Evidence Flashcards
Prosecutor asks defense witness if he’s ever been convicted of a crime. D’s counsel objects. What result?
Objection sustained because this is an improper form of impeachment. A witness can be impeached by criminal convictions but only for a felony or for any conviction involving dishonesty or false statement. Here, the prosecutor only asked witness whether he’d ever been convicted of a crime and didn’t limit the question to those particular convictions.
P sues D for damaging her car. P calls witness who testifies that he heard D say to P “I can’t believe this. I’m sure my insurance company will reimburse you for my carelessness.” The court should rule that the testimony is:
Admissible as an exception to the hearsay rule. The statement is hearsay because it contains an out of court assertion by D as to his carelessness and it’s being offered for its truth. however, D’s statement qualifies as a party admission because it’s being offered against him at trial. While evidence of liability insurance generally is inadmissible, an admission of liability may be coupled with a reference to insurance coverage that cannot be severed, such as here.
P sues D for damaging her car. P seeks to read into evidence a letter D received from his mechanic which states “I checked the breaks on your car and you were right - there’s a problem with the brakes. Bring your car in right away and don’t drive.” If D objects, what result?
D’s objection will be overruled. The letter is admissible to prove that D was aware of the problem with his brakes. The statement isn’t hearsay if it’s offered to prove D’s knowledge of the danger of operating car. MIMICK evidence.
A civil judgment is generally ___________ in a subsequent civil proceeding.
Inadmissible.
A & his passenger B are injured in a car accident with C. A sues C and a judgment is entered that C was negligent. If B sues A, can A introduce the judgment into evidence?
No - the judgment is being offered for its truth - to show that C was negligent. There is no hearsay exception for civil judgments. Therefore, it’s inadmissible hearsay.
Is a judgment of acquittal in a criminal case admissible in a subsequent civil case?
No
Under federal law, is a conviction in a criminal case admissible in a subsequent civil case?
Yes - but note in FL, it is NOT admissible
Under FL law, is a criminal conviction admissible as substantive evidence?
No
A & his passenger B are injured in a car accident with C. A is charged with reckless driving but is acquitted. If B sues A, can A introduce the judgment of acquittal into evidence?
No - neither under federal or fl rules can an acquittal be submitted as substantive evidence in a civil trial.
D is on trial for murder. His character witness testifies that he has known D for 20 years, that D attends church services regularly, and that D isn’t the type of man to do this. What result if prosecution objects?
Sustained because D’s character can’t be proved by opinion testimony in Florida. Apparently, this is opinion testimony, not reputation testimony, so it’s inadmissible.
D is charged with a crime. Wife visits him and officer puts them in a room he says will give them “privacy” and is intended for married couples. Unbeknowst to the couple, the room was bugged and recording their convesation. D moves to supress the recording. What result?
D’s motion to suppress will be granted because the privilege protecting confidential marital communications applies. Parties intended their communication to be confidential and were not in the known presence of a stranger.
P sues D’s for injuries. P’s lawyer sends P to doctor to understand the nature of her injuries. D discovers that the doctor examined P and that the doctor won’t be called as a witness. D files a motion requesting copies of the doctor’s records concerning P. What result?
Denied. The attorney client privilege applies since lawyer sent P to doctor so that he could better understand nature of P’s injuries. Doctor’s findings are thus protected under attorney client privilege based on idea that doctor was acting as lawyer’s rep. Florida evidence code doesn’t recognize a separate physician-patient privilege.
What is the standard to authenticate a writing?
Proof sufficient to support a jury finding of genuineness.
How can a jury authenticate a letter?
by comparing the questioned writing with another writing PROVED, not just alleged, to be genuine (but remember - can’t be based on handwriting unless they were familiar with the person’s handwriting before trial or they are handwriting experts)
Admissions made in connection with an offer to pay medical expenses are…
admissible
B overserved A at a bar. A lawsuit ensues. At deposition, A says he was sober when he left the bar. At trial, A says he was drunk when he left the bar. Can B seek to enter A’s prior statement and if so for what purpose does it come in?
Yes - for both impeachment and substantive evidence that he was sober when he left hte bar. Prior inconsistent statements are usually only admissible to impeach the witness. However, where the statement was made under oath at a prior trial, hearing, proceeding or depo, it’s admissible nonhearsay.
Statements made in connection with reports used by the Dept of Highway Safety are usually inadmissible EXCEPT
in CRIMINAL proceedings an officer may testify to any statement made to him by the person involved in the accident
At trial, prosecution calls a witness. Halfway through the testimony, the witness can’t remember an important fact. Which of the following may be used by the prosecutor to refresh the witness’ recollection?
I. A baseball cap
II. A writing
III. A calendar
All three! A witness may use any writing or item for purpose of refreshing her present recollection. The important factor is that W admits she can’t remember and the production of the object aids her in memory of events.
A & his passenger B are injured in a car accident with C. C is charged with reckless driving and enters a guilty plea. In a subsequent civil case where B sues A, can A submit evidence of C’s guilty plea?
No, the plea is hearsay that doesnt fall within an exception. A party admission is a statement made by a party and offered against that party. C isn’t a party in B’s aciton against A. Therefore, the guilty plea isn’t an admission and doesnt fall within any other exception.
A & his passenger B are injured in a car accident with C. C is charged with reckless driving and enters a guilty plea. In a subsequent civil case where B sues A and C, can B submit evidence of C’s guilty plea?
Yes, as an admission of a party opponent.
How to authenticate a phone call
any party to the call can testify that
(1) they recognized the other party’s voice
(2) the speaker had knowledge of certain facts that only a particular person would have
(3) they called a particular person’s number and a voice answered as that person or that person’s residence or
(4) they called a business and talked with the person answering the phone about matters relevant to the business
The prosecution calls an officer to the stand who investigated the crime. When testifying, however, the officer can’t remember the details of the crime scene. He’s made notes and uses them to refresh his memory. What are the defendant’s rights with regard to the notes?
Whenever a witness has used a writing to refresh his memory on the stand, an adverse party is entitled to have the writing produced at trial, to inspect it, to cross examine the witness on it, and to introduce into evidence those portions that relate to the witness’ testimony
The prosecution calls an officer to the stand who investigated the crime. When testifying, however, the officer can’t remember the details of the crime scene. He’s made notes and uses them to refresh his memory. The notes don’t refresh his memory, so the govt seeks to have them entered into evidence. What result if D objects?
D’s objection will be sustained because the notes can only be read into evidence. A record containing info that a witness once had knowledge of, but now has insufficient recollection of, that’s shown to have been made by the witness when the matter was fresh in his memory and reflects the knowledge correctly MAY be read to the jury under an exception to the hearsay rule. A party may read into evidence the memo when it’s admitted, but it’s not admissible as an exhibit unless offered by an adverse party. Thus, the notes can’t be admitted into evidence here.
Videotape admissibility
(1) must be identified by a witness as a portrayal of facts relevant to the issue and
(2) verified by the witness as a fair and accurate representation of those facts
Note: not necessary to call the photographer - a witness familiar with the scene is sufficient
