Professor Van Tassel
Phone: 782-1428
Office: 208
E-mail: kvantassel@law.wnec.edu

Required Texts:

• PROBLEMS, CASES & MATERIALS ON EVIDENCE (3rd ed.), by Green & Nesson. Hereinafter referred to as Text

• WEST, FEDERAL RULES OF EVIDENCE. with Evidence Map (2007-08 ed.). Hereinafter referred to as Rules.

Standard Collateral Texts (not required but useful):

• Weinstein' Evidence Manual (Student / 8th ed.)
• Lilley, Evidence (4th. ed.)
• McCormick, Evidence (Student / 6th ed.)

Multistate Review Pages : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11-25

Relevance & Materiality

Fed. Rules: 401, 402 & Advisory Committee Notes

Text: pp. 1-7, 13-16, 26-28

Problems: The Pizza, p. 13
The Burned Butt, p. 26
Beer Cans in the Car, p. 26

Supplement: 1, 2, 3

Handouts

Relevance and Conditional Relevance

Fed. Rules: 401, 402, 104 (b) & Advisory Committee Notes

Text: pp. 28-30

Problems: The Rim, p. 28

Handouts: 2, 3, 4, 5

1. Prejudice and Probativeness

Fed. Rules: 403

Text: pp. 50-68, 79-85

Problems: A Picture is worth 1,000 words, p.51
U.S. v. Yahweh Ben Yahweh p. 51
Old Chief v. United States p. 54
Photos of the Decedent p. 68
Silk Stockings p. 69
Seven T- Shirts, p.71
Bombs, Bats, and Hammers, p. 71
Flight on Circumstantial Evid., p.73
Non-flight as Circumstantial Evid.,p.73

Handouts: 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

2. Categorical Rules of Exclusion

Subsequent Remedial Measures

Fed. Rules: 407

Text: pp. 131-137

Problems: Locking the Barn Door, p. 132
Farmer Brown’s Wager, p.135
The Dismissed Employee, p. 135
The D-Craft 184 Crash, p.136
Third Party Repairs, p.136

Multistate
Review
Questions: 8, 12, 5, 6

Handouts: 11, 12, 13, 14

Settlement Offer & Payment of Medical Expenses

Fed. Rules: 408 & 409

Text: pp. 144-150

Problems: Nice Guy, p. 144
The Plot Thickens, p.147

Multistate
Review Questions: 7 & 35

Handouts: 15, 16, 17

PREPARE PROBLEM ON HANDOUT 18

4./5. The Propensity Rule

Fed. Rules: 404

Text: pp. 171-199, 206-234

Problems: People v. Zachowitz, p. 174
A Return to the Scene of the Crime, p.180
Res Gestae, p.184
U.S. v. Trenkler, p. 186


PREPARE PROBLEMS IN HANDOUT 21 FOR DISCUSSION

Problems:
Tucker v. State, p. 206
Huddleston v. U.S., p. 208
Dowling v. U.S., p.214
U.S. v. Beechum, p. 222

Handouts: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

When Can You Prove Character & How

Fed. Rules: 404, 405

Weinstein: 7.01, 7.02

Text: pp. 235-245
Michelson v. U.S., p. 235

Problems: Proof of Defendant’s Good Character, p. 243
Proof of Defendant’s Violent Character, p. 244
The Mayor, p. 244

Handout: 23, 24, 25, 28, 29 , 30 ,31
PREPARE PROBLEMS ON HANDOUT 25 AND QUESTIONS 1-5 ON HANDOUTS 28, 29 , 30 ,31 FOR CLASS

6. Proof of Character in Civil Cases

Text: 252-266

Problems: MC 49
Crumpton v. Confed, p. 252
Tit for Tat, p. 252
Ginter v. Northwestern, p. 255
The Acrobatic Driver, p. 257
Dallas Railway v. Farnsworth, p. 259
MC 15
Clark v. Stewart, p. 261
The Why Concert, p. 261
MC 47
Exum v. General Electric Co., p. 264

Handouts: 26, 27, 28, 31, 32

PREPARE QUESTIONS 6, 7, 8 ON HANDOUTS 31 & 32

Character and Habit

Rule 406
Weinstein 7.03

Text: pp. 266-274

Problems: The Careless Smoker, p. 268
Smoking v. Speeding, p. 268
The Acrobatic Driver - A Reprise, p. 269
Meyer v. U.S., p. 271

Handout: 33

7. Evidence of Character of a Witness—Rule 608
Evidence of Conviction of Crime—Rule 609

Weinstein 12.01-12.04

Text: 265-269, 280-286

Problems: The Worrisome Witness, p. 373
Fracas at Fenway Park, p. 373
Robbery of the Mom and Pop Spa, p. 378

Handouts: 34, 35

MC 25

Prior Convictions—Rule 609

Text: pp. 374-389
U.S. v. Paige, p 385

Handout: 35

8. Rehabilitation of Credibility of Witnesses

Text: pp. 390-392

Problems: Assault and Battery, p. 390
Impeachment by Specific Contradiction and
Self-Contradiction, p. 390

Extrinsic Evidence Rule

Weinstein 12.06
Handouts: 36, 37, 38, 39

Prepare Problems in Handouts 40-41 for Class

Text: pp. 392-294

Problems: Bijou Blues, p. 392
Harry’s Harborside, p. 394

9. Proving Character & Credibility in Sexual Assault Cases

Character Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases

Rules: 412, 413, 414, 415

Text: pp. 274-320

Weinstein: 7.09, 7.10

Reconsider the Florida v. William Kennedy Smith material in Text 210-214 in light of these rules

Handouts: 42, 43

Purpose of Cross-Examination

Text: pp. 363-371

Competency of Witnesses

Text: pp. 330-360

Form & Scope of Examination of Witnesses

Rules: 601, 602, 603, 610, 604, 611

Weinstein: 2.02, 10.01, 10.03

Text: pp. 360-363

Problems: V-1, 2, 3, 5
V-8, 9, 12
V-14, 15, 16
The B & B Bar and Grill, p. 363

Handouts: 44, 44a, 45, 46

10. Introduction to Hearsay—Rule 801

Weinstein: 14.01, 14.02

Text: 405-419

Do “Not-Hearsay” Assignment in Handouts

Problems: Arsenic and Hors d’oeuvres, p. 408
Murder at the Seaside Bistro, p. 409
Assault on Massachusetts Avenue, p. 409
Murder in the Ajax Building, p. 409
Hot Goods, p. 415
Slander Per se, p. 415
Contractual Terms and Hearsay, p. 417
The Dissatisfied Purchaser, p. 417
The Corn-Crib Case, p. 417

12. Statements of a Party Opponent

Fed. Rule: 801(d)(2)

Text: Pp. 427-441

Cases: Fletcher v. Weir (429)

Problems: He Who Laughs Last (428)
If You’re Gonna Get Hit, Get Hit by a Rolls (428)
Silence as Statement (428)
The Rat Roommate (442)
Pv. Greed Power and Light Company (432)

Multistate
Review
Questions: 9, 10, 28, 34, 35

Hearsay
Review
Questions: 14, 67

13-14. Hearsay Statements of Co-Conspirators

Fed. Rule: 801(d)(2)(E)
Make up at least two fact patterns that exemplify this rule and be prepared to discuss them in class

Text: Pp. 442-452

Case: Bourjaily v. United States (444)

Problem: Incident, p. 442

Handout: 59

Prior Statements of a Witness

Fed, Rules: 801(d)(1), 613

Text: Pp. 452-457, 464

Case: Whitehurst v. Wright (455)

Problems: The Stolen BMW (453)
The Forgetful Witness (453)
Blind Justice (464)
The Erring Eyewitness (464)

Multistate
Review
Questions: 20, 21

Hearsay
Review
Questions: 6, 7

15-16. Former Testimony (Hearsay Exception: Declarant Unavailable)

Fed. Rules: 804(b)(1), 804(a)

Text: Pp. 464-467

Problems: Speaking From the Grave—The Dead Witness (466)

Multistate
Review
Question: 40

Hearsay
Review
Questions: 2, 46

Handouts: 76, 77, 78

PREPARE PROBLEMS ON HANDOUTS 79 & 80

Statements Against Interest (Hearsay Exception: Declarant Unavailable

Fed. Rule: 804(b)(3)—Read Advisory Committee Notes

Text: Pp. 467-470

Problems: The Fraudulent Transfers (467)
The Speeding Chauffeur (468)
Thick as Thieves (469)

Dying Declarations (Hearsay Exception: Declarant Unavailable

Fed. Rule: 804(b)(2)

Text: Pp. 470-474

Case: Shepard v. United States (471)

Problems: The Voice From the Grave (470)
Dying Declarations (473)
Double Death (473)
“Speak Up, Please” (473)

Handouts: 81

17-18. Hearsay Exception: Availability of Declarant Immaterial

Fed Rules: 803(1) (Present Sense Impressions)
803(2) (Excited Utterance)
803(3) (Then Existing Mental Emotional or Physical Condition
803(4) (Statements for Purposes of Medical Diagnosis or Treatment

Text: Pp. 474-484

Cases: Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Hillmon (476)
Shepard v. United States (481)

Read Advisory Committee and Judiciary Committee Notes re Hillmon
Handout notes on Hillmon. Be able to discuss the concept of “Second Party Hillmon.”

Problems: Stage Fright (474)
Stagger (475)
Husband Harry (475)
Snowmobile Crash (476)
The Accusing Hand (480)

Handouts: 82, 83, 84

PREPARE IN WRITING THE PROBLEM ON HANDOUT 85

Multistate
Review
Questions: 33, 36, 38, 50

Hearsay
Review
Questions: 4, 5, 14, 40, 43, 61

 

Past Recollection Recorded (Hearsay Exception

Fed. Rule: 803(5)

Refreshing Present Recollection

Fed, Rule: 612

Text: 484-485

Handouts: 86, 87, 88 , 89, 90, 91

19. Records of Regularly Conducted Activity

Fed. Rules: 803(6) (Business Records Exception), 803(7)

Text: 485-494

Case: Palmer v. Hoffman (487)

Multistate
Review
Questions: 30, 31, 32

Handouts: 92, 93, 94

Public Records & Reports

Fed. Rule: 803(8)(9)(10)

Text: 494-503
Accident Reports (496)
Hospital Reports (499)
Loss Memos (499)

Cases: Johnson v. Lutz (495)
Beech v. Rainey (497)

Read Advisory Committee Notes

Handouts: 95, 96

21. CATCH-UP and REVIEW

22. HEARSAY QUIZ