides that [c]ross-examination should be limited to the subject matter of the direct examination and matters affecting the credibility of the witness. The judge may, in the exercise of discretion, permit inquiry into additional matters as if on direct examination. See, also, State v. McLemore, 261 Neb. 452, 623 N.W.2d 315 (2001). The right of cross-examination is an essential and fundamental requirement of a fair trial. State v. Lewis, 241 Neb. 334, 488 N.W.2d 518 (1992). In Lewis, a defendant claimed that the court improperly restricted his ability to cross-examine a witness. We stated, `[A] defendant is entitled to engage in searching and wide-ranging cross-examination, including anything tending to affect the accuracy, veracity, or credibility of a witness. . . .' Id. at 345, 488 N.W.2d at 526. We noted that a ruling on evidence of a collateral matter that is intended to affect the credibility of a witness comes within the discretion of a trial court. Id. `When the object of the cross-examination is to collaterally ascertain the accuracy or credibility of the witness, some latitude should be permitted, and the scope of such latitude is ordinarily subject to the discretion of the trial judge, and, unless abused, its exercise is not reversible error.' Id. at 345, 488 N.W.2d at 526 (quoting State v. Ballard, 237 Neb. 729, 467 N.W.2d 662 (1991)). Kuehn has not demonstrated that the district court abused its discretion in refusing to sustain her objections to the cross-examination of Plunkett. The State's questioning was not intended to impeach Plunkett on collateral matters, but, rather, was intended to question his credibility. Kuehn also assigns as error the district court's rulings on a number of other objections made during Plunkett's testimony. Kuehn has not specifically argued any of these assignments of error. An alleged error must be both specifically assigned and specifically argued in the brief of the party asserting the error to be considered by an appellate court. State v. Deckard, 272 Neb. 410, 722 N.W.2d 55 (2006). We find no merit to Kuehn's assigned errors related to Plunkett's testimony.