Opinion ID: 1652424
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the trial court erred on key evidentiary rulings, which substantially affected the outcome of the case.

Text: ¶ 24. State Farm argues that the trial judge erred in disallowing evidence that Grimes had been suspended from his police work pending a review of a shooting incident. State Farm argues that the prejudicial value of this evidence did not substantially outweigh its probative value pursuant to Miss. R. Evid. 403. The trial judge can not be said to have abused his discretion in excluding this evidence, given that the evidence had a great potential to unduly prejudice the jury while having little probative value. This point of error is not well taken. ¶ 25. State Farm also asserts that the trial court erred in admitting an estimate of the cost of repairs made by Lee's Auto Shop as an adoptive admission pursuant to Miss. R. Evid. 801(d)(2). It cannot be said that the trial judge abused his discretion in admitting the estimate as an adoptive admission, given that, as noted by Grimes, State Farm solicited the estimate, incorporated it into their records, and used it in its conclusion that the claim should be paid as a total loss. In addition, State Farm had the opportunity to elicit testimony from Lee Paramenter, who prepared the estimate, in order to clarify aspects in which the estimate might have been a little high. This point of error has no merit. ¶ 26. Finally, State Farm argues that the trial judge erred in allowing Grimes to impeach John Bartlett, who provided expert testimony for State Farm, with a pamphlet which State Farm sent to its policyholders. The pamphlet informed the policyholders that 10% of all auto thefts occurred by towing, and Grimes impeached Bartlett with this pamphlet after he denied knowing that 10% of all auto thefts were in fact were carried out by means of towing. State Farm argues that the pamphlet was improperly admitted, given that it was not disclosed to the defense prior to trial. This Court concludes that, even assuming that the pamphlet should not have been admitted, the admission of this evidence was of very minor importance and did not substantially affect the outcome of the trial.