Opinion ID: 1644822
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Defendant asserts it was error to permit each plaintiff to adopt the evidence of the other upon the trial.

Text: In about ten instances counsel for one plaintiff stated he adopted the testimony of a witness just examined or cross-examined by the other plaintiff. Only once did defendant object to such a statement. Defendant's valuation witness Rouze testified on direct examination only as to the Murphy land. At the end of a long cross-examination by Mrs. Murphy's attorney, counsel for the development company asked that the record show his client joined in the evidence thus adduced. Defendant's attorney then asked that the record show he objected to this for the reason the testimony pertained only to the Murphy property. No ruling was made or demanded as to either request. At the end of all testimony counsel for each plaintiff stated he adopted all testimony offered by the other. Defendant made no objection. At the beginning of the trial defendant's counsel stated, It is our thought the general evidence as to the vicinity and neighborhood can    apply to both properties but the value should be developed separately so there is no question but (sic) that the witnesses are valuing the whole thing as one tract as though it were in a single ownership. We think this assignment of error presents nothing for review upon this record. The effect of the agreement just quoted seems to be that evidence applicable to both properties be so considered but evidence as to values be considered as to each tract separately, not as to both jointly. So far as shown this was done. The one objection to any attempt by either plaintiff to adopt testimony adduced by the other did not clearly raise the question now raised by this assignment of error. As stated, there was no ruling upon this objection. It was defendant's duty to request or demand a ruling if desired. Since no such request or demand was made the objection might be deemed waived. Shover v. Iowa Lutheran Hospital, 252 Iowa ___, 107 N.W.2d 85, 93-94, and citations.