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Gerstenberg v. Reynolds11/22/1991
In this wrongful death action, the plaintiff moved for a new trial on two grounds. First, that this court committed reversible error by admitting evidence of prior specific instances of the decedent's conduct, and, second, by admitting opinion evidence of the decedent's mental status at the time of the accident in which she died. Specifically, plaintiff argued that this court should not have admitted evidence of either prior suicide attempts by the decedent or opinion evidence as to her mental status at the time of the accident. This court denied the motion for a new trial, and this opinion is intended to supplement the court's oral opinion. See R. 2:5-6(c).
Briefly, the material facts are as follows. Anna Gerstenberg died on October 21, 1988 when she was struck by a car driven by the defendant, John Reynolds. She was a pedestrian, and the collision occurred in the center of the slow lane of Route 202 in Branchburg Township at 1:30 in the morning. The defendant told the police who investigated the accident, and he testified at his deposition and at trial, that he did not see the person he hit until after the collision occurred. The police investigation uncovered no evidence of alcohol consumption or drug use by the defendant. At the time of the collision, Anna Gerstenberg was wearing dark clothing.
This wrongful death action was commenced by Anna Gerstenberg's husband, Robert Gerstenberg, as administrator of her estate. At trial the defense sought to cross examine him about a prior suicide attempt by Anna Gerstenberg. At an Evidence
Rule 8 hearing he testified that he first met his future wife in a coffee shop in Somerville in January, 1988. Mr. Gerstenberg, who is a security guard, was told by the manager of the coffee shop that there was a woman in a booth at the rear of the shop who needed help. When he arrived at the booth he found a woman who had slashed her wrists with a knife. He called the rescue squad. Some months later he married Anna Gerstenberg. In addition, the defense also sought to introduce testimony from a police officer, Sgt. Miller. When Sgt. Miller told Robert Gerstenberg that his wife had been killed by a car while a pedestrian on the highway, Robert Gerstenberg responded that he "was not surprised." Finally, the defense sought to introduce the testimony of Dr. David J. Flicker, a board certified psychiatrist. Dr. Flicker had examined Anna Gerstenberg's hospital records relating to psychiatric treatment provided to her in connection with other suicide attempts. These records dated back to 1980. Dr. Flicker concluded that on the date of the accident Anna Gerstenberg was a "rapid cycling manic depressive." At an Evidence Rule 8 hearing, Dr. Flicker testified that he could not state that Anna Gerstenberg was attempting suicide at the time of the accident, but that it was his opinion that at the time of the accident she was an "acutely sick person from a psychiatric standpoint."
This court permitted such cross-examination of Robert Gerstenberg, and admitted the testimony of Sgt. Miller and Dr. Flicker. Dr. Flicker was permitted to not only testify as to his opinion but also as to Anna Gerstenberg's psychiatric history including suicide attempts as he had relied thereon in reaching his opinion. McCalla v. Harnischfeger Corp., 215 N.J. Super. 160, 172, 521 A.2d 851 (App.Div.1987) certif. den. 108 N.J. 219, 528 A.2d 36, 37 (1987); Evid.R. 57. A limiting instruction was given when evidence of suicide attempts was admitted. The jury was instructed that such evidence was not admissible to prove that Anna Gerstenberg was atte
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