Opinion ID: 2582249
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: [¶ 8] Evidentiary rulings are left to the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be overturned where the record reveals a legitimate basis for the ruling. Armstrong v. Hrabal, 2004 WY 39, ¶ 10, 87 P.3d 1226, 1230 (Wyo.2004). Resolution of this case also involves the application of Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 17-21-701(b) (LexisNexis 2003). Our principles of statutory interpretation are well established: In interpreting statutes, our primary consideration is to determine the legislature's intent. . . . [I]n ascertaining the meaning of a given law, all statutes relating to the same subject or having the same general purpose must be considered and construed in harmony. Statutory construction is a question of law, so our standard of review is de novo. We endeavor to interpret statutes in accordance with the legislature's intent. We begin by making an inquiry respecting the ordinary and obvious meaning of the words employed according to their arrangement and connection. We construe the statute as a whole, giving effect to every word, clause, and sentence, and we construe all parts of the statute in pari materia. When a statute is sufficiently clear and unambiguous, we give effect to the plain and ordinary meaning of the words and do not resort to the rules of statutory construction. BP America Production Co. v. Dept. of Rev., 2005 WY 60, ¶ 15, 112 P.3d 596, 604 (Wyo. 2005). The statute at issue is part of the Wyoming Revised Uniform Partnership Act (RUPA), Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 17-21-101 et seq. (LexisNexis 2003). [2] RUPA directs that we construe and apply its provisions to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among states enacting it. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 17-21-1001 (LexisNexis 2003).