Opinion ID: 1826632
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Dr Hallett

Text: Appellants Beech et al. also claim that the trial court abused its discretion by limiting the testimony of their expert witness Dr. Hallett. They claim that excluding Dr. Hallett's testimony regarding his work experience with dioxin and its harmful effects cast doubt on Dr. Hallett's qualifications in the minds of the jury. The trial court limited Hallett's testimony regarding an evacuation due to toxic chemical exposure in Niagara Falls, New York, because it was not relevant to determination of his expertise. Defendants' objection based upon irrelevancy was also sustained regarding Hallett's testimony during voir dire on an episode of mercury contamination downstream from a pulp mill in Canada. Similarly, the trial court sustained the defendants' objection to Hallett's specific testimony during voir dire regarding bioaccumulation of dioxin, because it was irrelevant for purposes of tendering Hallett as an expert. The trial court later refused to admit the proffered testimony of Hallett on bioaccumulation, the tendency of an organic chemical to move from water into living things and up the food chain. All of this testimony was properly excluded as irrelevant during voir dire of the expert witness, because it went beyond determination of his qualifications. Furthermore, Hallett's specific testimony concerning an episode of bio-contamination in New York or of mercury contamination in Canada had no relevance whatsoever to the proceedings at hand, especially since mercury contamination was not alleged in this case. Hallett's testimony regarding bioaccumulation of dioxin had no relevance to the plaintiffs' remaining claims of property damage at trial, and was also properly excluded. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in limiting Hallett's testimony on these subjects. Beech et al. also argue that the trial court erred in refusing to allow Dr. Hallett to testify regarding Exhibit D-256 during redirect. However, that exhibit was not previously introduced during direct or cross-examination, and so was not proper subject matter for redirect examination. See Weeks v. State, 493 So.2d 1280, 1285 (Miss. 1986) (redirect should be limited to matters inquired into during cross-examination) (citing Cole v. Tullos, 228 Miss. 815, 90 So.2d 32, 34-35 (1956)). Hallett was allowed to testify regarding the subject matter of Exhibit D-256, dioxin levels at Mineral Creek, by using Exhibit D-269 which had been discussed on cross-examination. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to allow Hallett's testimony regarding Exhibit D-256.