Opinion ID: 2262947
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admissibility of Rebuttal Testimony of Expert Witness

Text: We turn to defendants' contention that it was error to permit plaintiffs' expert witness, Dr. Alexander A. Jaworski, to testify for the purpose of rebutting testimony adduced through defendants' expert witness, Dr. Eric Denhoff. Doctor Jaworski had testified that it was his opinion that plaintiff Colleen was suffering from convulsive seizures and that her condition was caused by the collision in which Colleen's mother had been injured. Specifically, he stated that the condition of Colleen was due to intrauterine cerebral trauma and anoxia at six months of gestation. The defendants' expert witness, Dr. Denhoff, agreed that the child's condition was a convulsive disorder and gave three possible causes therefor: (1) the fact that the mother was only 16 years of age at the time of Colleen's birth; (2) the intrauterine infection early in the pregnancy; and (3) the automobile accident. Thereupon, when defendants had rested, plaintiffs then sought to have Dr. Jaworski testify in rebuttal to the testimony of Dr. Denhoff, contending that the purpose of such rebuttal was to permit Dr. Jaworski to comment on the possibility that the mother's youth and her infection in early pregnancy were in fact the causes for Colleen's convulsions. The trial justice allowed Dr. Jaworski to testify over defendants' objection. It is true, as defendants contend, that a plaintiff who has the burden of proof on an issue cannot hold back his evidence but must give all of his evidence supporting the affirmative of the issue when presenting his case-in-chief. However, a plaintiff is not bound to anticipate a defense. Thus, in rebuttal he is entitled to answer new matter introduced by the defendant. Souza v. United Electric Rys., 49 R.I. 430, 432-433, 143 A. 780, 782 (1928). The admission of competent rebuttal evidence lies within the discretion of the trial justice. Michon v. Williams, 97 R.I. 74, 82, 195 A.2d 751, 755 (1963); State v. Falcone, 41 R.I. 399, 402, 103 A. 961, 962 (1918). Prior to ruling on the objections of defendants, the trial justice inquired if Dr. Jaworski had previously testified as to whether the youth of the mother could be a cause of the convulsions and as to whether the intrauterine infection early in pregnancy could be such a cause. Apparently satisfied that the doctor had not so testified, he allowed him to testify in rebuttal. In our opinion, defendants have not met the burden of establishing that there was an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial justice to allow such testimony in rebuttal. The rebuttal testimony of Dr. Jaworski was material on a matter which had been raised in the course of the defense, and we perceive no abuse of discretion in its admission into evidence.