Candice Jones, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Ryland Nye v. Michael Alayon

In this wrongful death action arising out of an automobile accident, the jury found the decedent at fault for his own death due to his failure to wear a seatbelt. It awarded fewer damages than the plaintiff sought. On appeal, the decedent’s estate argues that the court abused its discretion in admitting hearsay that the decedent’s wife spent the parties’ money on drugs; abused its discretion in prohibiting the introduction of evidence that the defendant was a police officer who fled the scene; and erred in failing to direct a verdict on the seatbelt defense where the evidence was undisputed…