During a civil trial for breach of contract, the plaintiff seeks to introduce graphic photographs of severe injuries sustained by the defendant in an unrelated traffic accident. The plaintiff argues the photos show the defendant's tendency to disregard obligations. The defendant objects to the evidence. How should the court rule on the objection?
Admit the photographs to assist the jury in evaluating the defendant's credibility.
Exclude the photographs because they risk misleading or inflaming the jury instead of helping them decide the case.
Exclude the photographs because evidence of prior bad acts is typically not admissible unless directly related to the case.
Admit the photographs to demonstrate the defendant’s general attitude toward obligations.
The photographs should be excluded because their minimal relevance is outweighed by their potential to mislead or inflame the jury. Graphic and emotionally-charged evidence that is unrelated to the core issue of the trial—a breach of contract—introduces a risk of unfair prejudice and distracts from the jury's role in deciding the case based on the facts. Courts weigh the probative value of evidence against its potential for unfair prejudice, and irrelevant photographs that invoke emotional bias are typically not admitted. While evidence of prior conduct may sometimes be relevant, it must have a direct, logical connection to the issues being litigated.
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