Opinion ID: 1138293
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Issues 6 and 7: The admission of other Alabama policies and other nationwide policies.

Text: Independent Life argues that the trial court erroneously admitted into evidence 14,062 hospital policies sold in Alabama. It contends that these policies were not relevant because, it says, they were not similar to Casey's policy. However, the power to decide whether evidence is to be excluded upon relevancy grounds is within the sound discretion of the trial judge. C. Gamble, McElroy's Alabama Evidence, § 21.01(6) (4th ed. 1991). In Allstate Insurance Co. v. Hilley, 595 So.2d 873 (Ala.1992), this Court reiterated this principle: `The trial court has wide latitude in regard to testimony [evidence] in fraud cases because often the perpetrator is the sole possessor of the actual knowledge of the fraud. The trial court's rulings will not be disturbed on appeal unless that discretion has been abused.' Id. at 877 (quoting Sessions Co. v. Turner, 493 So.2d 1387, 1391 (Ala.1986)). The record does not indicate an abuse of discretion.