Opinion ID: 1656419
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Videos and photographs

Text: ¶ 59. The introduction of photographs and motion pictures is a matter for the sound discretion of the trial court and that court is afforded wide latitude in exercising this discretion. Jesco, Inc. v. Shannon, 451 So.2d 694, 702 (Miss.1984). The admission or exclusion evidence, such as photographs, is within the sound discretion of the trial court and that decision will be upheld unless there is an abuse of discretion. Walker v. Graham, 582 So.2d 431, 432 (Miss.1991); Trapp v. Cayson, 471 So.2d 375, 381 (Miss.1985). This Court in Jesco further held: Where the only purpose of photographs is to influence and prejudice the jury they should be excluded, but where they visualize the injury at a stage subsequent to the accident, they may not be excluded solely because they may contain emotional overtones. Jensen v. South Adams County Water and Sanitation District, 149 Colo. 102, 368 P.2d 209 (1962), and Godvig v. Lopez, 185 Or. 301, 202 P.2d 935 (Id. at 816). Caution again is stated to trial judges to preview such evidence to determine its probative value as against its prejudicial effects upon a jury. Id. See also Motorola Communications & Electronics, Inc. v. Wilkerson, 555 So.2d 713, 720-22 (Miss.1989) (a photo album containing 15 pictures of the deceased depicting his physical condition prior to death properly admitted); Trapp, 471 So.2d at 381 (a 120-minute day in the life video of a paraplegic performing daily tasks was admissible); Butler v. Chrestman, 264 So.2d 812, 816 (Miss.1972) (color slides depicting the healing of a facial injury was properly admitted, but a five minute motion picture depicting the victim moving from bed to a wheel chair was improperly admitted where the film periodically focused on victim grimacing, and seemingly crying from excruciating pain and suffering rather than the actual state of her injuries). ¶ 60. Mississippi Rule of Evidence 401 define relevant evidence as follows: Relevant Evidence means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence. ¶ 61. Mississippi Rule of Evidence 403 states: Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. ¶ 62. Dr. Eckman contends that the trial court erred by admitting certain photographs and two day in the life videos of Taylor. Michelle argues that as a plaintiff she is required to assert every element of a negligence claim including injury and damage. She cites the wrongful death statute and Gatlin v. Methodist Medical Center, Inc., 772 So.2d 1023, 1030-31 (Miss.2000), which includes proving funeral and medical expenses of the decedent, the present net cash value of the life expectancy of the decedent, the loss of society and companionship of the decedent, the pain and suffering experienced by the deceased between the time of injury and the subsequent demise, and punitive damages. ¶ 63. The majority states that on remand the first video would be admissible if the proper edits were made to it. The second video is not admissible because it is cumulative and prejudicial. In addition, the majority writes that the photographs from Taylor's high school and Michelle's baby shower are not admissible since they are considered to be prejudicial. The majority also found that the wedding album is cumulative and is not admissible.
¶ 64. Video 2 depicting Taylor with his mother, Minerva, at the rehabilitation hospital was actually shown to the jury during Minerva's testimony and prior to Video 1, which was shown during Michelle's testimony. Video 2 depicts scenes after Taylor's arrest and Video 1 depicts scenes before and after his arrest. ¶ 65. Video 1 contained still photographs and motion video, including but not limited to, some of the following items: wedding photographs and a portion of the wedding ceremony video; family Christmas video; graduation ceremony and ball game of Taylor's stepson; various hospital photographs; Michelle with Taylor and their child; Taylor being washed, clothed and fed by staff; Taylor's stepson marriage wiping Taylor's mouth; Taylor being taken for a walk and having physical therapy; Taylor with Michelle and the two children, Taylor with his stepson lying on Taylor's chest. ¶ 66. Video 2 contained still photographs and motion video including but not limited to some of the following items: Taylor in the rehabilitation hospital; Taylor being washed and his hair being washed by staff; the instructions posted on the door of Taylor's room at the rehabilitation hospital; Taylor's mother wiping his mouth; Taylor being pushed in a wheelchair with his child on his lap; Taylor's stepson on Taylor's chest with Taylor's mother telling Taylor that she loves him and sniffing at the time; and an ending still photograph with Taylor staring with his mouth open. ¶ 67. Mississippi case law allows videos depicting a day in the life videos. After reviewing Video 1 and 2, I believe that the footage was relevant to proving Michelle's case. The footage showed the type of person that Taylor was prior to his injuries, the subsequent type of care that Taylor required and his inability to care for himself, and his drastically diminished capacity to interact and communicate with his wife, child and family, among other things. The trial court did not err in admitting Video 1 and 2 as described above.
¶ 68. Three photographs depicting Taylor in high school and a high school key indicating his school activities were identified by his mother, Minerva Moore (Minerva), in her testimony. Minerva testified that Taylor and Michelle met in 1994 or 1995 dated for about a year and were married. Michelle later testified that she went to the same high school as Taylor although he was three years ahead of her. Michelle argues that the high school photographs provide part of the foundation of the proof of present net cash value of the life of Taylor. I agree. ¶ 69. Taylor was a young man when he died and the high school photographs and key information provided insight into the type of person and student that Taylor was. The items provided partial foundation of Taylor's present net cash value of life, and the trial court did not err in admitting these photographs.
¶ 70. The majority finds that the photographs of the baby shower for Michelle and Taylor's baby are prejudicial. The fact of the matter is that due to Taylor' s injuries he could no longer participate in normal life events, such as the baby shower, birth of his child, or have any hope of a normal family life. Michelle had the burden of proving her claim, and she did suffer from Taylor's inability to participate in this event. The photographs merely illustrate Taylor's lack of society and companionship. Therefore, the trial court did not err in admitting these photographs.
¶ 71. The trial court admitted thirty-six wedding photographs depicting Taylor and Michelle's wedding. Michelle argues that the wedding photographs address the loss of society and companionship. ¶ 72. In light of the portion of the actual wedding ceremony contained in Video 1, 36 additional wedding photographs are cumulative. Even without the wedding ceremony video, 36 still wedding photographs are excessive. I agree with the majority on the cumulative nature of the photographs. However, the photographs do touch on Michelle's loss of society and companionship. Given that the wedding was one event in their lives, albeit a major event, having 36 photographs of that one event and the wedding video is cumulative. Notwithstanding the cumulative nature of the photos, I believe that the error is harmless and does not merit reversal and a new trial on this issue.