Opinion ID: 1631067
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Drug use by Preston

Text: ś 11. Carla argues that the trial court erred by denying her motion in limine to exclude testimony from Ephraim Woolf concerning Preston's alleged making, using, or selling methamphetamine (crystal meth) before the wreck. She claims that the testimony was hearsay, prejudicial, and not relevant. Further, Carla claims that the prejudicial effect was compounded by the testimony of the State toxicologist, Carmen McIntire, that Preston had no crystal meth in his system at the time of the wreck.
ś 12. The trial court denied Carla's motion in limine to exclude Woolf's testimony. The trial court determined that Woolf's testimony was not hearsay, because it was his personal observation and knowledge. See Miss. R. Evid. 801 and 602. While the trial court acknowledged that the testimony was likely to be prejudicial, the test, pursuant to Rule 403 is whether the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Under that test, the trial court determined that the probative value of the testimony concerning activities involving methamphetamine prior to the crash did not outweigh the danger of unfair prejudice. The trial court stated, in part: As concerns the claim that the prejudicial effect of such evidence would outweigh the probative value and confuse the jury as to the facts of this case, the court can quickly conclude that the evidence will most likely have a prejudicial effect upon the jury's view of the plaintiff. However, that is not the test. The test is whether under MRE 403 the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Again, there appears to be no attack as to the veracity of such evidence. The defendants assert that at the time of the accident, the deceased was coming down from a crystal methamphetamine high, a process known as crashing. According to at least one defense expert, when an individual crashes following a crystal methamphetamine high, such an individual would be prone to dozing off and/or not be highly reactive. Despite the plaintiff's argument to the contrary, the court finds that the probative value of evidence that the deceased engaged in activities involving methamphetamines prior to the accident is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. ś 13. Woolf testified, that prior to the wreck, Preston had been staying at his house on and off. On Saturday, the day before the collision, Woolf stated that Preston was with him and a girl named Sabrina (Ashmore). The group planned to cook crystal meth. During the day, they all helped to gather the ingredients for the crystal meth. They all met at Steve Brooks's house before going to Beulah Lake to cook the crystal meth. Woolf testified that Brooks was at his house when they arrived, and Brooks knew what they were going to do. Woolf, Preston, and Ashmore arrived at the lake around midnight, started cooking the meth about 1:00 a.m., and about three hours later, the first pull, or batch, was ready to smoke. Woolf stated that he, Preston, and Ashmore all smoked the drugs and got high. According to Woolf, they cooked the drugs all night and into the next day until about lunchtime, that being 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Because of the ether that is used in the process of making the drugs, Woolf stated that eventually, a crystal meth user will fall asleep. They returned to Cleveland around 6:00 p.m. and went to Brooks's house to split the drugs. Woolf, Preston, Ashmore, and Brooks all took a share of the drugs. Then, they all got high again and hung around for a while at Brooks's house. Preston drove Ashmore home to Clarksdale, leaving Brooks's house at about 10:30 or 11:00 p.m. Woolf stated that he would not have wanted to travel with Preston at that time because they had been smoking and awake for days. ś 14. The trial court did not err by admitting Woolf's testimony. Woolf testified about events that were within his personal observation and knowledge. See Miss. R. Evid. 601 and 602. His testimony was not hearsay, which is defined as a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Miss. R. Evid. 801. Woolf testified about his actions and Preston's actions prior to Preston leaving Brooks's house to bring Ashmore home and the fatal collision. Woolf did not testify to any statements made by Preston. Woolf testified only about events that were within his personal knowledge, as he was with Preston on the day before and day of the accident until Preston departed from Brooks's house. Therefore, Woolf's testimony was not hearsay. ś 15. The trial court determined that the evidence was relevant and conducted a balancing test pursuant to Rule 403, finding that the probative value outweighed the prejudicial effect. The testimony was relevant because it concerned the type of activity that Preston was involved in prior to the accident and what impact that activity may have had on his alertness at the time of the accident. The evidence was relevant, and the probative value outweighed the prejudicial effect because it concerned the issue of proximate cause and potential fault.
ś 16. Carla also argues that the trial court erred by denying her motion in limine pertaining to evidence by R & R's expert, Michael Weaver, that Preston had methamphetamine in his blood at the time of the collision. [2] R & R asserts that this testimony supports its theory of how the accident occurred. The trial court denied Carla's motion in limine to exclude this evidence on the same basis as it denied Woolf, the probative value of evidence concerning methamphetamine in the blood of the deceased at the time of the accident was not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice pursuant to Rule 403. ś 17. Two toxicology experts were qualified and testified concerning Preston's blood test. Carmen McIntire (McIntire), a Mississippi Crime Laboratory toxicologist, testified for Carla. Michael Weaver (Weaver), a former Mississippi Crime Lab toxicologist, testified for the defense. At issue was McIntire's report concerning Preston's blood test. She testified that she had performed two tests on Preston's blood: (1) an immunoassay test, and (2) a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer test (mass spectra). Based on her analysis, McIntire stated that she had found no crystal meth in Preston's blood. Her report showed that Preston had only caffeine in his blood. However, she stated that the results of the mass spectra test had some features that were indicative of methamphetamine, but they didn't meet criteria needed to be able to say for sure that that's what was in fact present. So I reported it negative. McIntire also testified to the effects of methamphetamine, an initial feeling of euphoria and excitability followed by feelings of depression, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and eventual unconsciousness. She also stated that a person could have delayed perception as a result of the drug use. ś 18. Weaver, on the other hand, testified that in his opinion, methamphetamine was present in Preston's blood. Weaver said that he based his opinion on the ions present in Preston's blood and the testimony from Woolf that Preston had smoked crystal meth. He also testified concerning the effects of methamphetamine on a person's body. His testimony on the effects of the drug was similar to that of McIntire. ś 19. The trial court did not err by admitting Weaver's expert testimony on whether Preston had methamphetamine in his blood. Both experts were qualified, and Carla did not object to Weaver being qualified as an expert. Once a witness is qualified as an expert to render expert testimony, then it is within the province of the trier of fact to give weight and credibility to the testimony. Palmer v. Anderson Infirmary Benevolent Ass'n, 656 So.2d 790, 796 (Miss.1995). This Court has held that expert opinions are only advisory in nature and are not binding on a trier of fact. Flight Line, Inc. v. Tanksley, 608 So.2d 1149, 1166 (Miss. 1992). The jury may credit them or not as they appear entitled, weighing and judging the expert's opinion in the context of all of the evidence in the case and `the jury's own general knowledge of affairs. . . .' Id. (quoting Schoppe v. Applied Chems. Div., 418 So.2d 833, 837 (Miss.1982)). Thus, the trial court did not err by admitting Weaver's testimony concerning Preston's blood, as it was relevant, it was more probative than prejudicial, and it was supported by Woolf's testimony. To the extent that Weaver's testimony differed from that of McIntire's, that was an issue of credibility to be resolved by the jury. Flight Line, 608 So.2d at 1166. This issue is without merit.