Opinion ID: 2371937
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Good Boating Practices

Text: Robert Charlesworth, the Marine Patrol Supervisor with the Garland County Police Department and an investigating officer on the scene of the accident, was called as a witness by the appellants. Officer Charlesworth testified that the purpose of navigation lights is to alert other boaters of the position of your boat. He stated the red lens is on the left side of a boat, the green lens is on the right side, and the white light is commonly called the stern (rear of boat) or anchor light. Officer Charlesworth testified that if you are approaching a boat and see the red light, that boat has the right-of-way. Counsel for the appellees objected to the testimony on the basis that it was improper for the witness to inform the jury which boat had the right-of-way. Counsel for the appellants asserted the witness was simply testifying to general boating practice on the lake and how you know to go to the right, or toward the stern of the boat that is approaching when the red light is displayed. The trial court sustained the appellees' objection. On appeal, the appellants assert the trial court erred in excluding the testimony because appellants were simply attempting to establish the rules of the road for good boating practice, which are not as familiar to all jurors as the rules of the road for automobiles. The appellants rely upon Parker v. Price, 241 Ark. 940, 411 S.W.2d 12 (1967), where the appellant asserted the jury should have been instructed that the standard of care imposed on a boat operator is the exercise of due diligence and maritime skill rather than simply ordinary care. In affirming the circuit court's decision, we noted that the appellant's requested instruction was simply another way of stating the operator should act as a reasonably careful person would act under the circumstances. Further, we commented: In the case at bar, the trial court properly permitted two witnesses of considerable experience with watercraft to testify concerning facts constituting good or poor seamanship. They were also permitted to give opinion testimony based on hypothetical questions. Thus, the jury had for its consideration testimony going to the main issuewhether the boats in question were operated with reasonable care under all the circumstances, including, but not limited to, maritime skill. In the instant case, the appellants place significance on our statement regarding the testimony concerning good or poor seamanship. Arkansas Rule of Evidence 702 provides expert testimony may be admissible if such specialized knowledge will aid the trier of fact in understanding the evidence or in determining a fact in issue. Williams v. Ingram, 320 Ark. 615, 899 S.W.2d 454 (1995). Whether a witness may give expert testimony rests largely within the sound discretion of the trial court, and that determination will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion. Id. On appeal, the appellant must demonstrate that the trial court has abused its discretion. Id. In Williams, supra , the appellant asserted the trial court erred in excluding testimony from a maritime and marine safety expert regarding the requisite standard of care and the danger of river currents. In affirming the decision of the trial court, we concluded that nothing in the expert's deposition indicated that the knowledge he displayed was so specialized that it was beyond the ability of the trier of fact to understand and draw its own conclusions. We noted the potential dangers of the Arkansas River's currents were not beyond the comprehension of the jury. In the instant case, the appellants have failed to establish that the trial court abused its discretion. The appellants simply assert the officer would testify regarding the general boating practices on Lake Hamilton. At one point, counsel for the appellants even stated the testimony would simply confirm what everybody uses as ordinary care. Further, counsel for the appellants asserted the officer's testimony was not even really an opinion ... that's what you do on the lake. Thus, there is no indication that the witness had specialized knowledge that went beyond the general knowledge of an average person. Even assuming Charlesworth was not testifying as an expert, it is within the discretion of the trial court to limit the testimony of witnesses and that decision will not be reversed absent a manifest abuse of that discretion. Garner v. Kees, 312 Ark. 251, 848 S.W.2d 423 (1993). Further, it is the duty of the judge to review the evidence presented, decide what the applicable law is, and instruct the jury. Whitlock v. Smith, 297 Ark. 399, 762 S.W.2d 782 (1989); See also Montgomery v. Butler, 309 Ark. 491, 834 S.W.2d 148 (1992). The jury was instructed that there was in force a statute which provided every motorboat shall have a light sufficient to make the motorboat's presence and location [known] to any and all other vessels when in operation during the hours of darkness. See Ark. Code Ann. § 27-101-203(a)(2) (Repl.1994). The jury was further instructed that the boat must have a red light on the left side of the bow, a green light on the right side with a horizona white horizon light aft. Because the judge should instruct the jury regarding the applicable law, the officer was properly prohibited from testifying as to the rules of the lake and who had the right-of-way. The appellants further assert the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury regarding the federal law on navigable waters. Counsel for the appellants did argue that federal law applied; however, the appellants' requested jury instructions are not in the abstract or the record. It is well established that a party cannot complain about the failure to give an instruction when he did not proffer the instruction. ARCP Rule 51; Quinney v. Pittman, 320 Ark. 177, 895 S.W.2d 538 (1995). Further, we have said that the proffered instruction must be included in the record and in the abstract to enable the appellate court to consider it. Mings v. State, 318 Ark. 201, 884 S.W.2d 596 (1994). Consequently, we will not address this issue.