Opinion ID: 2056434
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Examination of Expert Through Use of Hypothetical Questions

Text: Next, Appellant challenges the trial court's refusal to permit trial counsel to ask hypothetical questions of its expert witness, because the court concluded the record did not support such questions. Appellant contends that, because there was record support for such questions, the trial court's denial of these questions was improper. The exchange at trial reveals that Appellant's counsel attempted to ask Dr. Shane hypothetical questions regarding Kolesnik's alleged overdose from heroin and his time spent in rehabilitation. BY MR. WELSH [Appellant's counsel] Q: Doctor, I'll give you some hypotheticals, if I may. Doctor, assume that the deceased, Kristofer Kolesnik, had a long history of heroin addiction, would that be significant in helping you formulate an opinion as to manner of death? A [Dr. Shane]: The answer is yes or no. And he would certainly require higher dosages for a high, but certainly, his central nervous system and respiratory centers would be in stress and depressed. And failed opiates would not be  in terms of high levels of respiratory tolerances that we see in other drugs  Q: Let me ask you this, assume that Kristofer Kolesnik overdosed from heroin, but survived, would that be significant in helping you in forming an opinion as to the manner of death  MR. BALDWIN [District Attorney]: Objection, Your Honor THE COURT: Objection sustained BY MR. WELSH: Q Doctor, assume that Kristofer Kolesnik received treatment in five (5) rehabs and then after the last rehab, which would have been in November  actually December  November of 2005, would that be significant  and thereafter got back on heroin     MR. WELSH:  would that be significant in helping you form an opinion as to the manner of death? MR. BALDWIN: Again, same objection, Your Honor. THE COURT: The objection is sustained. N.T., 8/9/07, at 688-89. Appellant maintains Hess testified that Kolesnik overdosed on heroin sometime in early 2006 at the A-Plus minimarket located on Perkiomen Avenue. Appellant avers that, because Hess' testimony establishes that the victim overdosed in 2006, the court erred in denying Dr. Shane the ability to answer that question. Hess also offered that the victim had a lengthy history of heroin addictions and had spent time on five different occasions at rehabilitation facilities. Again, Appellant submits that the facts underlying this question are in the record as Hess testified that the victim had been in five rehabilitation facilities and that he overdosed on heroin in 2006. In further support of his argument, Appellant points to Dr. Shane's testimony that the amount of opiates in the victim's system were so elevated that they constituted a suicide attempt by overdosing on opiates. Dr. Shane also opined that the victim was attempting suicide by either overdose of heroin or a gunshot wound to the head. The Commonwealth disputes the basis for Appellant's argument by responding that there was not competent evidence in the record establishing that Kolesnik had overdosed. While Hess was questioned whether Kolesnik had overdosed previously, she testified only: He told me that happened. I wasn't there. N.T., 8/8/07, at 513. There was no other testimony introduced at trial establishing that an overdose had, in fact, occurred. Thus, according to the Commonwealth, the trial court acted within its discretion in precluding the hypothetical question. Similarly, the Commonwealth acknowledges that, with respect to the hypothetical regarding Kolesnik's rehabilitation efforts, Hess testified that Kolesnik had been in 5 rehabilitation facilities, but always relapsed. Furthermore, Appellant's brother, Cory Galvin, explained that Kolesnik had expressed desperation over being thrown out of rehabilitation and was unable to kick his heroin addiction. Yet, according to the Commonwealth, the trial court acted within its discretion when it concluded there was insufficient evidence to support any assumptions regarding the time the victim spent in rehabilitation. As the trial court explained, such details like the length of Kolesnick's [sic] time in treatment, the nature of his treatment, and the reasons for being kicked out of rehab would be relevant and likely necessary for Dr. Shane to offer a competent, permissible opinion about the effect, if any, of Kolesnick's [sic] time in rehab. Trial Court Opinion, 3/13/08, at 27. Thus, the Commonwealth submits that Appellant is not entitled to relief. The use of hypothetical questions is proper when there is evidence of record supporting the hypothetical. Commonwealth v. Petrovich, 538 Pa. 369, 372, 648 A.2d 771, 772 (1994) (expert may give his opinion in response to a hypothetical if the set of facts assumed in the hypothetical is supported by competent evidence). An expert, however, may not base an opinion on conjecture or guesswork. Id. Moreover, the admissibility of expert testimony is vested within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be overturned unless the trial court commits an abuse of that discretion. Id. We believe the trial court properly resolved this issue. Without a sufficient basis in the record, a hypothetical question based upon incompetent testimony is improper. Here, the trial court noted that Appellant failed to offer competent evidence to establish that the victim overdosed. Furthermore, there was a dearth of specific information regarding the alleged overdose, such as when the overdose occurred, what caused the overdose, or any of the ramifications of the overdose. Thus, Appellant failed to make a preliminary showing sufficient to permit the hypothetical question regarding Kolesnik's alleged overdose. As there was insufficient evidence in the record concerning the victim's overdosing, hypothetical questions based upon such an assertion were properly denied. Furthermore, we conclude that the trial court properly denied the hypothetical questions based upon Kolesnik's time at a rehabilitation facility. The trial court properly opined that, while there was some evidence that the victim spent time in a rehabilitation facility, there was insufficient testimony regarding the circumstances of the victim's treatment in rehabilitation to permit Dr. Shane to offer a competent permissible opinion about the effect, if any, of Kolesnik's time in rehabilitation. Thus, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the hypothetical questions based upon such treatment.