Opinion ID: 1926975
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence Used in Cross-Examination

Text: Ford next argues that the court abused its discretion in allowing plaintiff to introduce into evidence or to use in cross-examination references to other incidents of sector-shaft failure without a showing of substantial similarity. In the alternative, Ford contends that even if substantially similar, evidence of other incidents was not relevant. Finally, Ford asserts that even if plaintiff has demonstrated relevancy, evidence of other sector-shaft failures should have been excluded under V.R.E. 403 because the unfair prejudice to Ford substantially outweighed its probative value. Unless we determine that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting evidence of other accidents involving steering-sector fractures, we will not disturb the court's rulings. See Mobbs v. Central Vermont Ry., 155 Vt. 210, 226, 583 A.2d 566, 575 (1990) (rulings on similarity of accidents lie within trial court's discretion). Defendant objects to plaintiff's use of seven Ford documents in the cross-examination of Ford's metallurgist. Exhibit 605 (entitled 4 × 4 Sector Failures) and Exhibit 610 (entitled Broken Sector Shaft Problem) were admitted into evidence. Exhibits 630 through 634 were individual reports summarizing the results of Ford engineering investigations into complaints of accidents alleging loss of steering control. Plaintiff made reference to these latter documents during cross-examination, but they were not admitted into evidence. At trial, Ford objected to the introduction of Exhibit 605 on foundation grounds. On appeal, defendant amplifies its objection contending that the court's failure to consider road conditions, prior condition of the sector shafts, abuse by prior drivers, and evidence as to the loading that the vehicle had experienced, made it error as a matter of law to admit the exhibit. We disagree. Plaintiff established that the seven incidents referenced in Exhibit 605 involved Ford vehicles with steering systems identical to the 1978 Bronco. Moreover, Exhibit 605 was relevant to the theory advanced by plaintiff's expert that a driver could be unaware of the impact causing the initial crack in the sector shaft. The Ford memorandum notes: It is probable that these sector failures are a result of impact after which the customer did not recognize ... a problem until complete failure. Exhibit 605 was relevant and properly admitted by the court as a business record under V.R.E. 803(6). Similarly, defendant's objection to the introduction of Exhibit 610 fails to demonstrate that the court abused its discretion in allowing admission of the document. The internal Ford document  again admissible as a business record  contains data on fractured sector shafts returned from the field and recommendations to define and correct this problem. Admission of the document was well within the discretion of the court. Ford also objects to plaintiff's use, again during cross-examination of Ford's metallurgist, of five memoranda prepared by Ford employees. These memoranda document the results of investigations into five individual instances of sector-shaft failures on 1978 and 1979 Broncos and F-150s performed by Ford's power-steering-gear department. Plaintiff posed the following question to Ford's witness: Would you agree with me, sir, that the general characterization of Ford's approach to investigating those accidents was that this sector shaft could not have fractured under any kind of ordinary or even severe road usage, therefore, it must not have fractured under such usage? Ford's witness replied, No, I would not agree. Plaintiff then sought to use Exhibits 630 through 634 to impeach Ford's witness. Defendant objected that plaintiff's purpose was irrelevant to the issues being decided. The court determined that the exhibits were relevant to impeach the witness' testimony. Ford on appeal provides more explanation for its claim of irrelevancy than it did for the trial court, but falls far short of a showing of any error below. Ford argues that without proof of how the other accidents referenced in the exhibits occurred, the evidence could not impeach its expert's opinions. Plaintiff's purpose in impeachment, however, was to bolster his theory of the case that Ford's engineers repeatedly assumed that the sector-shaft failures could only occur in an abnormal single event. Each of the memoranda documenting the results of Ford's engineering investigations into complaints of loss of steering control ended with the identical conclusion: Since this problem is a result of an over-load condition and not a design manufacturing problem, Steering Gear Engineering recommends this problem be closed. Each memoranda dealt with steering control mechanisms identical to those in a 1978 Bronco. The court's determination that Exhibits 630 through 634 contained relevant evidence was sound. Evidence is admissible if relevant, and relevant if it has any tendency to make the existence of any fact of consequence to the determination of the action more or less probable. See V.R.E. 401; Ball v. Melsur Corp., 161 Vt. 35, 42, 633 A.2d 705, 711 (1993). Defendant's alternative argument that the evidence, even if relevant, was inadmissible under V.R.E. 403 is unavailing. The court has broad discretion in determining whether the probative value or relevant evidence outweighs any prejudicial effect. See State v. Wheel, 155 Vt. 587, 604, 587 A.2d 933, 944 (1990). The burden of showing abuse of discretion is a heavy one. See Quirion v. Forcier, 161 Vt. 15, 21, 632 A.2d 365, 369 (1993). That burden has not been met here.