MBE Questions Flashcards
The defendant is being tried for murder in the bludgeoning death of his brother. The defendant denies any involvement in the crime. He callsa witness to the stand, who testifies that, in his opinion, the defendant is a nonviolent, peaceable man.
Which of the following, if offered by the prosecution, would most likely be admissible?
(A) A neighbor’s testimony that the witness has beaten his wife on several occasions.
(B) A police officer’s testimony that the defendant has a general reputation in the community as a violent person.
(C) A neighbor’s testimony that the defendant has a reputation for being untruthful.
(D) Evidence that the defendant has a conviction for aggravated battery.
(B) A police officer’s testimony that the defendant has a general reputation in the community as a violent person.
Criminal = Reputation, Opinion ONLY
1) Did D open the door? YES
2) Is the character trait relevant? YES (violence)
The defendant put his character of nonviolence at issue by having his witness testify to the defendant’s nonviolent nature, which is relevant to whether he committed the crime charged.
Note: The D’s reputation for truthfulness is not relevant to whether he has committed the crime for which
he is charged. (And because the defendant has not placed his credibility in issue by taking the stand as a witness, his reputation for truthfulness cannot be offered for impeachment purposes.)
A lawyer represented a sole proprietor in a federal income tax refund case in U.S. district court in which the sole proprietor was claiming certain additional business expense deductions based on sales expenses that had inadvertently been left off of his tax return for the year.
What is most likely protected from admission into evidence under the attorney-client
A) An employment contract between the sole proprietor and a salesperson drafted by the lawyer.
B) Sales records created by the sole proprietor, and provided to the lawyer to enable the lawyer to prepare for the litigation.
C) A letter sent to the lawyer by the sole proprietor detailing business expenses.
D) The sole proprietor’s tax return for the tax year in question, which was prepared by the lawyer.
A letter sent to the lawyer by the sole proprietor detailing business expenses.
The letter is a communication by a client to his attorney about a matter under litigation.
Note: The letter protected by the attorney-client privilege, the information contained in the letter, i.e., the sole proprietor’s business expenses, is not protected by this privilege
Note: B is incorrect because, even though the records were provided by the client to the lawyer and pertained to the legal matter at hand, the records were not prepared in order to obtain legal advice.
A telecommunications company retained a lawyer to represent it in a commercial dispute in which it was the plaintiff. The fee agreement provided that the lawyer would bill the company on an hourly basis but would not collect anything except costs “unless and until the telecommunications company received a recovery or settlement in the action.”
Due to disagreements with the lawyer’s strategy for the trial, the telecommunications company discharged the lawyer and hired a new law firm on a contingency basis to represent it in the case. The company was ultimately awarded a large judgment.
The original lawyer sued the company for her uncollected fees. The company denied owing the lawyer anything, asserting that no money was due yet because the judgment had not actually been collected. The lawyer wants to introduce evidence that the judgment has been collected by showing disbursements from the new law firm’s trust account to the telecommunications company.
Is this evidence admissible?
A) No, because the evidence is protected by the attorney-client privilege.
B) No, because the evidence is irrelevant.
C) Yes, because the evidence does not constitute a confidential communication covered by the attorney-client privilege.
D) Yes, because the attorney-client privilege does not apply to disputes between the client and the attorney.
C) Yes, because the evidence does not constitute a confidential communication covered by the attorney-client privilege.
The attorney-client privilege prevents anyone from testifying about confidential communications made to an attorney for the purpose of obtaining legal services.
BUT the payments made out of the trust account were not communications made for the purpose of obtaining representation, and are therefore not covered by this privilege.
Note: Although there is an exception to attorney-client privilege when there is a dispute between the attorney and the client, the dispute at issue is between the company and the original lawyer, not the company and the law firm that made this disbursement. Moreover, the payments made out of the trust account were not communications made for the purpose of obtaining representation, and are therefore not covered by this privilege.
A governmental inspector of a construction project was struck and injured by a truck. The inspector brought a negligence action against the construction firm, alleging that the driver of the truck was an employee of the firm. At trial, the head of the construction firm testified that the truck driver was an independent contractor. The inspector’s lawyer, in cross-examining the head of the construction firm, sought to ask whether the construction firm had purchased liability insurance for the truck.
Can the judge permit this question over the objection of the lawyer for the construction firm?
A) No, because evidence of liability insurance is inadmissible in a negligence action.
B) No, because whether the construction firm had liability insurance can only be proved by extrinsic evidence.
C) Yes, because evidence of liability insurance is subject to disclosure during discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
D) Yes, because the evidence tends to show that the truck driver was an employee of the construction firm.
D) Yes, because the evidence tends to show that the truck driver was an employee of the construction firm.
Other purpose: proving control
A plaintiff sued a defendant for injuries he suffered while shaving with a razor manufactured by the defendant. The plaintiff alleged that the razor was defectively designed. The plaintiff’s expert witness testified that the manufacturer should have used certain safeguards in the razor’s design that would have made the razor safer. In his testimony, the defendant did not deny that the safeguards urged by the plaintiff’s expert were feasible, but he argued that they were unnecessary and that the razor was not defectively designed. The plaintiff seeks to cross-examine the defendant about a safety modification the defendant has made to the razor since the plaintiff’s injury.
For which of the following substantive purposes may evidence of this modification be used?
A) Both to prove that the razor was defectively designed and to prove that the safeguards described by the expert were feasible.
B) Only to prove that the razor was defectively designed.
C) Only to prove that the safeguards described by the expert were feasible.
D) Neither to prove that the razor was defectively designed nor to prove that the safeguards described by the expert were feasible.
D) Neither to prove that the razor was defectively designed nor to prove that the safeguards described by the expert were feasible.
Plaintiff may not introduce evidence of remedial measure – feasibility unless the feasibility of such measures is disputed
A woman took out a loan from a large bank in order to start a new business. After she missed several payments, the bank sued the woman to collect the outstanding balance. In pre-trial settlement negotiations, the woman explained that she was unable to make the payments because her business was struggling. She noted that she should have listened to her boyfriend, who believed that debt would be the downfall of the country and that people should do whatever necessary to destroy big banks.
The parties eventually reached a compromise whereby the bank would extend the time to repay the loan, but would retain the right to sue under the original terms if the woman missed any payments. When the woman failed to make the payments, the bank properly reinstituted its suit against the woman.
At trial, the woman claimed that the loan contract was invalid because she was heavily medicated at the time she made the contract, and was thus incompetent. The woman has called her boyfriend to the stand to testify to these facts. The bank seeks to introduce the woman’s statements about her boyfriend made during the earlier settlement negotiations.
Are the woman’s statements about her boyfriend likely to be admitted?
A) No, because the statements were made during settlement negotiations.
B) No, because the statements are inadmissible hearsay.
C) Yes, because the statements prove bias or prejudice of a witness.
D) because the negotiations at issue resulted in a settlement agreement.
C) Yes, because the statements prove bias or prejudice of a witness.
Statements made during settlement negotiations are inadmissible to prove or disprove the validity or amount of a disputed claim. Such statements may be admitted for other purposes, however, such as to prove the bias or prejudice of a witness. In this case, the bank intends to introduce the woman’s statements about her boyfriend to show his bias against banks. Accordingly, they are admissible even though they were made during a settlement negotiation.
A customer sued a home improvement store for damages due to an alleged back injury that occurred when an employee driving a forklift backed into the unsuspecting customer who was facing the opposite direction. The store asserted that the forklift accident had not caused the customer’s injury. At trial, the customer seeks to introduce an affidavit of a physician, who has since died, that she examined the customer the day after the incident and concluded that the customer had suffered a back injury within the past 36 hours. Is this affidavit admissible?
A) No, because of the physician-patient privilege.
B) No, because it is inadmissible hearsay.
C) Yes, because it is recorded former testimony.
D) Yes, because it is a statement regarding a present physical condition.
B) No, because it is inadmissible hearsay.
Out of court statement? Yes
Used for the truth of the matter asserted? Yes
Is it hearsay (exemptions)? No
Exceptions? No
Note: * statement was not made by the customer about his own physical condition but by the physician – medical treatment exception does not apply
In a murder trial, the prosecutor planned to call an eyewitness to the stand to testify that he saw the defendant kill the victim. However, the witness recently suffered a severe head injury that seriously affected his memory. The witness can no longer remember witnessing the murder. Prior to the witness’s injury, he testified to what he saw before the grand jury.
The prosecutor would like to introduce the witness’s grand jury testimony as substantive evidence that the defendant committed the murder. The defendant objects to the introduction of the evidence. Should the court admit the witness’s grand jury testimony into evidence?
A) Yes, because the witness is unavailable to testify.
B) if used to refresh the witness’s recollection.
C) No, because the witness does not meet the “unavailability” standard.
D) No, because the former testimony exception does not apply to these facts.
D) No, because the former testimony exception does not apply to these facts.
Although the witness is “unavailable” for the purposes of the hearsay rules (as will be discussed below), and there is a “former testimony” exception to the hearsay rule, the former testimony exception does not apply to grand jury testimony.
Note that this WOULD be OK for prior inconsistent statement, but that’s not happening here.
A defendant was sued in civil court for assault. The defendant, as his first witness in his case in chief, called a friend to testify that, on the day before the day in question, the defendant had told her that he was leaving town that afternoon to drive across the country.
Is this testimony admissible to show that the defendant was not in town when the assault allegedly occurred?
A) Yes, because the defendant is available to testify.
B) Yes, because it is a declaration of the defendant’s present mental state.
C) No, because it is hearsay.
D) No, because the witness is biased.
B) Yes, because it is a declaration of the defendant’s present mental state.
A statement of present intent, motive, or plan can be used to prove conduct in conformity with that state of mind. Consequently, the defendant’s statement to his friend may be introduced into evidence to show that the defendant was not in town when the assault allegedly occurred.
A woman and her sister walked into the woman’s house. The woman went into her bedroom to say hello to her husband, while the sister waited in the other room. As soon as the woman walked into the bedroom, her sister heard her exclaim, “Where did you get all that money? There must be several thousand dollars on this dresser!” The woman came out of her bedroom shortly thereafter, and told her sister that the sister should leave immediately. That night, the woman called her sister and told her that her husband had robbed a bank. The husband was later arrested for bank robbery. At trial, the woman refused to testify against her husband, and the prosecution called the sister as a witness. The sister testified that the woman had said there was several thousand dollars on the dresser, and that the woman called her to tell her that the husband had robbed a bank. The husband objected to both pieces of testimony.
How should the judge rule regarding the sister’s testimony?
A) The judge should admit both pieces of testimony.
B) The judge should admit the testimony regarding the woman’s statement about the money on the dresser only.
C) The judge should admit the testimony regarding the woman’s statement about her husband robbing a bank only.
D) The judge should exclude both pieces of testimony.
B) The judge should admit the testimony regarding the woman’s statement about the money on the dresser only.
Excited Utterance/Present Sense Impression: woman made the statement immediately upon noticing the money on the dresser.
No exception for the later phone call.
A defendant was on trial for having committed a murder in 1995. Taking the stand, the defendant denied being present in the city where the murder occurred at the time of the killing. The prosecution sought to admit into evidence a copy of the local newspaper published the day after the killing. The newspaper contained an article in which the defendant was quoted as stating that he had heard shots on the day of the murder from inside his apartment. The defendant objected to the introduction of this evidence. Should the judge admit the newspaper article into evidence?
A) Yes, both to impeach the defendant’s credibility and to prove that he was in the city on the day of the murder.
B) Yes, but only for the purposes of impeaching the defendant’s credibility.
C) No, because the article is hearsay not within any exception.
D) No, because the article was not properly authenticated.
A) Yes, both to impeach the defendant’s credibility and to prove that he was in the city on the day of the murder.
Is it hearsay? No, inconsistent statement and opposing party statement
Newspaper exception: Ancient document
quote exception
In the prosecution of a defendant for murder, the state seeks to qualify a forensic analyst as an expert in order to have her testify as to her professional opinion of the crime scene. The defense has objected on the ground of inadequate qualifications. The prosecution now seeks to introduce a letter written by the editor-in-chief of a well-respected academic journal of forensic science, stating that the forensic analyst has published a number of well-reviewed papers on the subject of crime-scene analysis and is generally acknowledged in her field as very qualified.
On the issue of the forensic analyst’s qualifications, may the judge consider the editor’s letter?
A) Yes, because the letter is not hearsay.
B) Yes, because the judge may consider the letter without regard for the hearsay rule.
C) No, because the letter is hearsay not within any exception.
D) No, because it is the role of the jury to determine the credibility of the evidence of the forensic analyst’s qualifications.
B) Yes, because the judge may consider the letter without regard for the hearsay rule.
Whether a witness is qualified to offer expert opinion testimony is a preliminary question for the court—not the jury. The court is not bound by the rules of evidence when determining such questions.
A jurisdiction defines receiving stolen property as (i) receiving control of stolen property, (ii) with the knowledge that the property is stolen, and (iii) with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property. A defendant, charged with receiving stolen property after the police found a stolen television in his home, denied that he knew it was stolen. On cross-examination, the prosecutor asked the defendant, “Didn’t you also previously buy a stolen stereo from the same man who sold you this television?” The defendant’s attorney immediately objected.
What is the strongest basis for the defense attorney’s objection?
A) The probative value of the prosecutor’s question is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
B) The prosecutor’s question was irrelevant because it does not establish an element that the prosecutor must prove.
C) The relevance of the prosecutor’s question depends upon whether the defendant knew the stereo was stolen, and the prosecutor has not offered sufficient proof to support that finding.
D) The risk of unfair prejudice is not substantially outweighed by the probative value of the prosecutor’s question.
A) The probative value of the prosecutor’s question is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
A court may exclude relevant evidence when its probative value is substantially outweighed by a danger of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, wasting time, or needless cumulation of evidence.
Note: An FRE 403 objection requires that the court decide if the proffered evidence’s probative value is substantially outweighed by one of the above-listed dangers—not vice versa.
In his criminal trial for battery, a defendant sought to introduce evidence of his peaceful character. He had met the leader of a local animal rights group once during a recent animal rights demonstration in front of the mayor’s office, during which the defendant succeeded in calming down an angry group of protestors. The defendant planned to ask the group leader to testify about this incident to the jury. The prosecution objected to the introduction of this evidence.
How should the court rule on the objection?
A) Sustain the objection, because this testimony constitutes an inappropriate use of character evidence.
B) Sustain the objection, because the leader of the animal rights group only met the defendant once.
C) Overrule the objection, because the defendant may introduce evidence of his good character if relevant to the crime charged.
D) Overrule the objection, because specific acts are admissible in criminal cases if introduced by the defendant.
A) Sustain the objection, because this testimony constitutes an inappropriate use of character evidence.
A criminal defendant may introduce evidence that his/her character is inconsistent with the crime charged. But the defendant may only do so through reputation or opinion testimony—not specific acts of conduct.
A politician on trial for the misdemeanor assault and battery of a reporter asserts that the reporter started the altercation by shouting questions in his face and shoving him. At trial, the politician did not take the stand and did not introduce evidence of his own character, but he did call the reporter’s neighbor to testify that the reporter has a reputation among neighbors for violent outbursts. After the neighbor testified, the prosecution moved to introduce testimony by a community leader that the politician has a reputation for violence in the community as evidence that the politician started the altercation.
Is the prosecution’s evidence regarding the politician’s reputation admissible?
A) No, because the politician did not “open the door” to the introduction of evidence of his bad character by introducing evidence of his own good character.
B) No, because the politician’s character is not at issue, as he did not testify.
C) Yes, because the politician “opened the door” to the evidence of his bad character for violence by introducing evidence of the reporter’s character for violence.
D) Yes, because violence is an essential element of battery.
C) Yes, because the politician “opened the door” to the evidence of his bad character for violence by introducing evidence of the reporter’s character for violence.
A criminal defendant opens the door for the prosecution to introduce evidence of the defendant’s bad character by introducing:
(1) evidence of his/her own good character for a trait pertinent to the charged crime or
(2) evidence of the alleged victim’s bad character.
A defendant was charged with battery following a bar fight with his neighbor. At trial, the defendant asserted that he did not initiate the altercation, but instead acted in self-defense. In addition to testifying about the event in question, he sought to testify that the preceding night, he and a coworker had gone out for a drink at the same bar, and that the evening had passed peacefully. Prior to his own testimony, the defendant sought to introduce testimony of a lifelong acquaintance of the neighbor that, in the opinion of the acquaintance, the neighbor had a violent streak. After testifying, the defendant sought to introduce testimony of the pastor of the church that the defendant regularly attended that the defendant had a reputation among the members of the church as a nonviolent person. Following testimony introduced by the prosecution that impeached the defendant’s truthfulness, the defendant sought to introduce testimony of his employer that, in his opinion, the defendant was a truthful individual.
Which of the proffered testimony is most likely to be successfully challenged by the prosecution?
A) The testimony of the lifelong acquaintance of the neighbor regarding the neighbor’s violent streak.
B) The testimony of the defendant regarding his peaceful behavior on the night before the bar fight.
C) The testimony of the defendant’s pastor as to the defendant’s reputation as a nonviolent person.
D) The testimony of the defendant’s employer that the defendant was a truthful individual.
B) The testimony of the defendant regarding his peaceful behavior on the night before the bar fight.
A criminal defendant may introduce evidence that his character is inconsistent with the crime charged, but only through reputation or opinion testimony—not specific instances of conduct.
A defendant was charged with burglary. One of the key pieces of evidence in the case was a note left by the burglar that read, “It’s just 2 easy.” At trial, the defendant testified in his defense, asserting that he did not commit the crime. On cross-examination, the prosecutor, having a proper factual basis, asked the defendant if he had been convicted of felony burglary five years ago after having left a note at the crime scene that read, “It’s just 2 easy.” The defendant’s attorney, having received proper notice from the prosecutor regarding use of the prior conviction, objected to the prosecutor’s question as seeking to elicit improper criminal-propensity evidence. The court, after determining that the probative value of this evidence and its prejudicial effects were equal, overruled the objection and instructed the defendant to answer the question.
Has the court acted properly?
A) No, because evidence of the defendant’s prior conviction constitutes improper criminal-propensity evidence.
B) No, because the court did not find that the probative value of the conviction outweighed its prejudicial effects.
C) Yes, because the defendant may be impeached by a prior conviction of burglary within the last 10 years.
D) Yes, because the prior conviction helps establish the defendant as the perpetrator of the burglary for which he is on trial.
D) Yes, because the prior conviction helps establish the defendant as the perpetrator of the burglary for which he is on trial.
Evidence of a criminal defendant’s prior crimes or bad acts may be admissible for relevant, noncharacter purposes (i.e., MIMIC evidence). However, this and other relevant evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
A defendant was charged with aggravated assault arising from an altercation following a car accident. The defendant called a witness who testified that, in his opinion, the defendant was a nonviolent person. On cross-examination, the prosecutor asked the witness whether he was aware that the defendant had been involved in a bar fight during the past year. Although the defendant was actually involved in such a fight, the prosecutor herself was not aware of the incident, as the defendant had not been arrested or charged. However, the prosecutor had witnessed the defendant’s short temper during her interactions with the defendant and knew that he was a drinker. As it happened, the witness was aware of the defendant’s involvement in the fight.
Should the court require the witness to answer the prosecutor’s question?
A) Yes, because the witness’s knowledge of defendant’s past behavior goes to the witness’s credibility.
B) Yes, as a specific instance of the defendant’s conduct.
C) No, because the defendant was not arrested or charged in connection with the bar fight.
D) No, because the prosecution did not know the defendant had been involved in a bar fight.
D) No, because the prosecution did not know the defendant had been involved in a bar fight.
A criminal defendant may call a witness to testify that the defendant’s character is inconsistent with the charged crime.
The prosecution may then
(1) ask the witness about a specific act committed by the defendant or
(2) call another witness to provide reputation or opinion testimony on the defendant’s corresponding bad-character trait.
Here, the prosecutor asked the defendant’s character witness about a bar fight (specific act) the defendant had within the past year. This question would affect the witness’s credibility because it raises a doubt about the witness’s opinion that the defendant was a nonviolent person. But since the prosecution did not know the defendant had been involved in a bar fight, she asked the question on a hunch. Therefore, the question was not asked in good faith, and the court should not require the witness to answer it
A defendant was charged with assault. Upon learning that the defendant intended to testify in his own defense, the government gave the defense proper notice of its intent to introduce as impeachment evidence the defendant’s conviction for embezzlement nine years prior. The defense filed a motion to exclude all evidence of the defendant’s conviction, arguing that it would prejudice the defendant. In a pretrial hearing, the judge noted that the conviction would likely have little prejudicial effect.
Is the judge likely to grant the defendant’s motion?
A) No, because the conviction relates to a crime involving dishonesty and occurred within the last 10 years.
B) No, because the probative value of such a conviction outweighs its prejudicial effect.
C) Yes, because a prior conviction may not be used to impeach a defendant who testifies in his own defense.
D) Yes, because the conviction for embezzlement is not probative in determining whether the defendant committed an assault.
A) No, because the conviction relates to a crime involving dishonesty and occurred within the last 10 years.
Any witness can be impeached with evidence of a prior conviction for a crime involving dishonesty (e.g., embezzlement) if the conviction occurred within the previous 10 years.
Note: The embezzlement conviction is not probative in determining whether the defendant committed an assault. But the conviction may still be used to impeach the defendant’s character for truthfulness
A defendant is on trial for bank robbery. In seeking to prove that the defendant was the robber, the prosecution introduced a handwritten note given by the robber to the bank teller on her first day of work. The teller testified that the note presented to her on the witness stand was the note that she had received from the robber. The prosecution also seeks to have the teller testify as a lay witness that the handwriting on the note is that of the defendant, who was a bank customer, based on her comparison of the note with 10 customer signature cards, including the defendant’s, presented to her by the prosecutor after the robbery.
Is the teller’s testimony that the handwriting on the note matches that on the defendant’s customer signature card admissible?
A) No, because a lay witness may not testify as to whether a document is in a person’s handwriting.
B) No, because the teller’s familiarity with the defendant’s handwriting arose from the actions of the prosecutor.
C) Yes, because the process was not unduly suggestive since the prosecutor presented the teller with 10 customer signature cards.
D) Yes, because a lay witness may testify as to whether a document is in a person’s handwriting.
B) No, because the teller’s familiarity with the defendant’s handwriting arose from the actions of the prosecutor.
A lay witness with personal knowledge of a claimed author’s handwriting may testify as to whether a document is in that person’s handwriting. However, the lay witness must not have become familiar with the handwriting for the purpose of the current litigation.
A defendant was charged with fraud in connection with the sale of nutritional supplements. The prosecution alleged that the defendant verbally represented himself as a physician to convince elderly individuals to sign contracts authorizing the defendant to charge their credit cards monthly fees for deliveries of these supplements. In fact, the defendant had no medical training. The contracts did not identify the defendant as a physician, but the prosecution intended to introduce witness testimony that the defendant verbally represented himself as a physician. The sole issue in dispute is whether the defendant made such representations.
At trial, the prosecution introduced a photocopy of a contract between the defendant and one of the alleged victims in order to lay a foundation that the alleged victim bought supplements from the defendant. The defendant did not deny that the alleged victim bought supplements from him, but objected to the introduction of the contract on the ground that the prosecution was required to introduce an original contract under the best evidence rule. The court sustained the defendant’s objection.
Did the court err in making its ruling?
A) Yes, because the best evidence rule allows for the introduction of an original or duplicate document.
B) Yes, because the best evidence rule is not implicated in this case.
C) No, because the best evidence rule applies to a document that has a legal effect, such as a contract.
D) No, because a photocopy is not admissible when the absence of the original is not explained.
B) Yes, because the best evidence rule is not implicated in this case.
*Duplicates are admissible unless original’s authenticity is questioned or it would be unfair to admit them.
The best evidence rule requires that the original document or a reliable duplicate be produced to prove the contents of a writing. But this rule applies only when a witness is relying on the document when testifying or the contents of the document are at issue.
A boat owner initiated a products liability action against the manufacturer of the boat’s engine. The owner alleged that the engine manufacturer failed to warn the owner about the proper operation of a switch on the engine and that improper operation of the switch caused the owner’s injuries. The boat owner offered evidence that the manufacturer had begun including a written warning about the switch for all boats manufactured beginning in the year after the owner’s boat was manufactured. The owner had owned his boat for five years prior to his injury.
Is this evidence admissible?
A) No, because evidence of the manufacturer’s warning is inadmissible as a remedial measure.
B) No, because the remedial-measures exclusion is limited to negligence cases.
C) Yes, because the manufacturer began providing the warning before the boat owner’s accident.
D) Yes, because evidence of the need for a warning is not subject to the remedial-measures exclusion.
C) Yes, because the manufacturer began providing the warning before the boat owner’s accident.
Evidence of a remedial measure is inadmissible if it was undertaken by the defendant after the plaintiff was injured. A remedial measure undertaken before the plaintiff was injured is not subject to exclusion.
Two officers, a veteran and a novice, brought an experienced drug-sniffing dog on patrol one evening. They properly pulled over a driver on a bridge for erratic driving, and the veteran waited in the car to let the novice handle the stop. As the novice officer questioned the driver through the driver’s window, the dog circled the car and began barking and pawing desperately at the passenger-side door. The novice officer noticed that the driver had a package sitting on his passenger seat. When asked about the package, the driver responded that it was just meat from a butcher shop. As the novice officer stepped away from the window to write a ticket, the driver grabbed the package and threw it out of the passenger window and over the railing of the bridge. The dog immediately stopped barking. The veteran officer saw the whole event.
Assuming that the parties stipulate that the veteran is an expert in the training and reactions of drug-sniffing dogs, is the veteran officer’s testimony describing the dog’s reactions to the package admissible in a trial of the driver for possession of illegal drugs?
A) No, because the dog’s behavior was assertive conduct, making it hearsay not within any exception.
B) No, because the dog’s presence at the stop resulted in an improper search.
C) Yes, as evidence that the package contained illegal drugs.
D) Yes, because evidence generated by a machine or animal falls under an exception to the hearsay rule.
C) Yes, as evidence that the package contained illegal drugs.
The rule against hearsay bars the admission of an out-of-court statement made by a person—not a machine or animal—that is offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted therein.
Here, the prosecutor seeks to introduce the veteran officer’s testimony describing the dog’s reactions to the package. Although the dog’s behavior was assertive conduct, the veteran officer’s testimony does not implicate the hearsay rule because it relates to evidence generated by an animal
A witness to an armed robbery identified a suspect in a proper police lineup that was not attended by the suspect’s attorney. Charges were brought against the suspect, but the witness, a tourist from out of the country, had returned to her home country before the trial began. At trial, the prosecutor seeks to introduce the witness’s prior statement of identification into evidence. The defendant objects to the introduction of the evidence.
Should the court allow the prior statement of identification into evidence?
A) Yes, because it is admissible as nonhearsay.
B) Yes, because the witness is unavailable, so the statement of identification falls under a hearsay exception.
C) No, because the defendant’s attorney was not present at the identification.
D) No, because the witness is unavailable.
D) No, because the witness is unavailable.
A declarant’s prior statement that identifies a person as someone the declarant perceived earlier is nonhearsay if the declarant testifies and is subject to cross-examination about the statement.
Here, the witness’s statement identifies the defendant as someone the witness perceived earlier. But since the witness returned to her home country before trial, she is unavailable to testify and is not subject to cross-examination about her statement.