Opinion ID: 1793829
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Limiting Dr. Plunkett's Testimony

Text: Appellant also asserts that it was prejudicial error for the trial court to limit Dr. Plunkett's testimony by refusing to admit certain photographs into evidence and by prohibiting Dr. Plunkett from testifying as to certain aspects of appellant's physical abilities. On redirect examination of Dr. Plunkett, the defense sought to introduce several photographs of sofa bed hinges in an attempt to show that the L-shaped abrasion on Ms. Bauer's left calf was caused by the hinges from the sofa bed on which she was found rather than by the hinge on appellant's leg brace. The disputed photographs, however, did not depict the hinges from Ms. Bauer's sofa bed and the defense made no offer of proof that the hinges in the photographs were the same type as or even similar to those hinges. Thus, the defense failed to establish that the disputed photographs were relevant. Moreover, in testifying about the cause of the L-shaped abrasion, Dr. Plunkett did refer to photographs of the actual hinges from Ms. Bauer's sofa bed, and those photographs were admitted into evidence. Therefore, the exclusion of the disputed photographs had at most a minimal impact on Dr. Plunkett's testimony and did not prevent him from testifying that the hinges from Ms. Bauer's sofa bed could have caused the L-shaped abrasion. Accordingly, we hold that the court did not err in excluding the disputed photographs. The trial court also limited the scope of Dr. Plunkett's testimony regarding appellant's physical abilities. Appellant claims these limits prevented Plunkett from testifying that appellant was physically incapable of killing Ms. Bauer in the manner alleged by the state. A trial court has wide discretion in determining the sufficiency of the foundation for admitting opinion testimony. Holweger v. Great Northern Ry., 269 Minn. 83, 95, 130 N.W.2d 354, 362 (1964). In the present case, Dr. Plunkett's knowledge of appellant's physical abilities was gained from a 10-minute examination of appellant's lower extremities and from reviewing medical records of a cursory physical examination of appellant. At trial, the defense conceded that Dr. Plunkett's area of expertise was pathology and that he had no special expertise in the areas of physical or occupational therapy. In light of this foundation, the court limited Dr. Plunkett's testimony as follows: He can testify about whether or not Mr. Bauer can move his lower extremities in whatever manner he thinks is appropriate. I'm not going to let him testify about any general comments about Mr. Bauer's agility, upper body strength or any of that kind of stuff   . The court then clarified that Dr. Plunkett could testify about anything he observed during his examination of appellant and as to any conclusions he reached as a forensic pathologist. Under these restrictions, Dr. Plunkett still testified as to appellant's inability to move his right leg in the manner necessary to inflict the L-shaped abrasion. Because the limits on Dr. Plunkett's testimony corresponded to the limits of his expertise and did not prejudice appellant, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing the limits. See id.