Opinion ID: 1865512
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Improper Cross-Examination of Plaintiff's Expert Witness.

Text: Finally, we consider the plaintiff's contention that he should be granted a new trial because of prejudice engendered when his expert medical witness was improperly questioned on cross-examination. These questions concerned whether another physician associated with the same consulting firm had been convicted of a crime. This cross-examination was, we believe, improper. Defendants' claims concerning the relevancy and materiality of this line of inquiry are not persuasive. The record shows no logical nexus between the alleged criminal act by this individual and the credibility or reputation of plaintiff's medical expert or the consulting firm with which he was associated. Plaintiff's attempt to obtain reversal of the judgment based on this improper evidence is hampered by the circumstance that he failed to timely object to the question or to move to strike the answer. The record does not support his claim that there was a standing objection which protected him against defendants' use of this evidence. We have frequently stated that a party cannot complain of the receipt of evidence to which no timely objection was made without a reasonable excuse for not having objected. See, e.g., Ferguson v. Stilwill, 224 N.W.2d 11, 13 (Iowa 1974); Castner v. Wright, 256 Iowa 638, 652, 127 N.W.2d 583, 591 (1964); see also Kuiken v. Garrett, 243 Iowa 785, 804, 51 N.W.2d 149, 160 (1952). Failure to timely object to the offending evidence in the present case creates a situation in which no error has been preserved on appeal to support reversal of the judgment. We have considered all issues raised by the plaintiffs and find no basis for disturbing the judgment of the district court. AFFIRMED.