People v. Diop CA4/2 ( 2021 )

Filed 3/8/21 P. v. Diop CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
THE PEOPLE,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E073789
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIF1705383)
NDIAWAR DIOP, OPINION
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Timothy J. Hollenhorst,
Judge. Affirmed.
Law Office of Zulu Ali & Associates. Zulu A. Ali and Whitney Ali for Defendant
and Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General,
Arlene A. Sevidal and Andrew Mestman, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and
Respondent.
1
Ndiawar Diop, a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) at the California Institution for
Men in Chino (Chino prison), appeals from a judgment after a jury convicted him of five
counts of insurance fraud and one count of attempted perjury in connection with his
workers’ compensation claim. (Ins. Code, § 1871.4, subd. (a)(1), count 1; Pen. Code,
§§ 550, subd. (b)(1), counts 2, 3, 4, 6; 664, 118a, count 5.) Defendant contends: (1) the
evidence fails to support his convictions; (2) the trial court made many evidentiary errors;
(3) the court erred in failing to unseal juror identification information; (4) the court erred
in failing to instruct on the defense of mistake of fact; and (5) the court erred by denying
his motion for new trial. We reject his contentions and affirm.
I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND AND FACTS
On June 4, 2013, while working at Chino prison, defendant provided insulin to
inmate George Philpott. After Philpott injected himself, he returned the needle through
an opening in a window. Defendant then placed the used needle into a container used for
disposing of needles. Philpott observed defendant put his hand into the container and get
poked. Defendant pulled his hand out and began squeezing his finger. Philpott called for
a correctional officer to avoid getting in trouble. Upon seeing defendant prick himself,
Philpott exclaimed, “‘I have Hep C.’” Philpott admitted that he did not like defendant
but claimed that he never attacked, injured, or threatened him. No disciplinary actions
were taken against Philpott nor was any internal report regarding a staff assault prepared.
Following his injury, defendant went to a supervisor’s office and told her that he
“accidentally poked himself” with a “[d]irty [insulin] needle.” Because he was injured on
the job, the supervisor provided defendant with a workers’ compensation claim form,
2
which he completed. The supervisor also completed an authorization for treatment form
and sent defendant to urgent care. Defendant never said he was attacked by an inmate.
At U.S. HealthWorks, defendant was treated by a physician’s assistant (PA), Marc
Harvey. Defendant completed an intake form, stating, “After inmate injection of
Lantus—I got poked by his needle on my R. index finger while taking the needle back
from him.” Harvey prepared a “New Patient Narrative” and stated: “35 y.o. [nurse]
states while at work 2 hours ago administered insulin to an inmate with history of hep. C
then accidentally punctured his right index finger with the contaminated needle. Patient
feels very anxious and upset about the possibility of getting hep. C.” Defendant never
stated that he had been attacked by an inmate. He was treated for his finger injury, his
blood was drawn and tested for any pathogen exposure, and he began receiving antiviral
medication.
Seven months later, on January 13, 2014, defendant met psychologist Nelson
Flores regarding his workers’ compensation claim. He told Dr. Flores that an inmate at
his work had “stabbed him with the syringe when returning” it; however, he never
mentioned the inmate tried to stab him in the neck. On March 8, 2014, defendant saw
psychiatrist Joseph Liu, a colleague of Dr. Flores, regarding his workers’ compensation
claim. He stated, “he was attacked while he was working [at] the Chino Prison.” Dr. Liu
diagnosed defendant as having “anxiety disorder NOS,” meaning “he has some worry,
frustrat[ion], some anxiety, but does not meet any specific anxiety disorder,” and it is
“not otherwise specific.”
3
Dr. Flores saw defendant again on December 19, 2014, and defendant never
revealed that the inmate tried to stab his neck. Defendant remained Dr. Flores’s patient
until February 16, 2017. On that day, Dr. Flores completed a final “comprehensive
permanent and stationary psychological evaluation report,” which was sent to defendant’s
primary treating physician and his attorney of record in his workers’ compensation
matter. Defendant maintained that “he was attacked by this inmate with a syringe”;
however, for the first time, he claimed the inmate tried to stab him in the neck. Dr. Flores
determined defendant suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The doctor
testified that a feature of PTSD is “an amnesic response,” which is the inability to recall
important aspects of the trauma. It may cause a patient “to avoid thinking about the
traumatic event [and] forget . . . some of the important events that happened during the
traumatic injury event.”
On September 10, 2018, when Dr. Flores met with defendant regarding his
workers’ compensation claim at the request of defense counsel, defendant indicated he
had been attacked by the inmate, but he did not say the inmate tried to stab him in the
neck. And, for the first time, he “mentioned he moved his hands instinctively to protect
himself.” Dr. Flores reviewed defendant’s May 21, 2015 deposition transcript, wherein
he stated he had been “‘attacked’” by the inmate. Dr. Flores also reviewed an October 1,
2015 final report prepared by defendant’s primary physician, Dr. Pratley, wherein
defendant stated that he “was administering an injection on an inmate, and that the inmate
took the syringe, and he stabbed [defendant] in his right finger as he tried to cover and
4
block himself.” Dr. Pratley’s report did not contain any claim about an inmate stabbing
defendant “in the neck.”
The State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) provides workers’ compensation
benefits to state employees injured on the job, including accidental injuries. The State of
California accepted defendant’s claim for his finger puncture but not for any potential
pathogen exposure because the state does not “accept an exposure unless or until [the
claimant has] some sort of infection from it.” Stephanie Kofmehl, a senior claims
adjuster for the state, was assigned to defendant’s claim on April 26, 2014. At that time,
defendant was receiving industrial disability leave (IDL), which has a higher cap and thus
provides a higher paying benefit than temporary disability, because “he was taken off of
work by a psychiatrist due to stress.”
Kofmehl reviewed defendant’s file, which first showed that he had reported to his
supervisor that he had “[a]ccidentally puncture[d] his right index finger with a
contaminated needle,” but a latter report alleged that “he was stabbed by the inmate
intentionally.” Defendant’s file contained reports indicating “the mechanism of injury
changed” from accidental to intentional. Kofmehl observed the following: PA Harvey’s
June 4, 2013 treatment report noting defendant stated he was accidentally injured; the
July 18, 2013, application for adjudication of claim; Dr. Pratley’s1 July 23, 2013 report
indicating defendant had been stabbed in his finger by an inmate; and Drs. Flores’s and
Liu’s 2014 reports that defendant had been attacked by an inmate and was adding a stress
1 On July 19, 2013, less than five weeks after his injury, defendant changed his
treating physician to Dr. Brent Pratley, an orthopedic physician.
5
component to his case. Kofmehl testified the change from an accidental to an intentional
mechanism of injury affected the claim’s monetary value because, beginning in 2013, a
claimant could not receive permanent disability for a stress-related claim unless it was the
result of a “violent act” and stress was originally claimed as an injury. Thus, according to
Kofmehl, “based on the law, [defendant] would have no permanent disability because
[his stress component] was added on,” however, the state “would pay for his medical
treatment to make him better.”
In April 2014, when Kofmehl received defendant’s file, he was still out-of-work,
receiving IDL, and being treated for anxiety. After exhausting his IDL, he received
another year of temporary disability. Kofmehl was concerned that defendant was out-of-
work longer than expected for a puncture wound. She viewed his social media accounts,
which suggested he was exaggerating the impact of his injury because they included
evidence that he was working at a radio station and taking vacations. This evidence
contradicted defendant’s claim that “he was withdrawn from family and friends and
doesn’t take vacations because of [the injury].” Also, Kofmehl found it “odd” that
defendant’s treating physician was an orthopedist, “considering the fact that he did not
have an orthopedic injury and was treating mainly for stress.” She asked a SCIF attorney
to “request [defendant’s] deposition to determine what the actual mechanism of injury
was.”
On May 21, 2015, a SCIF attorney deposed defendant. Defendant testified that on
June 4, 2013, while dispensing medication to a diabetic inmate, the inmate “proceeded to
poke him with a syringe—or ‘attack,’ actually, is what he said.” When defendant asked,
6
“‘[W]hat you doing, man?’” the inmate responded, “‘You just going to have Hep C.
You’re not going to have malaria like in Africa.’” Defendant added, “[W]hen he
punctured me with it, I thought it was an accident. But when he answered like that, that’s
when I knew it was—think it was intentional. The prison guard ran to him, and then I
was bleeding. I still have the mark here, and the blood was coming out. So since I knew
he got Hep C, I tried to push the blood out of me, and there was a lot of blood around.
And I report to my supervisor.”
In 2017, special agent Kevin Oden of the Office of Internal Affairs for the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation was assigned to investigate defendant’s
possible workers’ compensation fraud. On August 28, 2017, after reviewing defendant’s
file, agent Oden spoke to Correctional Deputy Marc Escarcega and recorded their
conversation. Deputy Escarcega remembered defendant leaving his station to seek
medical treatment, he knew Philpott, and he stated there was no reason to write any rules
violation against Philpott. The deputy added: “If staff had been assaulted, the inmate
would have had a rules violation report or a 115 written up on him. And . . . after a
finding that the inmate had assaulted [staff, he] would have been transferred to another
prison.” Agent Oden found no internal reports regarding a staff assault involving
defendant.2
2 At trial, Deputy Escarcega testified that defendant activated an alarm on June 4,
2013, and reported he had been “assaulted” or “poked by a diabetic needle during
administering his diabetic needles in the pill line.” During a recess, the deputy listened to
the recording of his interview with agent Oden. After the recess, Deputy Escarcega
testified that no alarm was activated, and he only heard defendant say, “‘I got poked.’”
7
On August 28, 2017, agent Oden spoke to Philpott and recorded their
conversation. Philpott stated he returned the dirty needle to defendant, who “put his hand
inside the bucket where all the needles” were deposited, he got “poked,” and he began
squeezing blood out of his finger.3 Philpott indicated that he had placed the cap on the
needle after injecting himself, but defendant was “sloppy” and got pricked when he put it
in the bucket. Philpott denied trying to stick defendant with a needle, noting that if he
had, he would “go to the hole” and receive a rules violation, but he received no write-up
or loss of privileges.
On October 18, 2017, agent Oden interviewed defendant and recorded the
interview.4 Defendant stated the inmate injected himself and then used the needle to poke
him (defendant) on his right hand “pointer finger,” “[c]lose to the tip.” He said his
coworker told him to push the blood out of his finger, and the inmate said, “‘[N]othing
gonna happen to you. You just gonna have Hep C. It’s not like malaria in—you’re not
gonna have malaria like in Africa. You not gonna die from this.’” Defendant’s supervisor
was called, and “they sent [defendant] to US Health Works.” He acknowledged that on
the form he filled out at work, he wrote that he “got poked by [the inmate’s] needle on the
right index finger while taking the needle back from him.” Defendant believed Philpott’s
actions were intentional based on what Philpott said after the incident; however, he did not
“write the inmate up.” Defendant claimed that he told his supervisor that he was attacked;
3 A recording of Philpott’s interview was played for the jury.
4 A recording of defendant’s interview was played for the jury.
8
however, he did not “recall those details, because [he] was scared.” He stated he “always
said that the . . . inmate attack me with . . . the needle or poke me with the . . . dirty
syringe.” Defendant claimed he did not know if he told PA Harvey that it was an
accident, and he did not recall telling Dr. Pratley or Dr. Flores that the inmate tried to stab
him in the neck. He claimed that he was unaware the law changed in 2013 to allow for a
psychological claim only in the event of an attack.
Agent Oden took measurements of the medication area and filmed his attempts to
reach into the medication room through the pill slot and touch another investigator who
was placed where defendant would have been. Using an eyeglass case, he was unable to
reach in and poke the investigator.
The defense presented testimony from several prison employees regarding
disciplinary incidents involving Philpott: (1) LVN Jobe testified that on October 15,
2017, while administering medication, Philpott was yelling and screaming, “‘You guys
don’t know how to do your job. You guys are this, you guys are that. Why didn’t you
open our door?’” After Philpott rushed toward the pill line and banged on the window,
Jobe called an officer; (2) LVN Vargas testified that on May 13, 2018, Philpott cut in
front of another patient in the pill line. When Vargas told him to go back, he got upset,
and “tossed some items, . . . a lancet, a cotton ball, and an alcohol pad, onto the desk”;
and (3) LVN Tabot was present when defendant got “poked by a syringe coming from
the inmate.” Tabot stated that after the inmate self-administered the insulin, he returned
the needle, and defendant got poked. While Tabot heard the inmate apologize, he opined
it was an intentional act.
9
II. DISCUSSION
A. There is Sufficient Evidence to Support Defendant’s Convictions.
Defendant contends the evidence is insufficient under Penal Code “section 1118”5
to show that he “knowingly submitted any documents that would constitute fraudulent”
insurance claims. We disagree.
“In considering a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence . . . , we review the
entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it contains
substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value—
from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt. [Citation.] We presume every fact in support of the judgment the trier of fact
could have reasonably deduced from the evidence. [Citation.] If the circumstances
reasonably justify the trier of fact’s findings, reversal of the judgment is not warranted
5 As respondent correctly notes, Penal Code section 1118 allows the trial court to
order the entry of a judgment of acquittal in a case tried by the court without a jury.
Since defendant’s case was tried before a jury, Penal Code section 1118.1 applies. (Pen.
Code, § 1118.1 [“[i]n a case tried before a jury, the court on motion of the defendant or
on its own motion, at the close of the evidence on either side and before the case is
submitted to the jury for decision, shall order the entry of a judgment of acquittal of one
or more of the offenses charged in the accusatory pleading if the evidence then before the
court is insufficient to sustain a conviction of such offense or offenses on appeal.”]
However, no Penal Code section 1118.1 motion was made before the trial court, and
defendant primarily challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions.
In any event, we apply the same standard of review. (People v. Watkins (2012)
55 Cal.4th 999, 1019 [“In considering whether the trial court erred in failing to grant the
motion for judgment of acquittal under [Penal Code] section 1118.1 . . . , we ask whether
‘there is any substantial evidence, including all reasonable inferences to be drawn from
the evidence, of the existence of each element of the offense charged.’”], fn. 11 [“The
same standard of review applies when a defendant asks the trial court to review the legal
sufficiency of the evidence after the jury has returned its verdicts.”].)
10
simply because the circumstances might also reasonably be reconciled with a contrary
finding. [Citation.] ‘A reviewing court neither reweighs evidence nor reevaluates a
witness’s credibility.’” (People v. Albillar (2010) 51 Cal.4th 47, 59-60.)
Penal Code section 550, subdivision (a)(1), makes it unlawful to “[k]nowingly
present or cause to be presented any false or fraudulent claim for the payment of a loss or
injury, including payment of a loss or injury under a contract of insurance.” Insurance
Code section 1871.4, subdivision (a)(1), provides that it is unlawful to “[m]ake or cause
to be made a knowingly false or fraudulent material statement or material representation
for the purpose of obtaining or denying any compensation, as defined in Section 3207 of
the Labor Code.” As noted, defendant was charged with, and convicted of, five counts of
insurance fraud. In order to establish each offense, the prosecution was required to prove
that defendant knowingly made a false, material statement for the purpose of obtaining
workers’ compensation benefits. (People v. Webb (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 688, 693.) A
defendant acts with the required intent when he presents information, which he knows to
be false, with the intent that the insurance company rely upon it to settle his claim.
(People v. Dieguez (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 266, 279.) “Specific intent to defraud is often
proven by circumstantial evidence; it is thus typically inferred from all of the facts and
circumstances.” (People v. Bollaert (2016) 248 Cal.App.4th 699, 715.)
Here, there was no dispute defendant was injured as a result of being poked with a
dirty needle. The only issue was whether the injury was accidental or the result of an
intentional act by an inmate. Thus, the prosecution had to prove beyond a reasonable
doubt that defendant knowingly made a false statement to obtain workers’ compensation
11
benefits by claiming his injury resulted from an intentional act after he initially claimed it
was accidental. The prosecution did so with evidence of defendant’s statements,
originating on the day of his injury and continuing through 2018. According to
defendant’s supervisor, on June 4, 2013, defendant stated he had accidentally poked
himself with a used hypodermic needle after providing insulin to Philpott. If defendant
had charged Philpott with intentionally poking him (defendant), Philpott would have been
disciplined. However, no disciplinary actions were taken against Philpott, no staff assault
report was found in his file, and Philpott confirmed that defendant had accidentally poked
himself. At the urgent care center, defendant told the physician’s assistant that “[h]e
poked himself with a needle from a patient at his job that he gave insulin.” PA Harvey’s
report stated defendant was accidentally injured.
Beginning in 2014, defendant claimed his injury was intentional. For example,
Dr. Flores testified that on January 13, 2014, defendant said an inmate at his work had
“stabbed him with the syringe when returning” it. Dr. Liu testified that on March 8,
2014, defendant stated that “he was attacked while he was working [at] the Chino
Prison.” In his May 21, 2015 deposition, defendant claimed he had been “‘attacked’” by
an inmate. On February 16, 2017, he told Dr. Flores, for the first time, that the inmate
tried to stab his (defendant’s) neck. Subsequently, on September 10, 2018, Dr. Flores
again met with defendant; however, on this date, defendant failed to mention that the
inmate tried to stab his neck, as he had previously claimed.
The above evidence demonstrates that defendant’s account of how he was injured
by an inmate’s dirty needle changed from accidental to intentional. From this evidence, it
12
was reasonable for the jury to conclude that defendant knowingly made a false material
statement for the purpose of obtaining greater workers’ compensation benefits.
Notwithstanding the above, defendant maintains there is insufficient evidence to
support his convictions because (1) Tabot opined the inmate intentionally poked
defendant with the needle, and (2) Deputy Escarcega testified that defendant said he was
“assaulted” by an inmate. We disagree. To begin with, Deputy Escarcega corrected his
testimony. After listening to the recording of his interview with agent Ogden, the deputy
testified he only heard defendant say, “‘I got poked.’” The deputy further acknowledged
that he did not know whether defendant was intentionally or accidentally poked but, if it
was intentional, the incident would have been documented. Regarding nurse Tabot’s
opinion that the poking was intentional, the testimony of inmate Philpott, defendant’s
supervisor, and PA Harvey contradict that opinion. It is not our function to reweigh the
evidence, reappraise the credibility of witnesses, or resolve factual conflicts, as these are
functions reserved for the jury. (People v. Albillar, supra, 51 Cal.4th at pp. 59-60.)
Here, the jury resolved the conflicting evidence (intentional vs. accidental injury) against
defendant. The evidence amply supports the jury’s decision.
B. The Trial Court Committed No Evidentiary Errors.
Defendant contends the trial court made many evidentiary errors: (1) admitting
evidence of a prior workers’ compensation claim; (2) admitting evidence that he retained
counsel for his current workers’ compensation claim; (3) limiting the number of
witnesses to testify about Philpott’s character; and (4) admitting PA Harvey’s preliminary
hearing testimony through agent Oden. We find no errors. Even if we did, a reversal of
13
the judgment is not warranted. (People v. Richardson (2008) 43 Cal.4th 959, 1001
[erroneous evidentiary ruling does not require reversal absent a miscarriage of justice].)
Given the compelling nature of the evidence against defendant, it is not reasonably
probable he would have obtained a more favorable verdict absent any error, whether
viewed cumulatively or singularly.
1. Evidence of defendant’s prior workers’ compensation claim.
Defendant asserts the trial court erred by admitting evidence of his prior claim for
workers’ compensation because it was “irrelevant to prove any disputed fact, including
intent, common scheme or plan, identity, motive, plan knowledge, preparation or absence
of mistake or accident, [and] therefore its admission is proscribed by Evidence Code
section 1101[, subdivision](a).” He further asserts the prosecutor’s “failure to disclose”
the plan to introduce this evidence denied him the right to “a fair trial and proper
defense.” We conclude the evidence was properly admitted.
a. Additional background information.
State claims adjuster Kofmehl testified that, by changing the mechanism of his
injury from accidental to intentional, defendant increased the monetary value of his
workers’ compensation claim because, as of January 1, 2013, permanent disability for a
stress-related claim was unavailable unless it was caused by a violent act. On cross-
examination, Kofmehl stated she was unaware of any information that showed defendant
was aware of this change in the law. On redirect, the prosecutor asked whether there was
“anything in [Kofmehl’s] file that indicated that the defendant would be aware of a
change,” specifically, “prior Workers’ Compensation claims by” this particular
14
employee? Kofmehl replied, “Yes.” Upon further questioning, Kofmehl testified
defendant’s prior claim was made before January 1, 2013, and “involve[d] an
unintentional act.”
When the prosecutor asked whether defendant was “paid out in that claim under
all three areas of compensation that we discussed,” defense counsel objected on the
grounds of relevance, and the issue was discussed outside the presence of the jury. The
prosecutor argued that the evidence “goes directly to the explanation as to why the initial
claim for adjudication comes in at the time it comes in without a psych claim. That is,
the defendant knew from his prior claim, hey, I get paid for psych no matter what.” The
trial court agreed, finding “slight probative value.” Defense counsel replied: “There is a
prejudicial effect of the fact that he filed a prior claim. If he’s trying to prove he had
knowledge of the change in the law, that’s completely 100 percent irrelevant. If it had
been a side claim, that would have been different.” The prosecutor explained that it “was
also a side claim, and it’s referenced in the February 2017 report of Dr. Flores.” The trial
court allowed “limited testimony” on the issue as follows:
“[PROSECUTOR]: Ms. Kofmehl, we were talking about a prior claim filed by
state employee Diop. [¶] With regard to that prior claim, did that prior claim include a
psychological component for an accidental injury?
“A. Yes.
“Q. . . . [A]s a result of that claim, was he paid out regarding a permanent and
stationary disability?
“A. Yes.”
15
The jury was instructed with CALCRIM No. 375.6 Following the jury’s verdict,
defendant moved for a new trial on the grounds, inter alia, that admission of his prior
workers’ compensation claim was prejudicial error, and it amounted to a violation of the
discovery rules. In opposition, the prosecutor argued that defendant’s knowledge of the
workers’ compensation system, his intent to file an insurance claim, and his current
conduct was not the result of an accident or mistake. The trial court denied the motion.
The court pointed out that it conducted an Evidence Code section 352 analysis when
defense counsel objected to the evidence, and it “believed that evidence was relevant,
highly probative, and not unduly prejudicial.” The court also noted that the prosecutor
had used the evidence only as a foundation for defendant’s knowledge of the workers’
compensation system, not to argue that “the defendant improperly or illegally filed” his
prior claim.
6 “The People presented evidence of other behavior by the defendant that was not
charged in this case. That behavior including the filing of a prior workers’ compensation
claim in 2008 and a new workers’ compensation claim involving cumulative trauma. [¶]
You may consider this evidence only if the People have proved by a preponderance of the
evidence that the defendant in fact committed the uncharged acts. Proof by a
preponderance of the evidence is a different burden of proof than proof beyond a
reasonable doubt. A fact is proved by a preponderance of the evidence if you conclude
that it is more likely than not that the fact is true. [¶] If the People have not met this
burden, you must disregard this evidence entirely. [¶] If you decide that the defendant
committed the uncharged acts, you may, but are not required to, consider that evidence
for the limited purpose of deciding whether: [¶] The defendant’s alleged actions were
not the result of mistake or accident. [¶] Do not consider this evidence for any other
purpose. [¶] Do not conclude from this evidence that the defendant has a bad character
or is disposed to commit a crime. [¶] If you conclude that the defendant committed the
uncharged acts, that conclusion is only one factor to consider along with all the other
evidence. It is not sufficient by itself to prove that the defendant is guilty of the crimes
charged. The People must still prove each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.” (Italics
added.)
16
b. Applicable legal principles.
Evidence Code section 1101, subdivision (b), allows evidence of uncharged
conduct when it is relevant to prove a material fact other than criminal propensity, such
as intent or the existence of a common plan or scheme. (People v. Kipp (1998)
18 Cal.4th 349, 369.) “We review a trial court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence
‘for abuse of discretion, and [the ruling] will not be disturbed unless there is a showing
that the trial court acted in an arbitrary, capricious, or absurd manner resulting in a
miscarriage of justice.’” (People v. Powell (2018) 5 Cal.5th 921, 951.) If the evidence of
the other act is rendered admissible under Evidence Code section 1101, its admissibility
“‘must not contravene other policies limiting admission, such as those contained in
Evidence Code section 352.’” (People v. Ewoldt (1994) 7 Cal.4th 380, 404.) Admission
of other acts evidence that is relevant and not unduly prejudicial does not violate a
defendant’s due process or equal protection rights. (People v. Rhoades (2019) 8 Cal.5th
393, 415.)
c. Analysis.
The trial court’s decision to admit evidence concerning defendant’s previously
filed workers’ compensation claim was not arbitrary, capricious, or absurd. According to
defendant, he did not “knowingly submit[] any documents that would constitute
fraudulent” insurance claims. Through various witnesses’ testimony, defendant claimed
he was intentionally poked with a dirty needle by an inmate. When confronted with his
initial claim of having been accidentally poked, he elicited testimony from Dr. Flores,
who diagnosed him with PTSD, and stated defendant “could have been suffering from an
17
amnesic response,” which is the inability to recall important aspects of a trauma. In
response, the prosecution sought to introduce evidence of defendant’s prior workers’
compensation claim to show (1) his knowledge of the use of his statements to calculate
benefits, and (2) that his evolving statements regarding the mechanism of his injury were
not the result of an accident or mistake.
Although evidence of a prior legitimate workers’ compensation claim has little
probative value on the validity of the current claim, it is relevant to show a claimant’s
knowledge of the workers’ compensation system and submission of a claim. (Lund v.
San Joaquin Valley Railroad (2003) 31 Cal.4th 1, 13 [evidence of prior workers’
compensation claim relevant to worker’s credibility].) Thus, the trial court weighed the
applicable factors and concluded the evidence of defendant’s prior claim was more
probative than prejudicial. The fact that defendant previously filed for workers’
compensation benefits was pertinent to explain why the manner of his injury changed
from accidental to intentional. This evidence was limited in nature, did not unduly
consume time, and did not inject confusing issues into the trial. Because the facts of the
prior claim were never presented to the jury, it was less inflammatory than the evidence
involving defendant’s current claim.
Moreover, the jurors received CALCRIM No. 375, which advised them that the
evidence of uncharged conduct was not enough to prove guilt, that it was only one factor
to be considered, and that it could be considered for the limited purpose of determining
whether defendant’s “alleged actions were not the result of mistake or accident.” (Italics
added; see People v. Barnett (1998) 17 Cal.4th 1044, 1119 [the instruction minimized
18
any danger the jurors might rely upon the other acts’ evidence for an improper purpose].)
We presume the jury understood and followed the instruction. (People v. Smith (2007)
40 Cal.4th 483, 517-518 [“‘The crucial assumption underlying our constitutional system
of trial by jury is that jurors generally understand and faithfully follow instructions.’”].)
Defendant also contends the prosecutor violated Penal Code section 1054.1,7
which mandated the disclosure of “evidence relative to any prior workers’ compensation
claim.” However, defendant’s failure to object in the trial court on this ground forfeits
the alleged claim of discovery error on appeal. (People v. Anderson (2018) 5 Cal.5th
372, 395 [defendant forfeits claim of prosecutorial misconduct by failing to object to
evidence on grounds of discovery violation].) In any event, there was no discovery
violation because the prosecutor disclosed the evidence before trial commenced.
2. Evidence defendant retained counsel in his workers’ compensation case.
Defendant contends the trial court erred by allowing testimony that defendant
exercised his fundamental right to counsel in his workers’ compensation case in order to
suggest culpability. As we explain, we reject this contention.
On cross-examination, defense counsel asked Kofmehl if there was “any
information that was provided to [her] to show . . . that [defendant] knew of the change in
the [workers’ compensation] law?” She replied, “No.” However, when she added, “His
7 Penal Code section 1054.1, subdivision (c), in relevant part, provides: “The
prosecuting attorney shall disclose to the defendant or his or her attorney all of the
following materials and information, if it is in the possession of the prosecuting attorney
or if the prosecuting attorney knows it to be in the possession of the investigating
agencies: [¶] . . . [¶] (c) All relevant real evidence seized or obtained as a part of the
investigation of the offenses charged.”
19
attorney should have, though,” defense counsel successfully objected and moved to strike
her answer. On redirect, the prosecutor referenced defense counsel’s question regarding
defendant’s knowledge of a change in the law by asking, “[W]as there anything in your
file that indicated that the defendant would be aware of a change?” She replied, “Only
the fact that he had an attorney, and the attorney . . . should advise him.” No objection
was made. “[T]he failure to raise a timely objection forfeits the claim for appeal.”
(People v. Booker (2011) 51 Cal.4th 141, 170.) Nonetheless, defendant’s contention
presumes a right to counsel in his workers’ compensation claim case. “The Sixth
Amendment right to counsel, binding on states through the Fourteenth Amendment,
affords an indigent defendant facing incarceration the right to court-appointed counsel for
his or her defense at every ‘critical stage’ of the criminal process up to and including
sentencing and imposition of judgment.” (People v. Frazier (2020) 55 Cal.App.5th 858,
864.) Defendant has not cited to—and we are unaware of—any authority that extends
this right to workers’ compensation cases. Absent such authority, the contention fails.
3. Exclusion of cumulative defense impeachment evidence.
Defendant claims the trial court erred by limiting the number of witnesses to
testify “as to Philpott’s aggressive behavior and interactions with other inmates and
correctional officers at the facility” in order to show he “did not accidentally poke
[defendant], but intentionally poked him.” We find no error.
The prosecutor moved in limine to exclude evidence regarding Philpott’s
disciplinary record at Chino prison on the grounds none of the incidents involved a
needle exchange, and none involved defendant. At the pretrial hearing, defense counsel
20
argued that the evidence regarding Philpott’s administrative violations was relevant
because it showed his “history of” and “a habit and a custom of” disobeying rules. In
reply, the prosecutor argued the evidence was irrelevant to his credibility and did not
involve threats to a nurse. Defense counsel made an offer of proof as to certain incidents
involving nurses. With the exception of the October 15, 2017, incident when Philpott
yelled profanities at a nurse who was administering medication, the trial court excluded
evidence of the other incidents on the grounds the “probative value is substantially
outweighed by undue prejudice.”
At trial, the defense called LVN Jobe and LVN Vargas. Jobe testified that in
October 2017, Philpott yelled and screamed that the nurses did not know how to do their
job. When he rushed toward the pill line and banged on the window, Jobe called an
officer. Vargas testified that in 2018, Philpott was in the pill line when he tossed items,
including “a lancet, a cotton ball, and an alcohol pad.”
“Under the due process guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United
States Constitution, a criminal defendant has the right to testify on his or her own behalf.
[Citations.] These constitutional due process guarantees include the right to present
witnesses and evidence in support of a defense. [Citation.] As the high court has
explained, however, these rights are ‘subject to reasonable restrictions.’ [Citations.]
[¶] ‘As a general matter, the ordinary rules of evidence do not impermissibly infringe on
the accused’s right to present a defense.’” (People v. Mickel (2016) 2 Cal.5th 181, 218.)
Therefore, the trial court, exercising its discretion under Evidence Code section 352, may
exclude cumulative impeachment evidence without violating the defendant’s right to
21
present a defense. (People v. Gurule (2002) 28 Cal.4th 557, 619-620.) To establish a
constitutional violation, the defendant must show that the impeachment evidence “‘would
have produced “a significantly different impression of [the witness’s] credibility.”’”
(People v. Virgil (2011) 51 Cal.4th 1210, 1251.)
Defendant has not made the required showing. He contends that evidence of
Philpott’s disciplinary file involving correctional officers would have established that
“Philpott did not accidentally poke [him], but intentionally poked him.” However, this
evidence would not have impeached either defendant’s supervisor or PA Harvey’s
testimony that defendant claimed he was accidentally injured. Nor would it have called
into question the fact that no disciplinary action was taken against Philpott as a result of
the incident involving defendant. The jury was made aware of Philpott’s dislike of
defendant, as well as Philpott’s outburst toward others, including nurses, while waiting in
the pill line. Testimony concerning his conflicts with correctional officers amounted to
nothing more than cumulative impeachment evidence, which had minimal probative
value. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding it. (Evid. Code, § 352.)
Moreover, any error in excluding the evidence was harmless considering defendant’s
initial admission to his supervisor and PA Harvey that he was accidentally injured.
(People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836 (Watson).)
4. Admission of PA Harvey’s Preliminary Hearing Testimony.
Defendant asserts the trial court erred by allowing agent Oden to testify
concerning PA Harvey’s preliminary hearing testimony. He argues the evidence of
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PA Harvey’s testimony was hearsay, and the nature of the proceeding (preliminary
hearing) “is completely irrelevant and only serves to prejudice the jury.” We disagree.
At trial, agent Oden testified he interviewed defendant, and with the use of his
deposition transcript, confronted him about his “change in the mechanism [(accidental vs.
intentional)] of injury.” Specifically, on June 4, 2013, defendant told his supervisor he
poked himself with a dirty needle, and he told PA Harvey he was accidentally poked with
a dirty needle. Later, the following exchange occurred:
“[PROSECUTOR:] And with regard to Physician’s Assistant Harvey and his
written statement that is in his medical report, were you also present when he testified at
the preliminary hearing?
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection, Your Honor. Relevance.
“THE COURT: Overruled. [¶] You may continue.
“[PROSECUTOR]: Were you also present at the preliminary hearing when he
testified about the nature of the statements that were written in his report?
“A. Yes, I was.
“Q. And was that similar testimony as to what he testified in this case in front of
this jury about the defendant’s statements to him?
“A. Yes.
“[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Objection, Your Honor. Beyond cross.
“THE COURT: Overruled. Answer will stand.”
Initially, we note that defendant failed to object to the testimony on hearsay
grounds. Generally, objections to evidence on the specific grounds urged on appeal must
23
be made, or the objection is forfeited. (People v. Partida (2005) 37 Cal.4th 428, 433-434
[“‘“[D]efendant’s failure to make a timely and specific objection” on the ground asserted
on appeal makes that ground not cognizable.’”]; Evid. Code, § 353, subd. (a).) In any
event, even if the contention was preserved for appeal, we reject it.
No preliminary hearing testimony was introduced into evidence. Rather, agent
Oden only answered, “yes,” to the question of whether PA Harvey’s preliminary hearing
testimony was consistent with his trial testimony concerning defendant’s statements.
Since agent Oden did not reveal or repeat PA Harvey’s preliminary hearing testimony,
there was no hearsay evidence. Nonetheless, assuming the evidence was hearsay, and the
trial court abused its discretion in admitting it, any error was harmless. (People v. Duarte
(2000) 24 Cal.4th 603, 618-619 [Watson standard applies to the erroneous admission of
hearsay evidence].) Because the evidence of defendant’s guilt was strong and compelling
(see discussion II.A), we conclude that it is not “reasonably probable that a result more
favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error.”
(Watson, supra, 46 Cal.2d at p. 836.)
C. The Trial Court Properly Refused to Unseal Jurors’ Identifying
Information.
Defendant contends the trial court abused its discretion by denying his request to
unseal jurors’ identifying information so that defense counsel could ascertain the content
of conversations between members of the jury, on the one hand, and the prosecutor or
agent Oden, on the other. We find no abuse of discretion.
24
1. Additional background information.
The jury returned its verdict on June 7, 2019, finding defendant guilty on all
charges. On August 16, defendant petitioned the court to disclose the jurors’ identities
(Code Civ. Proc., § 237, subd. (b)), and he moved for a new trial based on jury
misconduct. In his petition, defendant alleged that his wife had observed agent Oden
speak to the jury when the judge and counsel would go into chambers; but, “[a]s soon as
[the judge and counsel] returned to the courtroom, the conversations immediately
stopped.” Also, defendant’s wife “observed [the prosecutor] and [agent] Oden speaking
with . . . juror #11, for approximately five (5) minutes outside of the courtroom during
one of the lunch recesses.” Defendant argued that these conversations “could have had a
significant impact during jury deliberations.” Defendant’s wife submitted a declaration
wherein she stated she had observed these conversations and believed that they “were
inappropriate, potentially harmful and bias against [defendant] preventing him from a fair
trial.” She added that she was unaware “that it was against the rules for [agent] Oden to
speak with jurors; otherwise, [she] would have brought it to the attention of [defendant’s]
attorney.” Defense counsel also submitted a declaration stating that “after the conclusion
of the jury trial, it was brought to [his] attention that [defendant’s wife] observed [agent]
Oden communicating with the jurors during the jury trial.” In his motion for new trial,
defendant alleged jury misconduct based on these alleged conversations between jurors
and the prosecution.
25
Opposing the petition, the prosecutor argued the “alleged observations and
interpretation of the defendant’s wife is not sufficient to establish good cause for release
of the juror’s personal identifying information.” The prosecutor accused defendant of
“seeking permission to go [on] a fishing expedition based on a speculative account of
[his] wife.”
In opposition to the motion for new trial, the prosecution submitted the
declarations of agent Oden and the deputy assigned to the courtroom where defendant’s
case was tried. Agent Oden declared that neither he nor the prosecutor spoke with any
juror outside the courtroom. Inside the courtroom, he admitted that when the judge and
counsel went into chambers, “jokes and comments were made by the bailiff and jurors.”
He recalled “a comment that something should be played on the overhead projector
during the chambers conferences,” and he opined that “it should be a cartoon.” He also
recalled jurors speaking about motorcycles, and he commented, “while riding a
motorcycle, the protective turtle armor should be worn for safety.” Otherwise, agent
Oden denied speaking to “a juror specifically” or making any comment relating to the
trial. The courtroom deputy declared that when the judge and counsel conducted a
sidebar, he would “approach the Jurors and ensured they do not speak about the case”;
however, he permitted “them to speak about any other topic or ask [him] questions about
[his] experience as a Deputy.” He recalled one occasion when agent Oden “made
comments to [him] as [he] was speaking with the jurors. The comments were unrelated
to the case, and [he] quickly answered him.” The deputy never observed agent Oden
26
“convers[ing] with any of the jurors” and, if he had, he “would have stopped it
immediately and reported it to the Judge as soon as possible.”
After reviewing the petition, both sides’ declarations, and the relevant case law,
the trial court denied the request, stating, “The Court does not find a sufficient showing
here. [Defendant’s wife] herself says that she believes—and the Court will emphasize
‘believes’—that the conversations she saw were inappropriate, potentially harmful, and
biased. That is nothing more than speculation. There’s nothing in [her] or [defense
counsel’s] declarations stating any evidence as to what the conversations were about.
[¶] In addition, throughout the trial, the Court consistently admonished the jury to not
discuss the case amongst themselves or anyone unrelated to the trial, to not form or
express any opinion until the case was submitted for deliberation. There’s no evidence
before this Court that the jury violated this Court’s order.”
2. Analysis.
After the jury’s verdict is recorded in a criminal case, personal identifying
information about the jurors is sealed. (Code Civ. Proc., § 237, subd. (a)(2).) Under
Code of Civil Procedure section 206, subdivision (g), “a defendant or defendant’s
counsel may, following the recording of a jury’s verdict in a criminal proceeding,
petition the court for access to personal juror identifying information within the court’s
records necessary for the defendant to communicate with jurors for the purpose of
developing a motion for new trial or any other lawful purpose. This information consists
of jurors’ names, addresses, and telephone numbers.” However, all requests for
disclosure of juror identifying information must conform with Code of Civil Procedure
27
section 237, subdivision (b), which requires a declaration establishing good cause.
“Good cause, in the context of a petition for disclosure to support a motion for a new
trial based on juror misconduct, requires ‘a sufficient showing to support a reasonable
belief that jury misconduct occurred . . . .’ [Citations.] Good cause does not exist where
the allegations of jury misconduct are speculative, conclusory, vague, or unsupported.”
(People v. Cook (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 341, 345-346.) We review the denial of a
petition to disclose juror identifying information for abuse of discretion. (Id. at p. 346.)
Here, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the petition for
disclosure of juror identifying information because the declarations failed to establish
good cause. Defendant’s wife’s declaration offers nothing more than her “belie[f]” that
jurors engaged in inappropriate conversations with agent Oden. From this “belie[f],” she
supposes jury misconduct prevented her husband from having a fair trial. However, her
belief amounts to nothing more than pure speculation. This speculation was refuted by
the declarations of agent Oden and the courtroom deputy.
D. There Was No Sua Sponte Duty to Instruct on a Mistake of Fact Defense.
Pointing to the testimony of Dr. Flores, nurse Tabot, and Deputy Escarcega,
defendant contends the trial court prejudicially erred in failing to, sua sponte, instruct on
28
the defense of mistake of fact.8 We disagree.
“‘“It is settled that in criminal cases, even in the absence of a request, a trial court
must instruct on general principles of law relevant to the issues raised by the evidence”’
and ‘“necessary for the jury’s understanding of the case.”’ [Citations.] It is also well
settled that this duty to instruct extends to defenses ‘if it appears . . . the defendant is
relying on such a defense, or if there is substantial evidence supportive of such a defense
and the defense is not inconsistent with the defendant’s theory of the case.’” (People v.
Brooks (2017) 3 Cal.5th 1, 73.) “If the defendant had an honest and reasonable belief in
the existence of circumstances, which, if true, would make the act an innocent act, the
mistake of fact defense applies. [Citation.] A mistake of fact occurs when a person
understands the facts to be other than what they are. [Citation.] ‘A mistake of fact exists
“when one makes an erroneous perception of the facts as they actually exist. . . . The
defense arises only where the defendant misperceives an objective state of existing
8 CALCRIM No. 3406, the standard jury instruction for mistake of fact, provides:
“The defendant is not guilty of _____________ if (he/she) did
not have the intent or mental state required to commit the crime because (he/she)
[reasonably] did not know a fact or [reasonably and] mistakenly believed a fact.
“If the defendant's conduct would have been lawful under the facts as (he/she)
[reasonably] believed them to be, (he/she) did not commit _____________ .
“If you find that the defendant believed that _____________ [and if you find that belief was reasonable], (he/she) did not have the
specific intent or mental state required for _____________ .
“If you have a reasonable doubt about whether the defendant had the specific
intent or mental state required for _____________ , you must find
(him/her) not guilty of (that crime/those crimes).”
29
fact . . . .”’” (People v. Orlosky (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 257, 275.) Our review is de
novo. (People v. Posey (2004) 32 Cal.4th 193, 218.)
Defendant argues the following evidence is sufficient to support the defense:
(1) Dr. Flores opined that defendant suffered from PTSD, and “could have been suffering
from an amnesic response,” which is the inability to recall important aspects of a trauma;
(2) nurse Tabot testified that he “believed that Philpott had intentionally poked
[defendant] with the syringe”; and (3) Deputy Escarcega testified that, although “he
observed an incident between Philpott and [defendant],” “he could not definitively say
whether it was an accident or intentional.” However, since the jury was tasked with
determining whether defendant knowingly made a false statement to obtain workers’
compensation benefits, it is his statements that are relevant. As the trial court correctly
pointed out, what others supposed about defendant’s statements is irrelevant because
“[t]he question the jury had to answer was: Did the substance of defendant’s story
change over time? With their verdict, they found that it did.” Moreover, defendant never
claimed he made any mistake in his statements regarding the mechanism of his injury.
Rather, he maintained the written information he provided correctly stated that he got
poked, but others misinterpreted his words to mean he was accidentally poked. In other
words, defendant never relied on a mistake of fact defense. Therefore, the trial court did
not err in failing to instruct on mistake of fact.
E. The Trial Court Properly Denied Defendant’s Motion for New Trial.
In his final argument, defendant challenges the denial of his motion for new trial.
Our standard of review is unclear. There is authority requiring independent review of the
30
denial of a new trial motion to ensure a miscarriage of justice has not occurred. (See
People v. Ault (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1250, 1260-1261, fn. 4 [listing decisions that apply the
independent review to denial of new trial motion based on juror misconduct].) However,
some decisions apply an abuse of discretion standard to the denial of a motion for new
trial. (See, e.g., People v. Lightsey (2012) 54 Cal.4th 668, 729 [denial of motion for new
trial based on trial court’s misdirection of the jury in a matter of law or prosecutorial
misconduct]; People v. McCurdy (2014) 59 Cal.4th 1063, 1108 [denial of motion for new
trial based on evidence discovered between the guilt and penalty phases].) We need not
decide which standard to apply because under either standard, we affirm the denial.
In his motion for new trial, defendant asserted the following claims of error:
(1) the admission of his “prior workers’ compensation claim without first giving notice to
Defense”; (2) the admission of evidence that he had “retain[ed] counsel in his [current]
workers’ compensation claim”; (3) the admission of “statements during the preliminary
hearing”; (4) jury misconduct; and (5) the “failure to give a sua sponte instruction” on
mistake of fact. We have addressed each claim separately and found no error.
Consequently, the trial court properly denied defendant’s motion for new trial.
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III. DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
McKINSTER
Acting P. J.
We concur:
SLOUGH
J.
RAPHAEL
J.
32