Court Opinion

ID: 9733744
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 17:16:27.455182+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:43.980310
License: Public Domain

WUEST, Justice
(concurring in part and dissenting in part).
I agree with the majority on Issues I and II.
As to Issue III, it is my opinion the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the admission of the three company checks deposited in plaintiff’s personal account. SDCL 19-14-10 provides the admissibility of this evidence is discretionary with the trial court. See United States v. Young, 567 F.2d 799 (8th Cir.1977), cert denied. 434 U.S. 1079, 98 S.Ct. 1273, 55 L.Ed.2d 786 (1978); United States v. Burch, 490 F.2d 1300 (8th Cir.), cert denied, 416 U.S. 990, 94 S.Ct. 2400, 40 L.Ed.2d 769 (1974). See generally J. Weinstein and M. Berger, Weinstein’s Evidence 11 608(05]; E. Cleary, et al., McCormick on Evidence § 42 (3d 1984); Annotation, Construction and Application of Rule 608(b) of Federal Rules of Evidence, Dealing with Use of Specific Instances of Conduct to Attack or Support Credibility 36 A.L.R.Fed. 564 (1978). This court has defined abuse of discretion for evidentiary rulings as “discretion exercised to an end or purpose not justified by, and clearly against, reason and evidence.” Woodfork, 454 N.W.2d at 335 (emphasis added). Accord Bartlett, 411 N.W.2d at 414.
The trial court’s refusal to admit this evidence was not clearly against reason. The admission of any evidence, whether for impeachment or otherwise, is subject to a balancing of probative and prejudicial effect. SDCL 19-12-3. The trial judge, who was present to hear and see the witnesses, is in a better position to decide these questions than an appellate Justice reading a cold record. The majority opinion does not cite any authority in support of its position on Issue III, except the recent dissent of Justice Sabers in Woodfork. This writing is a minority position, and I submit it is insufficient support for finding an abuse of discretion in this instance.