Laird v. Boston & Maine Railroad

The exception to evidence has been argued upon the theory that the plaintiff used the published opinion of an acknowledged authority as the basis for the cross-examination of the defendant’s expert witness. The use of standard authorities to discredit such a witness is a matter upon which there is much diversity of opinion. The general practice in this state has been to permit such use upon cross-examination. State v. Wood, 53 N. H. 484; Burnham v. Stillings, 76 N. H. 122.

The objection to such procedure upon the ground that it violates the hearsay rule and permits the use of opinions which…