Opinion ID: 1924119
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the trial court erred by allowing into evidence photographs of other locations.

Text: ¶ 11. Yoste also argues that the trial court erred in admitting numerous photographs of arguably similar defects in concrete surfaces, not only from areas in the vicinity of the Wal-Mart location, but from around the state as well. The pictures included parking lots near Wal-Mart as well as sidewalks at Mississippi State University and the parking lot at the office of Yoste's counsel. Yoste complains that these photographs were irrelevant and highly prejudicial. ¶ 12. Wal-Mart contends that the photographs were properly admitted on cross-examination of Yoste's safety expert, A.K. Rosenhan. It was Rosenhan's testimony that the unlevel concrete in the parking lot constituted a dangerous condition. Wal-Mart argues that Rosenhan failed to base this opinion on any calculations or recognized methodologies. Wal-Mart asserts that the photographs were relevant to show what members of the populous normally encounter in their day-to-day activities as they go about their business in the world and to establish that such conditions are indeed acts of nature occurring everywhere Yoste might visit. Wal-Mart states that [o]nly by reference to the other parking lots and sidewalks could a jury decide for itself whether or not to accept or reject [Rosenhan's opinion]. ¶ 13. Wal-Mart's argument is tenuous. It raises issues more relevant to Rosenhan's qualifications as an expert and the admissibility of Rosenhan's testimony in general, rather than the admissibility of the photographs in question. However, even assuming the trial court erred in admitting these photographs, we find no reversible error. As stated previously, though Yoste claims in this action that he tripped on uneven pavement in Wal-Mart's parking lot, he does not, in fact, know what caused him to fall. Yoste did not look down at the parking lot just before his fall and he did not look back to examine the ground to determine what had caused him to fall. Yoste told family members that he stepped in a pothole. In a recorded statement given several months after the alleged incident, Yoste stated that he had no idea what he tripped on. Yoste admitted at trial that it was possible that he tripped on debris. We find that any harm done to Yoste via admission of these photos is minimal at worst. We find that even if the photographs had not been admitted, considering Yoste's conflicting statements, it is extremely unlikely that the jury would have concluded any differently.