Opinion
No. CR-12-0483 EMC
10-30-2013
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. MANDY NATCHI YAGI and PETER WONG, Defendants.
ORDER RE EVIDENTIARY
OBJECTIONS
On October 28, 2013, the government filed a "Statement Re: Defendants' Witness Lists." (Dkt. No. 197, at 1). This filing proposed a way to streamline the trial by obviating the need for Defendants to provide evidence as to the reason for their resignation/retirement, objected to the Defendants failure to provide medical reports and results in support of their doctors' proposed testimony, and raised concerns regarding the recent addition of a doctor to Defendant Wong's witness list. The Court addresses these issues as follows. A. Evidence Regarding the Reason for Defendants' Resignation/Retirement
In its filing, the government indicated that it would be willing to not argue that Defendants resignation and retirement from the Public Administrators' Office was evidence of their consciousness of guilt, but would instead simply assert the dates Defendants left their employment. (Id.) The government indicated that this would obviate the need for the Defendants to offer any testimony as to the reasons for their resignation or retirement.
The Court indicated to the parties that if the government did not raise the "consciousness of guilty" argument and agreed to omit any and all references to the date in which Defendants resigned/retired, the Court would likely conclude that evidence as to the reason for the Defendants' resignation/retirement would no longer be relevant to the issue of consciousness of guilt. The government stated it could not agree to this as it would impede their ability to present a coherent story to the jury and would present a risk of having to alter their presentation in the middle of the trial (for example, if the Defendants decided to introduce evidence regarding the dates of their resignation/retirement). Defendants also objected, arguing that the implicated evidence has a broader impact beyond simply their reasons for their resignation/retirement. In light of these objections, the Court need not address the Defendants' arguments. The Court's rulings on the government's motions in limine remains in effect. B. Defendants' Rule 16(b)(1)(B) Disclosure
In its filing the government also argued that, insofar as Defendants have proposed to call a number of doctors, the Defendants had failed to produce the "results or reports of any physical or mental examination" which relates to this testimony. (Id. at 2-3). By 5:00pm, Tuesday, November 5, 2013, the Defendants are ORDERED to provide to the government the "results" and "reports" of any physical or mental examination of Defendants which relate to the testimony of any doctor.
A "medical report is an official statement of facts concerning a patient's condition; a medical result is a conclusion derived from facts gleaned during an examination." United States v. Dennison, 937 F.2d 559, 565 (10th Cir. 1991); see also United States v. Iglesias, 881 F.2d 1519, 1523 (9th Cir. 1989) (recognizing that "reports" and "results" require "formality or finality"). For example, to the extent a doctor will testify as to the health of one of the Defendants at the relevant time period, the Defendant must disclose to the government the formal results of any diagnostic test or examination. Defendants must also disclose any reports containing conclusions of the doctor. Conversely, doctor's raw notes taken during an examination are neither "results" nor "report" and need not be disclosed. Dennison, 937 F.2d at 565 (finding that a doctors notes were not covered under Rule 16(b)(1)(B) because they were "'the raw material upon which a result or report—if [the doctor] were to prepare one—would be based.'" (quoting United States v. Layton, 90 F.R.D. 520, 522 (N.D. Cal. 1981)). Defendants must complete such disclosure by 5:00 pm on November 6, 2013. C. Testimony of Dr. LaCroce
In its filing, the government raised an issue about the alleged late addition of Dr. LaCroce—Defendant Wong's psychotherapist—to Defendant Wong's witness list. The government has also raised concerns that the proffered testimony constitutes expert testimony. To the extent the government is objecting to this testimony, the objection is OVERRULED. The Court finds that the government has not been prejudiced by any late disclosure of his testimony, particularly in light of the fact that Defendant Wong represents that the government already has all relevant records from Dr. LaCroce. Further, the Court finds that his testimony does not constitute expert testimony. Rather, as with the other doctors, Dr. LaCroce will be permitted to testify as to "what [he] saw, what Defendant[] told [him] for purposes of obtaining treatment, diagnoses the doctor[] made, treatments [he] ordered, and the Defendant's condition [he] observed during the relevant time period." (Dkt. No. 166, at 34).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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EDWARD M. CHEN
United States District Judge