Opinion ID: 2633395
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Evidence of Subsequent Remedial Measures Was Properly Excluded.

Text: Robles next argues that the superior court should have admitted evidence that Shoreside held safety training sessions with Petrolane and took other remedial measures after the accident. The superior court granted Petrolane's motion in limine to exclude this evidence under Alaska Rule of Evidence 407, which bars evidence of subsequent remedial measures offered to prove negligence or culpable conduct: When, after an event, measures are taken which, if taken previously, would have made the event less likely to occur, evidence of the subsequent measures is not admissible to prove negligence or culpable conduct in connection with the event. This rule does not require the exclusion of evidence of subsequent measures when offered for another purpose, such as impeachment or, if controverted, proving ownership, control, feasibility of precautionary measures, or defective condition in a products liability action. [24] Robles contends that the evidence of subsequent remedial measures should have been admitted to demonstrate Shoreside's control over training, and the feasibility of federal regulations for ensuring the safety of propane tanks. But because these issues were never controverted at trial, Robles's argument lacks merit. Robles also contends that evidence of post-accident training should have been admitted to impeach Petrolane's claim that it had given Robles adequate training before the accident. But while it is an abuse of discretion to exclude evidence that genuinely impeaches a witness, particularly on central facts in dispute, the trial court must exclude evidence of subsequent remedial measures that reflects on the witness only by means of a prohibited inference of negligence. [25] The adequacy of Robles's training was a central issue. Robles claimed that he was given a cursory, ten-minute training that included no discussion of tank inspection or certification requirements. Petrolane's Hoagland, on the other hand, testified that he gave Robles detailed training on the hazards of handling propane, including the risks of filling old, uncertified tanks. The evidence of Shoreside's and Petrolane's post-accident training measures would not have genuinely impeached Hoagland. It would only have reflected on his testimony through the forbidden inference of negligencethat is, by implying that the companies' subsequent remedial measures amounted to an admission that they had negligently failed to provide adequate pre-accident training. [26] Under these circumstances, the superior court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the public policy concerns underlying Evidence Rule 407encouraging defendants to take safety precautions after accidentsoutweighed the evidence's marginal impeachment value.