Krueger v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
707 F.2d 312 (1983)
Florence Krueger (plaintiff) sued State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (defendant) after her husband Joseph died in an automobile accident. At trial, eyewitness Anthony Castelli clearly described his direct observations of the accident, but when Mrs. Krueger's attorney asked whether he thought the accident was avoidable, the judge sustained State Farm's objection to that question. After the jury returned a verdict for State Farm, Mrs. Krueger appealed, arguing the judge erred by excluding Castelli's opinion testimony.
Whether a lay witness's inferences or opinions are only admissible if they are rationally based on the witness's perception and helpful to a clear understanding of the witness's testimony or a determination of a fact in issue.