Section 11.2 Character at Issue

• Library: Evidence 2017

II. (§11.2) Character at Issue

Courts admit character evidence when a person’s character is directly in issue as an element of a claim or defense, or to assess damages. See Foster v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co., 14 S.W.2d 561, 572 (Mo. 1928) (evidence of one’s good character was admissible in action for malicious prosecution to assess harm to plaintiff); see also Boyers v. Lindhorst, 216 S.W. 536, 537 (Mo. 1919) (evidence of general bad character of plaintiff was admissible on the issue of probable cause and...