Evidentiary Objections and Evidence Rulings

• Author: Edward L. Birnbaum/Carl T. Grasso/Ariel E. Belen
• Pages: 309-358

EVIDENTIARY

OBJECTIONS, RULINGS

29-1

CHAPTER 29

EVIDENTIARY OBJECTIONS

AND EVIDENCE RULINGS

I. MAKING OBJECTIONS

A. General Points

§29:01 What Is an Objection?

§29:02 Purpose of Objection

§29:03 Objecting to Non-Testimonial Evidence

§29:04 Objecting to Testimony

§29:05 Tactical Objections

§29:06 Keep Objections to Minimum

§29:07 Objection Required to Preserve Error for Review

§29:08 Exception: Fundamental Error

B. Form of Objection

§29:20 Length

§29:21 General Objection

§29:22 Specif‌ic Objection

§29:23 Continuing Objection

C. Arguing Objections

§29:30 First and Second Department Rules

§29:31 Timing of Argument

§29:32 Argument at Side Bar

§29:33 Judge Need Not Explain Ruling

II. GROUNDS FOR OBJECTIONS

A. Relevance and Prejudice

1. Relevance

§29:40 Def‌inition

§29:41 Trial Court’s Discretion

§29:42 Admissibility

§29:43 Evidence Made Relevant by Statute

§29:44 Evidence Made Inadmissible by Statute

2. Specif‌ic Relevance Issues

§29:50 Lay Opinion

§29:51 Speculation, Surmise, or Conjecture

§29:52 Similar Past Conduct

§29:53 Character Evidence

§29:54 Settlements, Offers to Compromise and No Fault Benef‌its

§29:55 Prior Accidents

EVIDENTIARY

OBJECTIONS, RULINGS

New York Trial Notebook 29-2

§29:56 Subsequent Remedial Measures

§29:57 Insurance Coverage

§29:58 Miscellaneous Examples

3. Prejudice

§29:70 Trial Court’s Discretion

§29:71 Factors

B. Lack of Foundation

§29:80 Authentication of Documents

§29:81 Best Evidence Rule

§29:82 Witness Competence

§29:83 Facts Not in Evidence

§29:84 Waiver

C. Hearsay

1. Hearsay Rule

§29:90 Hearsay Def‌ined

§29:91 Admissibility

§29:92 Admissions by a Party

2. Exceptions

a. General Points

§29:100 Purpose

§29:101 Burden to Establish Exception Is on Proponent

§29:102 Declarant’s Availability

§29:103 Dead Man’s Statute

b. Declarant Must Be Available

§29:110 Prior Inconsistent Statements

§29:111 Past Recollection Recorded

c. Declarant Must Be Unavailable

§29:120 Declarations Against Interest

§29:121 Former Testimony

§29:122 Pedigree and Family History

d. Declarant’s Availability Irrelevant

§29:130 Admissions by a Party

§29:131 Statements Part of the “Res Gestae”

§29:132 State of Mind

§29:133 Business Records

§29:134 Records of Findings of State Department of Health

§29:135 “ Verbal Acts”

§29:136 Materials Relied Upon by Experts

D. Privilege

§29:140 Narrowly Construed

§29:141 Recognized Evidentiary Privileges

E. Cumulative

§29:150 Court’s Discretion

§29:151 Application

F. Objections to Form of Question

§29:160 Purpose of Objecting to Form

§29:161 Leading

§29:162 Vague

§29:163 Compound

§29:164 Argumentative

§29:165 Asked and Answered

G. Failure to Timely Disclose

§29:166 Failure to Provide Discovery

§29:167 Failure to Produce Newly Acquired Materials

EVIDENTIARY

OBJECTIONS, RULINGS

29-3 Evidentiary Objections and Evidence Rulings

III. EVIDENCE RULINGS AND RESPONSES

A. Evidence Rulings

§29:170 Possible Rulings

B. Offers of Proof

§29:180 Def‌inition and Purpose

§29:181 How to Make

C. Motion to Strike

§29:190 Purpose and Effect

§29:191 Grounds for Motion

§29:192 Timing