Opinion ID: 1737236
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Trial Court's Denial Of Wallace's Attempt To Proffer A New Expert Witness

Text: After the denial of the motion for a continuance, Wallace informed the trial court of his desire to use a new expert witness, Mr. Don Johns. APCo filed a motion to exclude this testimony, and the trial court granted this motion. Wallace argues that due to the complex and technical nature of the theory of liability in this case, a live electrical expert was crucial to the trial of his case. APCo, on the other hand, argues the well-settled rule in this state that the trial court has broad discretion to limit the number of trial witnesses when the testimony is shown to be cumulative and is not shown to differ from other testimony. Sweatman v. Federal Deposit Ins. Corp., 418 So.2d 893 (Ala.1982); Chambers v. Culver, 289 Ala. 724, 272 So.2d 236 (1973). Furthermore, there was no evidence that Mr. Johns's testimony would differ in any material way from Dr. DeWoody's testimony. This case presents no reason to create an exception to the rule stated in Sweatman, supra. We, therefore, hold that a new trial should not have been granted on this ground or on any of the above discussed grounds.