美国纽约州律师资格考试各科提纲 �C 证据法则

融经国际商法咨询服务Gnosis&PraxisInt’lCommercial&RegulatoryConsulting1美国纽约州律师资格考试各科提纲–证据法则EVIDENCERELEVANCEBasicRuleDEFINITION:oEvidenceisrelevantifithasanytendencytomakeamaterialfactmoreprobableorlessprobablethanwouldbethecasewithouttheevidenceRULE:oAllrelevantisadmissibleDualPurposeEvidence:Whenevidenceisadmissibleforonepurpose,butinadmissibleforanotherpurpose,thejudgewillgivethejuryalimitinginstructionGeneralException:PragmaticConsiderationsoCourthasdiscretiontomakedeterminationthatprobativevalueofevidenceissubstantiallyoutweighedbypragmaticconsiderationsUnfairprejudiceConfusionOfissuesMisleadingjuryWasteofTimeUnduedelayWasteoftimeUndulycumulativeoNOTE:unfairsurpriseisneverareasontoexcludeevidencePolicy-BasedExclusionsEvidenceRuleInadmissiblePurposeAdmissiblePurposeLiabilityInsuranceEvidencethatapersonhas(ordoesnothave)liabilityinsurance…ProvingfaultAbsenceoffaultOwnershipControlImpeachmentSubsequentRemedialMeasuresRepairs,designchanges,orpolicychangestakeafteranaccidentthatcouldhavepreventedtheaccidentNegligenceCulpableConductProductdefectFailuretoWarnOwnershipControlFeasibilityofasafercondition(Dmustputinissue)NY:manufacturingdefectbasedonstrictliabilityCONTRAST:inadesigndefectorfailuretowarn,post-manufacturemodificationadmissibleonlytodefeatthe融经国际商法咨询服务Gnosis&PraxisInt’lCommercial&RegulatoryConsulting2manufacturer’sclaimthatatthetimeofmanufacture,suchmodificationswerenotfeasible.Evenifthemanufacturerconcedesfeasibility,theevidenceofmodificationisinadmissible.SettlementorOfferstoSettleorStatementsmadeinSettlementDiscussionsIfthereisdisputedclaimatthetimeofthediscussion(eitherastovalidityoramount)…LiabilityImpeachmentforbiasOfferstoPayMedicalExpensesEvidencethatapartyhaspaidorofferedtopayanaccidentvictimshospitalormedicalexpensesLiabilityNOTE:Statementsmadeinconnectionwithanoffertopaymedicalexpensesareadmissibleandnotincludedinthisrule.PleaandPleaDiscussionsinCriminalCasesInapendingcriminallitigationorasubsequentcivilcaseOffertopleadguiltyWithdrawnguiltypleaNolocontendeStatementoffactmadeduringanyoftheaboveNY:withdrawofguiltypleainacivilcasearisingoutofsamefactsNOTE:PleaofguiltythatisnotwithdrawnisadmissibleagainsttheDefendantinsubsequentlitigationbasedonthesamefactsinbothFederalandNYCourtsCharacterEvidenceCharacterevidencereferstoapersonsgeneraldispositionorpropensity.oEx.Honesty(ordishonesty)Peacefulness(orviolence)Carefulness(orcarelessness)HOWTOANSWER:oSTEPONE:IdentifythepurposeforwhichtheevidenceisofferedPropensity:Evidencethatthepersonactedinconformitywiththecharactertraitonaparticularoccasioninquestion(“conductinconformity”)oINADMISSIBLE!VeracityofaWitness:Evidenceofawitness’scharacterfortruthfulnessisofferedtoimpeachthewitnessoADMISSIBLENon-propensityPurpose:Evidenceofaperson’spriorbadactisofferedforsomepurposeotherthanprovingpropensityoADMISSIBLETraitaselement:融经国际商法咨询服务Gnosis&PraxisInt’lCommercial&RegulatoryConsulting3Evidenceofaperson’scharactertraitisofferedbecausethetraitisanessentialelementoftheclaimordefenseoADMISSIBLEoSTEPTWO:Isthecasecriminalorcivil?CriminalDefendant’sCharacterOfferedbyDefendantoEvidenceofDefendant’scharacterisgenerallyinadmissibletoprovepropensityEXCEPTION:DefendantmayintroduceevidenceofhisowngoodcharacterforarelevanttraitoIfDefendantdoesso,theProsecutionmayrebutwithevidenceofbadcharacterforsometraitNOTE:CharacterisneveranelementinacriminalcaseoSTEPTHREE:FormofEvidenceMBE:reputationoropinionNY:reputationNOTALLOWED:specificactsDefendant’sCharacterOfferedbyProsecutiontoRebutoIfDefendanthas“openedthedoor”bycallingcharacterwitnesses,theProsecutionmayrebutbyeither:CallingitsownwitnessesTestifytoDefendant’srelevantbadcharacteroSTEPTHREE:FormofEvidenceMBE:reputationoropinionNY:reputationCross-examinationQuestionDefendant’scharacterwitnessesbyquestioningtheirknowledgeofspecificactsbytheDefendantthatarerelevanttothecharactertraitatissueoSTEPTHREE:FormofEvidenceForOpinionWitnesses:Didyouknow…?ForReputationWitnesses:Haveyouheard…?oGoodFaithRequirement:EventhoughProsecutionisnotprovingthespecificact,itmusthavegoodfaithbasistobelievethatthespecificacttookplace.oNOTE:JudgeshouldgivealimitinginstructionwhentestingawitnessesknowledgeofDefendant’sreputation融经国际商法咨询服务Gnosis&PraxisInt’lCommercial&RegulatoryConsulting4oNOTE:IfWitnessdenieshearingorknowingofbadacts,theProsecutioncannotprovethebadacts.NYONLY:ConvictionofCrimeProsecutionmayrebuttheDefendant’sgoodcharacterevidencebyprovingthattheDefendanthasbeenconvictedofacrimethatreflectsadverselyontherelevantcharactertrait.oNOTE:IfonlywitnesstotestifyistheDefendanthimselfandonlytestimonyisthathedidnotcommitthecrime,theProsecutioncannotcallcharacterwitnessestorebutbecausecharacterisnotinissue,i.e.thedoorisnotopen.Victim’sCharacterinSelf-defenseCaseoAcriminalDefendantmayofferevidenceoftheVictim’sviolentcharactertoprovethatVictimwasthefirstaggressorProsecutionmayrebutwitheither:Victim’sgoodcharacterDefendant’sbadcharacterSTEPTHREE:FormofEvidenceMBE:reputationoropinionNOTALLOWED:specificactsoEXCEPTION:S