Opinion ID: 2188696
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Proposed Opinion Testimony.

Text: The Schweitzers further assert that the trial court erred in not allowing Trooper Richard Kinseth to express his opinion as to whether their car was moving when the Nichols truck started to pass. The trial court excluded the proposed opinion because it thought that the prejudicial value of this witness testifying from hearsay testimony would outweigh the probative value ... of the evidence. Trooper Kinseth was the principal and primary investigative officer at the scene of the accident. He testified regarding his qualifications and training, but specifically stated that he did not consider himself an accident reconstruction expert. He also never spoke to Marilyn Schweitzer or Nancy West. At trial he was allowed to testify to his findings relating to the tangible evidence observed and collected at the scene and to any conclusions he may have drawn as a result thereof, including a sequence of events pertaining to the accident. He did not, however, obtain any tangible evidence regarding the course or speed of movement of the Schweitzer vehicle prior to the accident. His proposed opinion in this regard was based solely upon statements obtained from other witnesses. Iowa Rule of Evidence 403 states that: Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or a needless presentation of cumulative evidence. The balancing of probative value against the grounds for exclusion is for the trial court's discretion. State v. Harmon, 238 N.W.2d 139, 145 (Iowa 1976). The court must first determine whether the evidence has some probative value; if it does, then the court must weigh the probative value against the policy grounds for exclusion. Id. Trooper Kinseth's proposed opinion in this case, although arguably probative, was based entirely on hearsay statements. In Miller v. Bonar, 337 N.W.2d 523, 528 (Iowa 1983), we held that a state trooper's opinion based on his investigation of the yaw marks and skid marks on the pavement, damage done to the two vehicles, and the point at which they came to rest, was properly admissible since the testimony was not based on out-of-court statements of those involved. However, we also stated that if the investigating officer's opinion is based in part on out-of-court interviews with witnesses, it is inadmissible hearsay. Id. (citing Ruby v. Easton, 207 N.W.2d 10, 20 (Iowa 1973)). As applied to this case, it is clear that Trooper Kinseth's opinion was strictly his weighing of the factual discrepancies in four witnesses' statements, and his conclusion as to who recalled the facts most accurately. Although Iowa employs a liberal rule that allows opinion testimony if it will aid the jury and is based on special training, experience, or knowledge with respect to the issue in question, see Iowa Rule of Evidence 702, Trooper Kinseth possessed no such skill superior to that of the jury that would aid in their evaluation of the testimonial evidence offered by the other witnesses. Furthermore, because he was the first law enforcement officer to testify and the head of the law enforcement investigation of the accident, it is likely the jury would have given undue weight to his opinion, notwithstanding effective cross-examination, resulting in unfair confusion and prejudice. See Zimmer v. Miller Trucking Co., 743 F.2d 601, 604 (8th Cir.1984). The exclusion of this opinion evidence was within the trial court's discretion and we are loath to interfere unless a manifest abuse of discretion results in prejudice to the complaining party. Renze Hybrids, Inc. v. Shell Oil Co., 418 N.W.2d 634, 639 (Iowa 1988); State v. Klindt, 389 N.W.2d 670, 672 (Iowa 1986); State v. Dvorsky, 322 N.W.2d 62, 64 (Iowa 1982). Since the hearsay declarants upon whose statements Trooper Kinseth's opinion was based were all allowed to testify at trial, we do not find any resulting prejudice to the Schweitzers that would require a reversal. Our review of the assignments of error persuades us that legal error has not occurred in this case. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. AFFIRMED.