Jim V. Budd

In this wrongful death action, plaintiff appeals a judgment entered on a (special interrogatory) jury verdict in favor of defendant. Plaintiff also appeals the trial court's denial of her motion for new trial. Plaintiff claims five issues of reversible error by the trial court: (1) decedent's alleged statements to defendant were inadmissible under the hearsay rules; (2) plaintiff was prejudiced by not being permitted to lead defendant on direct examination; (3) defendant's counsel made prejudicial inquiries into plaintiff's collateral sources of income; (4) the trial judge was unable to exercise proper judicial discretion at trial due to personal distractions; and (5) cumulative trial error occurred, thereby prejudicing plaintiff's case.