Opinion ID: 2454436
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Evidence regarding custody

Text: Finally, Mr. Callahan asserts that the trial court erred in refusing to allow him to introduce evidence that Ms. Clark eventually lost custody of her children, the threat of which strongly bore on her inclination to sign the property settlement agreement. He contends that if the jury had been made aware of Mr. Clark's strong desire to obtain custody, it might well have evaluated Callahan's advice in a different light. The trial court sustained Ms. Clark's relevancy objection to this evidence, stating that it was after the fact evidence, and that it might lead to more rebuttal testimony. We have often stated that the trial court determines the relevancy, competency, and probative value of testimony; it is within the trial court's discretion whether to admit testimony, and its decision will not be reversed absent a manifest abuse of discretion. Orsini v. Larry Moyer Trucking, Inc., 310 Ark. 179, 833 S.W.2d 366 (1992). As Mr. Clark obtained custody after the alleged acts of malpractice took place, we cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to allow this testimony on relevancy grounds. Thus, Mr. Callahan's argument is without merit. Affirmed.