Is It Admissible?
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Summary Table of Contents
Overview
Chapter 1
Argumentative Questions
Chapter 2
Best Evidence Rule
Chapter 3
Questions Calling for a Conclusion
Chapter 4
Questions That Assume Unproven Facts
Chapter 5
Hearsay Rule
Chapter 6
Irrelevant or Immaterial Questions
Chapter 7
Leading Questions
Chapter 8
Multiple Questions
Chapter 9
Privilege
Chapter 10
Repetitive Questions
Chapter 11
Speculative Questions
Chapter 12
Vague Questions
Chapter 13-19
[Reserved]
Chapter 20
Basics of Documentary Evidence
Chapter 21
Governmental Documents
Chapter 22
Private Sector Business Records
Chapter 23
Personal Documents
Chapter 24
Published Writings
Chapter 25
Legal Documents
Chapter 26-29
[Reserved]
Chapter 30
Basics of Real Evidence
Chapter 31
Physical Objects
Chapter 32
Samples
Chapter 33
People
Chapter 34
Animals
Chapter 35
Views
Chapter 36
On-Site Recordings
Chapter 37-39
[Reserved]
Chapter 40
Basics of Demonstrative Evidence
Chapter 41
Models
Chapter 42
Maps, Charts, Graphs and Diagrams
Chapter 43
Documents
Chapter 44
Photographs, Slides, Films and Videos
Chapter 45
Audiotapes
Chapter 46
Finger, Foot and Palm Prints
Chapter 47
Computer-Generated Materials
Chapter 48
Live Demonstrations
Chapter 49
Internal Pictures
Appendix A
Table of Cases
Index
Table of Contents
Overview
Part I - Testimonial Evidence
Chapter 1 Argumentative Questions
§1.100
Introduction
§1.200
Quick Explanation
§1.300
General Legal Analysis
§1.400
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapter 2 Best Evidence Rule
§2.100
Introduction
§2.200
Quick Explanation
§2.300
General Legal Analysis
§2.400
Parol Evidence Rule
§2.500
Interaction With Hearsay Rule
§2.600
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapter 3 Questions Calling for a
Conclusion
§3.100
Introduction
§3.200
Quick Explanation
§3.300
Legal Analysis for Non-Expert Witnesses
§3.400
Legal Analysis for Expert Witnesses
§3.500
Foundations
§3.600
Calling Another Witness a Liar
§3.700
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapter 4 Questions That Assume
Unproven Facts
§4.100
Introduction
§4.200
Quick Explanation
§4.300
General Legal Analysis
§4.400
Timeliness
§4.500
Differential Diagnosis
§4.501
Examiner Suspects Truth of Assumed Facts
§4.502
Assumed Facts Totally Lacking
§4.503
Hypothetical Questions for Expert Witnesses
§4.600
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapter 5 Hearsay Rule
§5.100
Introduction
§5.200
Quick Explanation
§5.300
General Legal Analysis
§5.400
Hearsay Exceptions
§5.401
Former Testimony
§5.401.1
State Application
§5.402
Past Recollection Recorded
§5.402.1
State Application
§5.403
Declarations Against Interest
§5.403.1
State Application
§5.404
Admissions
§5.404.1
State Application
§5.405
Prior Inconsistent Statements
§5.405.1
State Application
§5.406
Statements of Mental or Physical Condition
§5.406.1
State Application
§5.407
Dying Declarations
§5.407.1
State Application
§5.408
Spontaneous or Contemporaneous Declarations
§5.408.1
State Application
§5.409
Statements of Reputation
§5.409.1
State Application
§5.410
Business Records and Other Documents
§5.410.1
State Application
§5.411
Residual Exception
§5.411.1
State Application
§5.500
Comparative Chart — Hearsay Exceptions
Chapter 6 Irrelevant or Immaterial
Questions
§6.100
Introduction
§6.200
Quick Explanation
§6.300
General Legal Analysis
§6.400
Problems Pertaining to Criminal Cases
§6.500
Problems Pertaining to Civil Cases
§6.600
Detecting Irrelevancy
§6.700
Relevancy/Irrelevancy as a Matter of Law
§6.701
Character Evidence
§6.701(a)
Prior Crimes
§6.702
Habit Evidence
§6.703
Subsequent Remedial Measures
§6.704
Evidence of Offer of Compromise
§6.705
Payment of Medical Bills
§6.706
Evidence of Pleas
§6.707
Liability Insurance Exclusion
§6.708
Sex Crimes
§6.800
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapter 7 Leading Questions
§7.100
Introduction
§7.200
Quick Explanation
§7.300
General Legal Analysis
§7.400
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapter 8 Multiple Questions
§8.100
Introduction
§8.200
Quick Explanation
§8.300
General Legal Analysis
§8.400
Questions Calling for a Narrative
§8.500
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapter 9 Privilege
§9.100
Introduction
§9.200
Quick Explanation
§9.300
General Legal Analysis
§9.400
State Rules
§9.500
The Privileges Individually Considered
§9.501
Lawyer - Client Privilege
§9.501.1
State Application
§9.501(a)
Paralegal Privilege
§9.502
The Work Product Doctrine
§9.503
Doctor - Patient Privilege
§9.503.1
State Application
§9.504
Therapist - Patient Privilege
§9.504.1
State Application
§9.505
Accountant - Client Privilege
§9.505.1
State Application
§9.506
Clergyman - Penitent Privilege
§9.506.1
State Application
§9.507
Husband - Wife Privilege
§9.507.1
State Application
§9.508
Parent - Child Privilege
§9.508.1
State Application
§9.509
Informant - Police Privilege
§9.509.1
State Application
§9.510
Journalist - News Source Privilege
§9.510.1
State Application
§9.511
Confidential Institutional Communications
§9.511.1
State Application
§9.512
Privilege Against Self-Incrimination
§9.512.1
State Application
§9.513
Self-Critical Analysis Privilege
Chapter 10 Repetitive Questions
§10.100
Introduction
§10.200
Quick Explanation
§10.300
General Legal Analysis
§10.400
Questions That Are Cumulative or Waste Time
§10.500
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapter 11 Speculative Questions
§11.100
Introduction
§11.200
Quick Explanation
§11.300
General Legal Analysis
§11.400
Lay Witnesses
§11.500
Experts and Existing Forms of Evidence
§11.600
Experts and New Forms of Evidence
§11.601
Frye Rule
§11.602
Fed. R. Evid. 702
§11.603
Daubert v. Dow - 1993
§11.604
Kumho v.
§11.605
Amendment to Rule 702
§11.700
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapter 12 Vague Questions
§12.100
Introduction
§12.200
Quick Explanation
§12.300
General Legal Analysis
§12.400
Selected State Rules and Cases
Chapters 13-19 Reserved for
Supplementation
Part II - Documentary Evidence
Chapter 20 Basics of Documentary
Evidence
§20.100
Introduction
§20.200
Best Evidence Rule
§20.300
Parol Evidence Rule
§20.400
Completeness Rule
§20.500
Hearsay Rule
§20.501
Multiple Hearsay
§20.600
Remaining Chapters in This Part
§20.700
Generic Foundation for Admissibility of Documents
Chapter 21 Governmental Documents
§21.100
Introduction
§21.200
Basic Foundation for Governmental Documents
§21.300
Opposition Checklist
§21.400
Specific Documents
§21.401
Accident Reports
§21.401(a)
Aircraft Accident Reports
§21.401(b)
Automobile Accident Reports
§21.401(c)
Consumer Products Accident Reports
§21.401(d)
Environmental Reports
§21.402
Automotive and Vehicular Records
§21.403
Autopsy Reports
§21.404
Birth Certificates
§21.404(a)
Marriage Certificates
§21.405
Booklets
§21.406
Breathalyzer Maintenance Records
§21.407
Citations and Traffic Tickets
§21.408
Codes
§21.409
Death Certificates
§21.410
DNA Matching Test Results
§21.411
E-Mail
§21.412
Foreign Public Documents
§21.413
Investigative Reports
§21.413(a)
Internal Investigative Reports
§21.413(b)
Investigator’s Interview Notes
§21.414
Lie Detector Results
§21.415
Maps
§21.416
Medical Reports and Findings
§21.417
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Test Results
§21.418
Pamphlets
§21.419
Polygraph Test Results
§21.420
Reprimands
§21.421
Safety Standards and Codes
§21.422
Scientific Reports
§21.423
Thermographic Test Results
§21.424
Traffic Tickets
§21.425
Weather Reports
§21.426
Administrative Agency Reports and Orders
§21.427
Arrest and Incarceration Records
§21.428
Tax Assessments
§21.429
Summaries
§21.430
Foreign Official Documents
Chapter 22 Private Sector Business
Records
§22.100
Introduction
§22.200
Basic Foundation for Business Records
§22.300
Opposition Checklist
§22.400
Specific Records
§22.401
Accident Reports
§22.402
Appraisals
§22.403
Bills and Statements of Account
§22.403(a)
Bills of Lading
§22.403(b)
Charge Slips
§22.403(c)
Bills of Sale
§22.403(d)
Invoices
§22.403(e)
Statements of Benefits or Contributions
§22.403(f)
Financial Statements and Records
§22.403(g)
Receipts
§22.404
Business Records, In General
§22.404(a)
Business Logs
§22.404(b)
Suspension Orders
§22.405
Canceled Checks
§22.406
Computer-Generated Documents
§22.407
Consumer Complaints
§22.408
Corporate Memos
§22.408(a)
Corporate Minutes
§22.409
Customer Lists
§22.410
DNA Matching Test Results
§22.411
E-Mail
§22.412
Employment Records
§22.412(a)
Payroll Scales
§22.412(b)
Time Cards
§22.412(c)
Audits of Payroll Records
§22.413
Garbage
§22.414
Industry or Trade Standards
§22.415
Insurance Records
§22.416
Letters
§22.416(a)
Service Bulletins, Warnings and Notices to Customers
§22.416(b)
Settlement Letters
§22.417
Lie Detector Results
§22.418
Manufacturer Specification Booklets
§22.418(a)
Training Manuals
§22.419
Maps
§22.420
Medical and Hospital Records
§22.420(a)
Doctors’ Notations
§22.420(b)
Nursing Home Records
§22.420(c)
Physicians’ Letters
§22.420(d)
Nurses’ Notes
§22.420(e)
Ambulance Call Report
§22.421
Medical Bills
§22.422
Mortgage Applications
§22.423
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Test Results
§22.424
Polygraph Test Results
§22.425
Reports, In General
§22.425(a)
Personnel Records
§22.425(b)
Engineering Reports
§22.426
Sales Agreements/Contracts
§22.427
Scientific Reports
§22.427(a)
Experts’ Reports
§22.428
Summaries
§22.429
Telephone Bills
§22.430
Thermographic Test Results
§22.431
Toxicology and Safety Tests
§22.432
Trade Secrets
§22.433
Vote Buying Account Records
§22.434
Comments and Notations
Chapter 23 Personal Documents
§23.100
Introduction
§23.200
Foundations
§23.300
Opposition
§23.400
Specific Documents
§23.401
Ancient Writings
§23.402
Bible Entries
§23.402(a)
Budgets and Personal Ledgers
§23.403
Complaint Letters
§23.404
Diary Entries
§23.405
E-Mail
§23.406
Garbage
§23.407
Insurance Policies
§23.408
Letters
§23.408(a)
Anonymous Letters
§23.408(b)
Letters of Explanation
§23.409
Personal Memos and Notes
§23.409(a)
Personal Tax Returns
§23.410
Postal Certificates of Mailing
§23.411
Promissory Notes
§23.412
Surveys and Questionnaires
§23.413
Telephone Bills
§23.414
§23.415
Spontaneous Written Declarations
§23.416
Personal Resume
Chapter 24 Published Writings
§24.100
Introduction
§24.200
Specific Writings
§24.200(a)
Advertisements and Brochures
§24.201
Bibles
§24.201(a) Religious Writings
§24.202
Learned Treatises
§24.202(a) Dictionaries
§24.202(b) Handbooks
§24.203
Magazine and Newspaper Articles
§24.204
Market Reports
§24.205
Medical Articles
§24.206
Medical Textbooks
§24.206(a)
Mortality Tables
§24.206(b)
The Physician’s Desk Reference
§24.207
Newspaper Articles
§24.208
Weather Reports
Chapter 25 Legal Documents
§25.100
Introduction
§25.200
Specific Documents
§25.201
Affidavits
§25.202
Ancient Writings
§25.203
Answers to Interrogatories
§25.204
Assignment of Interest in Property
§25.205
Briefs
§25.206
Contracts
§25.207
Deposition Transcripts
§25.208
Former Testimony
§25.209
Pleadings, Generally
§25.210
Prior Expert Witness Testimony
§25.210(a)
Report of Expert
§25.211
Witness Statements
§25.212
Promissory Notes
§25.213
Judgments
§25.214
Letters
§25.215
Inventory (Verified)
§25.216
Deeds
Chapters 26-29 Reserved for
Supplementation
Part III - Real Evidence
Chapter 30 Basics of Real Evidence
§30.100
Introduction
§30.200
Admissibility in General
§30.300
Care and Handling
Chapter 31 Physical Objects
§31.100
Introduction
§31.200
Admissibility
§31.300
Foundation Requirements
§31.400
Opposition
§31.401
Checklist: Real Object Attack
Chapter 32 Samples
§32.100
Introduction
§32.200
Admissibility
§32.300
Foundation Requirements (Type 1)
§32.400
Foundation Requirements (Type 2)
§32.500
Checklist: Sample Attack
Chapter 33 People
§33.100
Introduction
§33.200
Admissibility
§33.201
Limbs and Other Portions of the Body
§33.202
Blood, Hair, Tissue and DNA Samples
§33.300
Foundation Requirements
§33.400
Opposition
Chapter 34 Animals
§34.100
Introduction
§34.200
Admissibility
§34.300
Foundation Requirements
Chapter 35 Views
§35.100
Introduction
§35.200
Admissibility
§35.300
Foundation Requirements
§35.400
Checklist: View Opposition
§35.500
Counter-Argument
Chapter 36 On-Site Recordings
§36.100
Introduction
§36.200
Definition
§36.201
Distinguishing Demonstrative Recordings (Three-Part Test)
§36.202
Types of On-Site Recordings
§36.300
Admissibility
§36.301
Surveillance Cameras
§36.302
Manual Cameras
§36.303
Audiotaped Sounds and Conversations
§36.304
Transportation Devices
§36.305
Recorded Electromagnetic Transmissions
§36.400
Sample Generic Foundation
Chapters 37-39 Reserved for
Supplementation
Part IV - Demonstrative Evidence
Chapter 40 Basics of Demonstrative
Evidence
§40.100
Introduction
§40.200
Skeletal Foundation—Formal Admissibility
§40.300
Skeletal Foundation—Use for Demonstrative Purposes Only
§40.400
Summary of Key Buzzwords
§40.500
Checklist: Opposition
§40.600
New Forms of Demonstrative Evidence
Chapter 41 Models
§41.100
Introduction
§41.200
Foundation Requirements
§41.201
Sample Foundation for Models
§41.300
Use for Demonstrative Purposes Only
§41.400
Opposition
Chapter 42 Maps, Charts, Graphs and
Diagrams
§42.100
Introduction
§42.200
Maps
§42.201
Sample Foundation for Maps
§42.202
Opposition
§42.300
Charts, Graphs and Diagrams
§42.301
Foundations for Charts, Graphs and Diagrams
§42.302
Sample Foundation for Charts, Graphs and Diagrams
§42.303
Use for Demonstrative Purposes Only
§42.400
Opposition
Chapter 43 Documents
§43.100
Introduction
§43.200
Foundation Requirements
Chapter 44 Photographs, Slides, Films
and Videos
§44.100
Introduction
§44.200
Major Types of Photographic Evidence
§44.300
Photographs and Slides
§44.301
Foundation Requirements
§44.302
Sample Foundations for Slides and Photographs
§44.400
Films and Videos
§44.401
Sample Foundation for Videotapes or Films
§44.500
Day-in-the-Life Videos
§44.600
General Opposition to Photographic Evidence
Chapter 45 Audiotapes
§45.100
Introduction
§45.200
Foundation Requirements
§45.201
Sample Foundation for Audiotapes
§45.300
Opposition
Chapter 46 Finger, Foot, and Palm
Prints
§46.100
Introduction
§46.200
Foundation Requirements
§46.201
Sample Foundation for Fingerprints
Chapter 47 Computer-Generated Materials
§47.100
Introduction
§47.200
Computer-Stored Records and Property
§47.300
Computer-Generated Statistics
§47.400
Computer-Generated Simulations
§47.401
Sample Foundation for Simulations
§47.500
Computer-Generated Reconstructions
§47.501
Sample Foundation for Reconstructions
§47.600
Computer-Generated Animation and Graphics
§47.700
Opposition
Chapter 48 Live Demonstrations
§48.100
Introduction
§48.200
Foundation Requirements
§48.201
Admission Checklist
§48.202
Sample Foundation for Demonstrations
§48.300
Opposition
§48.400
Recording
Chapter 49 Internal Pictures
§49.100
Introduction
§49.200
Foundation Requirements
§49.201
Sample Foundation (By Custodian of Records)
§49.300
Opposition
Appendix A Responding to Objections at
a Glance
§A.100
Introduction
§A.200
Objections as to Form
§A.201
Objection! The Question Is Argumentative
§A.202
Objection! Calls for a Conclusion
§A.203
Objection! The Question Is Leading
§A.204
Objection! The Question Is Multiple (or Compound)
§A.205
Objection! The Question Is Repetitive
§A.206
Objection! The Question Is Vague
§A.300
Objections as to Substance
§A.301
Objection! Best
Evidence
§A.302
Objection! Parol
Evidence
§A.303
Objection! The Question Assumes Facts Not in Evidence
§A.304
Objection! Hearsay
§A.305
Objection! Irrelevant
§A.306
Objection! Privilege
§A.307
Objection! Speculative
§A.400
Foolish Objections
§A.401
Objection! The Question Is Prejudicial
§A.402
(On Cross-Examination) Objection! The Question Is Leading
§A.403
Objection! The Document Speaks for Itself
§A.404
Objection! The Evidence Is Self-Serving
Table of Cases
Index
Updated 04/06/12
