Pavlos Ex Rel. Pavlos v. Albuquerque National Bank

487 P.2d 187, 82 N.M. 759
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 18, 1971
Docket612
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 487 P.2d 187 (Pavlos Ex Rel. Pavlos v. Albuquerque National Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pavlos Ex Rel. Pavlos v. Albuquerque National Bank, 487 P.2d 187, 82 N.M. 759 (N.M. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinions

OPINION

WOOD, Judge.

The appeal in this automobile accident case involves (1) the exclusion of non-expert opinion testimony; (2) a directed verdict against defendant on the issue of liability; and (3) a directed verdict against the non-driver co-owner of the car who was present in the car when the accident occurred. The appeal is from the judgment in favor of Catherine Pavlos.

The Pavlos vehicle was proceeding in a southerly direction within its lane of travel. The Brint vehicle was approaching the Pavlos vehicle from the south. The Brint vehicle was observed coming across the highway until it was approximately five feet in the lane of travel of the Pavlos car. This maneuver by the Brint car was in a normal manner; that is, not erratically. The Brint vehicle then moved back into its proper lane, again in what appeared to be in a normal manner. It then swerved diagonally across the highway.

The driver of the Pavlos car had observed the Brint car when it first crossed into the lane of travel of the Pavlos car. The driver of the Pavlos car started slowing his vehicle and moved to the right. The collision between the cars occurred at, or slightly west of, the western edge of the lane of travel for southbound vehicles. The point of impact on the Pavlos car was the left front, on the Brint car the point of impact was at the doorpost between the front and back doors on the right-hand side of the car.

The accident happened in daylight. The road was straight but “hilly.” The road surface was dry. All witnesses who testified on the point said it was windy.

Mr. and Mrs. Brint died from injuries suffered in the collision. Mrs. Brint was driving. It was stipulated that Mr. and Mrs. Brint were the owners of the car.

Exclusion of non-expert opinion testimony.

Defendant attempted to present evidence, through the witness Teague, that wind conditions caused the Brint vehicle to swerve across the highway into the path of the Pavlos car. No attempt was made to qualify Teague as an expert on wind conditions or as to the effect of wind on the Brint car. His opinion was asked as a non-expert.

In presenting this issue, defendant argues that non-expert testimony may be received in certain instances. We agree. State v. Cooley, 19 N.M. 91, 140 P. 1111, 52 L.R.A.,N.S., 230 (1914) holds that where descriptive language is inadequate to convey the precise facts to the jury, or the bearing of the facts on the issue, the description of the witness must of necessity be allowed to be supplemented by his opinion. See also Skala v. N. Y. Life Ins. Co., 24 N.M. 78, 172 P. 1046 (1918). As stated in Padgett v. Buxton-Smith Mercantile Company, 262 F.2d 39 (10th Cir. 1958), cert. denied 365 U.S. 828, 81 S.Ct. 713, 5 L.Ed.2d 705 (1961) : “ * * * all non-expert opinion and impression evidence is competent if It is necessary or appropriate to reproduce the witness’ knowledge of the pertinent ■facts. * * * ”

Some of the New Mexico decisions applying this non-expert opinion rule are: State v. Chavez, 77 N.M. 274, 421 P.2d 796 (1966)—experienced lay witness testified as to reaction of narcotics drug users; State v. Ortega, 77 N.M. 7, 419 P.2d 219 (1966)—insanity; State v. Deming, 66 N.M. 175, 344 P.2d 481, 77 A.L.R.2d 964 (1959), and Bunton v. Hull, 51 N.M. 5, 177 P.2d 168 (1947)—speed; Skala v. N. Y. Life Ins. Co., supra—despondent mood; State v. Cooley, supra—appearance of friendly relations.

The issue here is not whether, as a general proposition, non-expert opinion may be received; the issue is whether a sufficient “basis was presented to permit receipt of the mon-expert opinion.

Teague, driving south about one-fourth ■mile behind the Pavlos vehicle, was on a ■downhill slope and had a view of the area where the accident occurred. He saw some •of the events which took place shortly before the collision and also saw the collision. He testified the wind was blowing “strong,” that there were cuts “all along there” that “ * * * would cause the wind to slack up its speed anywhere in there.” He also testified that at the place where the accident occurred the road was not between hills or -cliffs close to the road.

Teague testified he took the “ * * * ordinary precaution you take with driving with the wind on your side. * * * ” “ * * [T]here were dust devils all down through there.” There was a dust devil “ * * * coming in that area right about the time of the impact. * * * ” The two cars were approaching and “ * * * the northbound -car was in its lane and the next moment I saw it there was an impact, * * * and dust right at that point of impact.” Teague couldn’t state the angle of the Brint car as he approached, but when he got to the accident scene the Brint car “ * * * was straight across the road, * * * it was •east and west.”

After the above evidence was received, defendant tendered the following question and answer:

“Q. Mr. Teague, based upon what you observed there at the scene, and what you had experienced in the way of weather conditions and all other factors, and based upon your prior driving experience, do you have an opinion as to what caused the northbound car to go over into the southbound lane ?
“A. All through that area there is these cuts, as I have described, and my opinion is as she was coming out of one of these cuts one of the gusts hit her car and caused her to swerve into that lane. That is my only conclusion. It was like an unavoidable accident as far as I am concerned.”

The trial court correctly refused to pex-mit this qxxestion and answer in evidence. In so holding we disregard the following: (1) the fact that we have no idea what was meant by “all other factors;” (2) the fact that the evidence of prior driving experience was only that Teague was familiar with the road, having “traveled” it several times; and (3) that the answer, “like an unavoidable accident” raises a question as to an inadmissible opinion on a matter of law. See Beal v. Southern Union Gas Co., 66 N.M. 424, 349 P.2d 337, 84 A.L.R.2d 1269 (1960).

We consider only that portion of the question concerning Teague’s observations at the scene and his experience “in the way of weather conditions.”

In each of the New Mexico cases cited above on the non-expert opinion rule, personal observation is a key factor in permitting the opinion. 7 Wigmore, Evidence § 1928, at 24 (3rd ed. 1940), in arguing for the non-expert opinion rxxle which New Mexico has adopted, bases his justification for the admission of such testimony on the personal observations of the witness.

An examination of Teague’s testimony reveals that he never testified that he observed a cut near the accident scene, never said a dust devil was near the accident scene or the Brint car and never testified that he obr served the movement of the Brint car when it left its lane of travel and moved across the highway to the point of collision. His observations, as to wind conditions at the scene simply are too general.

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487 P.2d 187, 82 N.M. 759, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pavlos-ex-rel-pavlos-v-albuquerque-national-bank-nmctapp-1971.