Bohannan v. Underwood

776 S.W.2d 827, 300 Ark. 110, 1989 Ark. LEXIS 424

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: October 2, 1989
• Docket: 89-107
• Status: Published

Opinions

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.

Appellant, Pamela Bohannan, admitted liability in this automobile collision case. The only issue tried to the jury was damages. The jury returned a verdict in favor of appellee Carol Underwood for $51,140. We affirm.

The sole issue raised by this appeal is whether the trial court erred in refusing to grant a mistrial because appellee testified that she was no longer financially able to see her doctor. Appellant argues that evidence of one’s pecuniary condition is highly prejudicial and should never be heard by a jury unless it is directly relevant to some issue in the case. We do not address the issue because it is raised for the first time in this appeal.

Obj ections to evidence must specify the grounds for the objection unless the specific grounds are apparent from the context. A.R.E. Rule 103(a)(1). The reason for this rule is clear. A timely, specific objection at trial is essential in order to afford the trial court the opportunity to rule. Error may not be predicated upon a ruling admitting evidence unless there is such a timely, specific objection. A.R.E. Rule 103(a)(1); Walt Bennett Ford, Inc. v. Brown, 283 Ark. 1, 670 S.W.2d 441 (1984).

The challenged testimony arose as follows;

A. Well, he said that he had done—

MR. SHARP: [Appellant’s attorney] Objection, Your Honor—

THE COURT; That would be hearsay.

THE WITNESS: How do I answer?

MR. GOLDIE: [Appellees’ attorney] You can’t say what Dr. Butler said, but in — in terms of the decision process, if there was something that Dr. Butler told you, you can say it was something Dr. Butler said, or if it’s another reason that you had, you can state your own reasons why, after those few months, you stopped going to Dr. Butler on a regular basis.

A. Uh, I couldn’t afford it.

MR. SHARP: Objection, Your Honor, that’s not proper—

THE COURT: What was—

MR. SHARP: —evidence.

THE COURT: What was the question?

MR. GOLDIE: The question was, after the few months of treatment she had with Dr. Butler, why did she stop going on a regular basis to Dr. Butler. And, her response was, that she could not afford it. I think that’s a legitimate question.

THE COURT: And, your objection is what?

(Whereupon, the following proceedings were had out of the hearing of the jury.)

MR. SHARP: (At the bench.) I don’t think that’s legitimate evidence, and I move for a mistrial.

THE COURT: (At the bench.) Well, I — I’ll overrule your motion.

Appellant never specified the ground now argued for her objection, and it is not readily apparent from the context. Consequently, she is precluded from asserting it for the first time on appeal.

Affirmed.

Purtle, J., concurs. Glaze, J., not participating.