Court Opinion

ID: 9472023
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:47:11.50997+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:42:42.277335
License: Public Domain

McKAY, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
' The test now to be applied in cases involving juror answers to voir dire questions is:
[Tjhat to obtain a new trial in such a situation, a party must first demonstrate that a juror failed to answer honestly a material question on voir dire, and then further show that a correct response would have provided a valid basis for a challenge for cause. The motives for concealing information may vary, but only those reasons that affect a juror’s impartiality can truly be said to affect the fairness of a trial.
McDonough Power Equipment, Inc. v. Greenwood, — U.S. —, —, 104 S.Ct. 845, 850, 78 L.Ed.2d 663 (1984).
Counsel conceded that “[a]s far as Mr. Payton is concerned he answered counsel’s question honestly, and correctly, by remaining silent.” Brief for Appellee at 18. That ends the matter. The first leg of the test was not met.
The surprise testimony of defendant’s expert witness, Mr. Jackson, was certainly not irrelevant to the question of whether the lowered blade aggravated the injury or who was responsible for the blade being in that condition. The question on appeal is whether the trial court abused its discretion in admitting that evidence when it had not been included in discovery responses or in the pretrial order. Taken in context with plaintiff’s failure to seek a continuance or other remedy to respond to the evidence, the trial court acted within its discretion in admitting the evidence.
While the challenged testimony by Mr. Jackson appears to contradict Mr. Jackson’s deposition statement that the machine was in the same condition as when it left the factory, the harm might have been cured by impeachment. It was no surprise that Mr. Jackson’s testimony would relate to the condition of the machine when it left the manufacturer. Under the circumstances, the failure to exclude the evidence as the sole remedy was not an abuse of discretion. While Smith v. Ford Motor Co., 626 F.2d 784 (10th Cir.1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 918, 101 S.Ct. 1363, 67 L.Ed.2d 344 (1981), is similar, it is not so close as to be controlling. The shift in subject matter, as opposed to detail, is the factor which distinguished that case from this case.
None of the other issues raised on appeal is individually or collectively of enough merit to warrant discussion.
Accordingly, the judgment should be affirmed.