Opinion ID: 1711645
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: standard of review

Text: Permission to amend pleadings is addressed to the discretion of the trial court; absent an abuse of discretion, the trial court's decision will be affirmed. Wilson v. Misko, 244 Neb. 526, 508 N.W.2d 238 (1993); Concerned Citizens v. Department of Environ. Contr., 244 Neb. 152, 505 N.W.2d 654 (1993); McCurry v. School Dist. of Valley, 242 Neb. 504, 496 N.W.2d 433 (1993); Bittner v. Miller, 226 Neb. 206, 410 N.W.2d 478 (1987). Although at certain stages of a proceeding a pleading may not be amended so as to change the issues and quantum of proof as to any issue, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-852 (Reissue 1995) should be liberally construed and amendments permitted where they are proposed at an opportune time and will be in the furtherance of justice. Hoiengs v. County of Adams, 245 Neb. 877, 516 N.W.2d 223 (1994); Bittner v. Miller, supra . To establish reversible error from a court's refusal to give a requested instruction, an appellant has the burden to show that (1) the tendered instruction is a correct statement of law, (2) the tendered instruction is warranted by the evidence, and (3) the appellant was prejudiced by the court's refusal to give the tendered instruction. State v. Derry, 248 Neb. 260, 534 N.W.2d 302 (1995). It is not error for a trial court to refuse to give a requested instruction where the substance of the requested instruction was covered in the instructions given. Scharmann v. Dayton Hudson Corp., 247 Neb. 304, 526 N.W.2d 436 (1995); Nichols v. Busse, 243 Neb. 811, 503 N.W.2d 173 (1993).