Opinion ID: 1997565
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Deposition Testimony from a Separate Action against Nationwide

Text: Evidence was presented at trial that Durroh, a claims representative, was authorized to deny PIP benefits without having her decision reviewed or approved by any superiors. In 1988, Nationwide's claims representatives apparently could not deny PIP benefits on their own. Devaney attempted to establish Nationwide's prior policy through the introduction of deposition transcripts from an earlier federal court action. The trial court excluded the evidence, ruling that it was irrelevant both because of the lapse of time and the tenuous connection between a bad faith claim and Nationwide's prior supervision policy. We find that the trial court acted well within its discretion in excluding this evidence. Devaney's only purpose in attempting to introduce the depositions was to show that Nationwide's claims review process was not as careful as it might have been. That point was made through evidence of the number of cases Durroh was handling at one time, her limited experience, and the fact that no one reviewed her decision. The additional evidence of a prior supervision policy would have added little, if anything, to Devaney's case and would have precipitated additional, unrelated testimony about Nationwide's supervision practices in 1988 and the reasons for, and timing of, any changes in those practices over the next five years.