Opinion ID: 1881605
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: use of brochure to impeach

Text: At trial, Mutual of Omaha's longterm disability claims supervisor testified that Social Security disability benefits are easier to obtain than long-term disability benefits under Mutual of Omaha's policy. Radecki's counsel attempted to impeach the claims supervisor by introducing into evidence a brochure published by Mutual of Omaha which states that the Social Security definition of disability is extremely strict, making it difficult to receive benefits. Mutual of Omaha objected to the brochure's being introduced on the bases of its not being listed as an exhibit, improper form, and lack of foundation. The trial court sustained Mutual of Omaha's objection to the introduction of the brochure. Radecki contends that the trial court erred in excluding the brochure. To constitute reversible error in a civil case, the admission or exclusion of evidence must unfairly prejudice a substantial right of a litigant complaining about evidence admitted or excluded. Walkenhorst v. State, 253 Neb. 986, 573 N.W.2d 474 (1998); Koehler v. Farmers Alliance Mut. Ins. Co., 252 Neb. 712, 566 N.W.2d 750 (1997). Radecki has failed to show any way in which exclusion of the brochure unfairly prejudiced his substantial rights at trial. As the trial court noted, although the language in the brochure may have amounted to puffing by Mutual of Omaha in order to market its long-term disability insurance, there was no evidence presented that Radecki ever saw or relied on the brochure. Moreover, impeaching the claims supervisor on the point of whether Social Security benefits were more or less difficult to obtain than Mutual of Omaha's disability benefits would not have benefited Radecki's case in any significant way, as the claims supervisor testified that the Social Security determination does not influence Mutual of Omaha's coverage determination. Therefore, even if the trial court erred in excluding the brochure, an issue we need not decide, Radecki has failed to show any way in which the exclusion of the brochure unfairly prejudiced his substantial rights at trial.