Opinion ID: 1130389
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether Hamblin's counsel invited error to exclude evidence offered by Robinson.

Text: This issue concerns a motion in limine by Hamblin to prohibit testimony by or in regard to actions or statements made by two witnesses whom Robinson wanted to call. The court granted the motion, reasoning that even though Robinson provided Hamblin with the names of these witnesses, he did not provide copies of their statements to Hamblin as ordered by the court. Robinson argues that the motion in limine should not have been granted since Hamblin had obtained adequate knowledge of the content of the witnesses' testimony through other sources, such as Robinson's complaint and the depositions of Hamblin Jr. and Robinson. Further, Robinson asserts that since these two witnesses were going to testify as to the deteriorated condition of the floor, exclusion of this testimony effectively destroyed [Robinson's] case, especially in light of the court's finding of no negligence. Thus, according to Robinson, the district court judge abused his discretion. We disagree with these contentions. A trial court has discretion to exclude evidence at trial if the party has not followed the court's orders regarding the discovery and disclosure of information prior to trial. W.R.C.P. 16(f), 37(b)(2)(B). Such a decision will not be reversed without a showing of an abuse of discretion. Thunder Hawk, 891 P.2d at 779. We have defined judicial discretion as [a] composite of many things, among which are conclusions drawn from objective criteria; it means a sound judgment exercised with regard to what is right under the circumstances and without doing so arbitrarily or capriciously. Martin v. State, 720 P.2d 894, 897 (Wyo. 1986) (citations omitted). The burden of demonstrating an abuse of discretion rests on appellant. Vit v. State, 909 P.2d 953, 957 (Wyo.1996). Robinson has failed to show any such abuse. The court, at the pretrial conference, ordered Robinson to produce to Hamblin copies of the witnesses' statements. Robinson had these copies in his possession, but he did not comply with the court's order, or at least failed to show such compliance. For that reason, the court determined, in its discretion, that these two witnesses should not be called. Furthermore, assuming arguendo that the court did abuse its discretion in this regard, it would be harmless error. An error warrants reversal only when it is prejudicial and it affects an appellant's substantial rights. Price v. State, 807 P.2d 909, 913 (Wyo.1991)    W.R.A.P. 9.04. The party who is appealing bears the burden to establish that an error was prejudicial. Roderick v. State, 858 P.2d 538, 550 (Wyo.1993). Candelaria v. State, 895 P.2d 434, 439-40 (Wyo.1995); see also Madrid, 910 P.2d at 1346. An error, to be prejudicial, must cause a miscarriage of justice or result in damage to the integrity, reputation, and fairness of the judicial process    [or possess] a clear capacity to bring about an unjust result. Natural Gas Processing Co. v. Hull, 886 P.2d 1181, 1188 (Wyo.1994) (citations omitted). The court found that the floor was in a defective and deteriorated condition. This was exactly what the two excluded witnesses were going to testify about. Moreover, the court expressed its belief that the testimony of those witnesses was, in all probability, superfluous, redundant and unnecessary. Thus, the exclusion did not harm Robinson's case.