Opinion ID: 2314725
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The conduct of the proceedings; admission and use of evidence.

Text: Petitioners argue that the Mayor's Agent improperly limited cross-examination of intervenor's witnesses by restricting inquiry into their compensation arrangements and by sustaining intervenor's objection to use of a particular photographic slide in questioning an expert witness. It is well established that rules of evidence which normally govern trials are subject to more flexible application in the context of administrative proceedings. Generally, greater flexibility and discretion as to admission [of evidence] are permitted. Kopff I, supra at 1385 (citing 2 K. DAVIS, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW TREATISE § 14.01 et seq. (1st ed. 1958)). While failure to apply the rules of evidence flexibly in favor of the admission of evidence can constitute error, reversal is appropriate only upon a showing of prejudice. Id. We therefore first examine the challenged rulings to determine whether the Mayor's Agent erred in excluding evidence and then consider whether petitioners have demonstrated prejudice. A. Petitioners cross-examined two of intervenor's experts concerning their financial interest in the outcome of the permit application proceedings in order to establish their bias. They were allowed to establish that one witness received compensation for his architectural design, but the Mayor's Agent refused to allow inquiry into the specifics of his compensation arrangement. Petitioners did not ask the second expert whether he received compensation for his services; instead, they questioned him about his specific fee arrangements. Questions concerning witness compensation are proper to establish bias, see 3A WIGMORE, EVIDENCE § 961 (Chadbourn rev. 1970); however, a court may in its discretion prohibit inquiry into the specifics of compensation agreements. See, e.g., Olson v. Ela, 8 Mass.App. 165, 392 N.E.2d 1057 (1979); Podbielski v. Argyle Bowl, Inc., 44 Mich.App. 280, 205 N.W.2d 240 (1973), aff'd, 392 Mich. 380, 220 N.W.2d 397 (1974). Moreover, agency members are presumed capable of properly assessing the reliability and weight of evidence .... Kopff I, supra at 1385 (citation omitted). In the instant case, petitioners were allowed to show one of the witnesses' bias by asking whether he received compensation from intervenor, whether compensation was based on a contingent fee arrangement, and whether he had a financial interest in the project apart from the fee he received for his architectural design. They were not denied an opportunity to establish the fact that the second witness received compensation; the Mayor's Agent merely restricted inquiry into the specifics of his fee arrangement. Limitation of petitioners' cross-examination to these questions was not an abuse of discretion. See Olson, supra ; Podbielski, supra . B. Petitioners also attempted to cross-examine intervenor's architect concerning certain features of his design using their own photographic slide of the development model. Relying on the well-established principle that the scope of cross-examination is limited to matters covered on direct examination, the Mayor's Agent sustained intervenor's objection to petitioners' use of this slide on the ground that the exhibit had not been used during the direct examination of this witness and was therefore an improper subject for cross-examination. The Mayor's Agent erred in requiring that petitioners use intervenor's exhibits to cross-examine this witness. Petitioners attempted to use their exhibit to question the witness concerning certain physical characteristics of the architectural design, a matter which was clearly within the scope of the direct examination. For this purpose they were entitled to use any exhibit which fairly represented the proposed development, and should therefore have been allowed to establish that their slide fairly represented the architectural model and then to cross-examine the witness with this exhibit. See McCORMICK, HANDBOOK OF THE LAW OF EVIDENCE § 213 (2d ed. 1972). However, we find the error harmless on this record. Petitioners have failed to establish prejudice and we find none.