Opinion ID: 2173982
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Exclusion of evidence of other injuries.

Text: The scope and extent of cross-examination rests largely in the trial court's discretion, and its ruling on such questions will not be disturbed unless an abuse of discretion appears. Shepherd v. McGinnis, 257 Iowa 35, 45, 131 N.W.2d 475, 481 (1964). In Shepherd, we reversed for an abuse of discretion when the trial court allowed cross-examination that ventured into areas remote from the injury claimed. Id. In the instant case, the trial court refused to admit evidence offered by the Lunds that, on one or two occasions following the procedure performed on Dixie Lund, Dr. McEnerney caused injuries to other patients. Evidence of other occurrences must be relevant and not too remote or collateral such as to lead the jury astray. Id. at 45-46, 131 N.W.2d at 481. At trial, the Lunds failed to show how the later injuries related to the injury to Dixie Lund. In the order denying the motion for new trial, the trial court found that the other occurrences involved damage to the patients' bladders during vaginal hysterectomies, while Lund sustained injury to her ureter during an abdominal hysterectomy. We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the evidence for lack of showing of similarity between Lund's injury and the other occurrences. AFFIRMED.