Opinion ID: 686419
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Impeachment and Character Evidence

Text: 9 AMM & S argues that the DL & A evidence was admissible to demonstrate that Neuren had the same difficulties at a previous law firm that she had at AMM & S or, failing that, to impeach her testimony regarding her reasons for leaving DL & A. We review the district court's admission of the DL & A evidence for abuse of discretion, see Jankins v. TDC Management Corp., 21 F.3d 436, 440 (D.C.Cir.1994), and conclude that the district court abused its discretion in admitting the evidence. 10 AMM & S contends that the district court was correct in reasoning that the DL & A evidence was admissible because it demonstrated that Neuren had displayed similar work-related problems in her former employment. We disagree. Both AMM & S and the district court misapprehend the Federal Rules' treatment of character evidence. Under Federal Rule of Evidence 404, [e]vidence of a person's character or a trait of [her] character is not admissible for the purpose of proving that [she] acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion, except in certain defined circumstances none of which is present here. FED.R.EVID. 404(a). Additionally, Rule 404(a) provides specifically that evidence of prior acts cannot be introduced to prove the character of a person in order to show that she acted in conformity therewith. FED.R.EVID. 404(b). When the district court admitted the DL & A evidence relating to Neuren's difficulties with personal relationships at that firm, it noted that the evidence was relevant with respect to how she performed at another firm.... [AMM & S is] just showing that this is the same problem that this woman had. Trial Transcript, October 7, 1993, at 98-99, reprinted in Joint Appendix, at 83-84. Thus, the district court admitted the evidence for the purpose specifically prohibited by Rule 404--as evidence that she acted in conformity with her behavior at DL & A while working for AMM & S. 11 The DL & A character evidence does not fall within any of the exceptions expressly contemplated by Rule 404(b). See FED.R.EVID. 404(b) (exceptions for proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident). Moreover, appellee's argument that this evidence is admissible because character was in issue in the case is equally unavailing. Under the character in issue doctrine, character evidence is admissible where character itself is an element of a crime, claim, or defense. FED.R.EVID. 404(a), NOTES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PROPOSED RULES. An example of evidence admissible where character is in issue is evidence of the chastity of a victim in a prosecution for the crime of seduction where chastity is an element of that crime. Id. In this case, AMM & S has not offered a plausible theory under which Neuren's character could be considered an element of its defense. AMM & S's business justification for Neuren's termination was that she had difficulty in interpersonal relationships with co-workers and in meeting deadlines. Strictly speaking, this defense is based on Neuren's behavior at the firm, not her character. Consequently, her character was not in issue in the sense contemplated by the exception to the rule. 12 AMM & S argues that the DL & A evidence is nonetheless admissible for the purpose of impeaching Neuren's trial testimony concerning her reasons for leaving that firm. Although a party may generally attack the credibility of any witness, FED.R.EVID. 607, and evidence of character and conduct of a witness may be offered for the purpose of impeachment under Rule 608, these rules do not provide the basis for AMM & S's argument nor can they provide a basis for admission of the evidence. Rule 608 restricts the character evidence admissible for impeachment to evidence refer[ring] only to character for truthfulness or untruthfulness. That Rule obviously does not cover the evidence at issue in the present case referring to Ms. Neuren's alleged traits of tardiness and difficulty in personal relations. Rather, AMM & S's argument relies on Rule 404(b) which provides that evidence, although not admissible to prove character traits of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith, may nonetheless be admissible for other purposes. FED.R.EVID. 404(b). Therefore, AMM & S would assert, the evidence of Neuren's past behavior, though inadmissible to support an inference that she acted in conformity therewith in her later employment, is nonetheless admissible for the relevant purposes of rebutting statements in her prior testimony. While the argument may have theoretical validity, it has no applicability to the facts before us. 13 In considering the admissibility of impeachment evidence, we apply the same standards of relevance that we apply to other questions of admissibility. See Orjias v. Stevenson, 31 F.3d 995, 1011 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 115 S.Ct. 511, 130 L.Ed.2d 418 (1994). See also FED.R.EVID. 401-02. On direct examination, Neuren testified that the reason she left DL & A was that she was not getting enough international trade work. The DL & A evidence does nothing to impeach that statement. None of the DL & A evidence speaks to the reason for Neuren leaving the firm; rather, it merely explains that Neuren was not given certain assignments because she was difficult to get along with. If this evidence does anything, then, it confirms, rather than rebuts, Neuren's reason for departing DL & A by explaining why she was not getting enough international trade work. 14 We conclude that the district court erred in admitting the DL & A evaluations and testimony into evidence. The DL & A evidence was not admissible to prove that Neuren acted in conformity with the evidence while working for AMM & S nor is it relevant to impeach her testimony.