City of Billings v. Edward , 366 Mont. 107 ( 2012 )

August 28 2012
DA 11-0338
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2012 MT 186CITY OF BILLINGS,
Plaintiff and Appellee,
v.
DARLA EDWARD,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Thirteenth Judicial District,
In and For the County of Yellowstone, Cause No. DC 10-673
Honorable Gregory R. Todd, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Wade M. Zolynski, Chief Appellate Defender, Sarah Chase Rosario,
Assistant Appellate Defender, Helena, Montana
For Appellee:
Steve Bullock, Montana Attorney General, Mardell Ployhar, Assistant
Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Brent Brooks, Billings City Attorney, Curtis Bevolden, Deputy City
Attorney, Billings, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: April 4, 2012
Decided: August 28, 2012
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Patricia O. Cotter delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Darla Edward (Edward) appeals from the Order Affirming Restitution Obligation
(Order), entered by the Thirteenth Judicial District Court of Yellowstone County,
Montana, following a collision between her car and a bicyclist and an ensuing Municipal
Court trial and sentencing.
¶2 We affirm.
ISSUES
¶3 Edward raises four issues on appeal. We restate the issues as follows:
¶4 1. Did the District Court err when it held that the jury determined causation?
¶5 2. Does substantive evidence in the record support the amount of restitution
awarded?
¶6 3. Were Edward’s constitutional rights to a jury and a fair trial violated?
¶7 4. Did Edward receive ineffective assistance of counsel?
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
¶8 On May 26, 2010, Edward exited a beauty salon in Billings, Montana. As Edward
drove out of the parking lot, Karen Zaso (Zaso) was riding her bicycle on the sidewalk,
going southbound against traffic. According to two witnesses, a collision occurred
between Edward’s car and Zaso’s bicycle. Joseph Desson (Desson), one of the witnesses,
testified that Edward’s car hit Zaso’s bicycle and that Zaso was thrown into the street in
front of his vehicle. Desson said he stopped abruptly to avoid running over Zaso, and
was then rear-ended by the vehicle behind him. Lynsey Hagan (Hagan), the other
witness and a passenger in the vehicle behind the vehicle that rear-ended Desson’s
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vehicle, also testified that Edward’s vehicle hit Zaso’s bicycle. According to Hagan,
Edward did not appear to know she had hit someone, and she looked as if she was going
to run Zaso over after Zaso fell to the ground. Hagan testified that when Zaso got up,
Edward said something to Zaso and then drove away. Hagan memorized Edward’s
license plate number and gave it to the police.
¶9 A Billings police officer (Officer) responded to the accident and spoke to the
witnesses at the scene. The Officer’s report stated that Edward’s vehicle pulled out of the
location of the salon and hit a bicyclist on the sidewalk, knocking the bicyclist into the
northbound driving lane of the street and causing another accident. According to the
report, Zaso was transported by ambulance to the Billings Clinic Emergency Room.
¶10 Later that same day the Officer spoke to Edward. Edward denied colliding with
the bicyclist, though she saw the rear-end vehicle collision occur when Desson abruptly
stopped his vehicle. After she watched the collision, Edward said she first saw Zaso
when Zaso walked her bicycle around the front end of Edward’s vehicle. Though
Edward knew an accident had occurred, she believed she was not required to remain at
the scene as she did not think she was involved in the accident. The Officer examined
Edward’s vehicle that same day and found no evidence of impact on the vehicle. The
Officer later testified that a collision of this sort would not necessarily be expected to
leave marks on the vehicle.
¶11 The Officer cited Edward for failure to remain at an accident involving personal
injury (Failure to Remain), a criminal violation under § 61-7-103, MCA (2009), and
failure to immediately notify authorities of an accident resulting in personal injury or at
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least $500 in property damage (Failure to Notify), a criminal violation under § 61-7-108,
MCA (2009). The Officer did not issue a citation to Zaso, though under §§ 24-602 and
-609 of the City Code of Billings, it is a misdemeanor for anyone other than authorized
law enforcement personnel to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk within a business district,
pursuant to § 61-8-608, MCA (2009). Billings City Code (Mont.) §§ 24-602 and -609
(current through August 9, 2012).
¶12 A jury trial was held in Billings Municipal Court (Municipal Court) on November
4, 2010, and Edward was convicted of both criminal charges. The jury heard testimony
from Edward, Zaso, Desson, Hagan, and the Officer. During deliberations, the jury was
initially deadlocked. Without objection, the court delivered an Allen1 charge. After
further deliberations, the jury asked to re-hear some testimony. The court denied the
jury’s request and told the jury it needed to return a unanimous verdict that evening or it
could return in the morning to continue deliberating. The jury finished deliberating
before dinnertime and returned a guilty verdict on both counts.
¶13 Meanwhile, in October 2010, Edward’s insurer, State Farm Insurance (State
Farm), paid Zaso $21,866.58 for her medical expenses. Zaso also sought reimbursement
for the following items: $10 for the accident report, $515 for travel to and from court,
$64.13 for lodging when appearing for court, $678.98 for new glasses, $425 for the
security deposit for her apartment, $28.57 for Neosporin, gauze pads, and other medical
supplies, $4,080 in lost wages, $125 for ink and paper, $15.98 for postage costs, and
1
Allen v. U.S., 164 U.S. 492, 17 S. Ct. 154 (1896). “An Allen-instruction is a supplemental jury
instruction given when jurors are apparently deadlocked.” State v. Norquay, 2011 MT 34, ¶ 33,
359 Mont. 257, 248 P.3d 817.
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$150 for her personal time. State Farm declined to pay these costs, as it had already paid
Zaso for medical supplies as well as a new bicycle, helmet, and clothing.
¶14 Hearings were held for sentencing and for purposes of establishing restitution.
Edward moved to dismiss the restitution hearing, arguing that she had not been found
guilty of actually causing the accident, that causation must be tried before a jury, and that
Zaso was not entitled to restitution. The Municipal Court rejected Edward’s motion. On
her conviction of Failure to Remain, Edward was sentenced to one year in jail with all but
thirty days suspended; the thirty days were suspended on the condition that she complete
one hundred hours of community service, pay $4,148.60 in restitution to Zaso, and pay
court costs and fees.
¶15 On February 1, 2011, Edward formally appealed the Municipal Court’s restitution
order to the District Court. She did not challenge the convictions, suspended sentence, or
community service requirement. Edward argued that the restitution obligation should be
reversed on four grounds: (1) the absence of a causal connection between the offense and
the damage; (2) the causation standard of § 46-18-243(2)(a), MCA (2009), was not met;
(3) she should not be liable for damages Zaso could not recover in a civil suit; and (4) the
amount of restitution was not based on substantive evidence. The State of Montana
(State) responded on behalf of the City of Billings, arguing that the causation standard
was met. After the matter was fully briefed, the District Court affirmed the Municipal
Court’s restitution obligation, finding it reasonable upon application of the restitution
standards set forth in State v. Ness, 2009 MT 300, ¶ 20, 352 Mont. 317, 216 P.3d 773.
The court found that the evidence in the record substantiated the restitution award.
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¶16 Edward appeals.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶17 We review a sentence of less than one year of actual incarceration for both legality
and abuse of discretion. State v. Breeding, 2008 MT 162, ¶ 10, 343 Mont. 323, 184 P.3d
313; State v. Herman, 2008 MT 187, ¶ 11, 343 Mont. 494, 188 P.3d 978. A criminal
sentence is generally reviewed for “legality to determine whether the sentence is within
statutory parameters.” Ness, ¶ 7. “A sentencing court abuses its discretion when it acts
arbitrarily without employment of conscientious judgment or exceeds the bounds of
reason, resulting in substantial injustice.” Breeding, ¶ 10.
¶18 We review the appropriate measure of restitution for correctness. State v.
Johnson, 2011 MT 116, ¶ 13, 360 Mont. 443, 254 P.3d 578. We review a district court’s
findings of fact regarding the amount of restitution to determine whether they are clearly
erroneous. Johnson, ¶ 13. A finding of fact is “clearly erroneous if [it is] not supported
by substantial evidence.” Breeding, ¶ 11. “Substantial evidence is ‘evidence that a
reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.’ ” Johnston v.
Palmer, 2007 MT 99, ¶ 26, 337 Mont. 101, 158 P.3d 998.
¶19 “We invoke plain error review sparingly, on a case-by-case basis, according to
narrow circumstances, and by considering the totality of the case’s circumstances.” State
v. Wilson, 2011 MT 277, ¶ 16, 362 Mont. 416, 264 P.3d 1146.
¶20 “A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel presents mixed questions of law and
fact that we review de novo.” Herman, ¶ 10.
DISCUSSION
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¶21 Issue One: Did the District Court err when it held that the jury determined
causation?
¶22 Edward argues on appeal that the District Court and the Municipal Court erred
when they concluded that Edward caused Zaso’s accident, as the elements of the charges
of Failure to Remain and Failure to Notify establish no more than the fact that Edward
was involved in an accident. Thus, she argues, causation of the accident was never
determined and the court was therefore without authority to award Zaso restitution.
Edward maintains that the jury should have been required to determine causation prior to
the court awarding restitution, and that because no causal connection exists between the
two offenses and the damage to Zaso, the restitution award was improper. Edward also
argues that Montana’s law of comparative negligence entitles Edward to have a jury
determine contributory negligence of the parties before restitution is assessed.
¶23 The State asserts that the jury did determine causation when it found Edward
guilty of the two crimes, and therefore a sufficient causal connection existed between
Edward’s criminal conduct and Zaso’s loss to support the restitution award. The State
also argues that Edward raises the comparative negligence claim for the first time on
appeal.
¶24 Edward was convicted of Failure to Remain, pursuant to § 61-7-103, MCA, which
states in pertinent part:
(1) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in
injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the
scene of the accident or as close to the accident as possible but shall then
return to and in every event remain at the scene of the accident until the
driver has fulfilled the requirements of 61-7-105. Each stop at the scene of
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the accident must be made without obstructing traffic more than is
necessary.
Edward was also convicted of Failure to Notify under § 61-7-108, MCA, which provides:
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or
death of any person or property damage to an apparent extent of $500 or
more shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give
notice of the accident to the local police department if the accident occurs
within a municipality, otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or the
nearest office of the highway patrol.
¶25 The Municipal Court ordered Edward to pay Zaso restitution. Section
46-18-241(1), MCA (2009), provides:
(1) As provided in 46-18-201, a sentencing court shall, as part of the
sentence, require an offender to make full restitution to any victim who has
sustained a pecuniary loss, including a person suffering an economic loss.
The duty to pay full restitution under the sentence remains with the
offender or the offender’s estate until full restitution is paid, whether or not
the offender is under state supervision. If the offender is under state
supervision, payment of restitution is a condition of any probation or
parole.
For purposes of this statute, “victim” means “a person who suffers loss of property,
bodily injury, or death as a result of the commission of an offense.” Section
46-18-243(2)(a)(i)(A), MCA (2009). “Pecuniary loss” is defined as:
(a) all special damages, but not general damages, substantiated by
evidence in the record, that a person could recover against the offender in a
civil action arising out of the facts or events constituting the offender’s
criminal activities, including without limitation out-of-pocket losses, such
as medical expenses, loss of income, expenses reasonably incurred in
obtaining ordinary and necessary services that the victim would have
performed if not injured, expenses reasonably incurred in attending court
proceedings related to the commission of the offense, and reasonable
expenses related to funeral and burial or crematory services;
(b) the full replacement cost of property taken, destroyed, harmed, or
otherwise devalued as a result of the offender’s criminal conduct;
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(c) future medical expenses that the victim can reasonably be
expected to incur as a result of the offender’s criminal conduct, including
the cost of psychological counseling, therapy, and treatment; and
(d) reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the victim in
filing charges or in cooperating in the investigation and prosecution of the
offense.
Section 46-18-243(1), MCA (2009).
¶26 We have previously stated that “a causal relation between the offender’s criminal
conduct and the pecuniary loss is the touchstone for determining whether a person or
entity is a victim entitled to restitution.” State v. Brownback, 2010 MT 96, ¶ 20, 356
Mont. 190, 232 P.3d 385 (citing Breeding, ¶ 13). We will not hold an offender
accountable for restitution for offenses he or she did not commit. Breeding, ¶ 13. Rather,
“a sentencing condition must have ‘some correlation or connection to the underlying
offense for which the defendant is being sentenced,’ ” and the nexus requirement applies
“to either the offense for which the offender is being sentenced, or to the offender himself
or herself.” Ness, ¶¶ 10, 11 n. 2 (citing State v. Ashby, 2008 MT 83, ¶ 15, 342 Mont. 187,
179 P.3d 1164).
¶27 A victim who “suffer[s] loss of property ‘as a result of’ the offender’s criminal
conduct,” is entitled to restitution. Brownback, ¶ 20. We said in Ness that when applying
§ 46-18-241(1), MCA, some interpretation is required to determine “just how remote a
loss can be before it can no longer be considered to be ‘a result of the offense.’ ” Ness,
¶ 20 (quoting State v. LaTray, 2000 MT 262, ¶ 14, 302 Mont. 11, 11 P.3d 116). We
noted in Ness our understanding that the Legislature intended that restitution be required
“for persons who are affected by a defendant’s actions.” Ness, ¶ 20. The language of
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§ 46-18-241(1), MCA, “does not imply that ‘direct’ losses are the only ones that qualify.”
Ness, ¶ 20 (quoting LaTray, ¶ 14).
¶28 Applying the restitution standards as set forth in Ness, the District Court found that
the Municipal Court did not abuse its discretion in awarding restitution to Zaso. The
District Court reasoned that neither of the offenses for which Edward was convicted
included as an element that the defendant must cause injury to the victim. The District
Court found the testimony from the neutral third parties “compelling,” and concluded
there was overwhelming evidence against Edward. The District Court observed that a
sentencing court shall require an offender to make full restitution to any victim who has
sustained pecuniary loss, including that which a person could recover against the offender
in a civil action “arising out of the facts or events constituting the offender’s criminal
activities.” Section 46-18-243(1)(a), MCA; State v. Kalal, 2009 MT 103, ¶ 8, 350 Mont.
128, 204 P.3d 1240.
¶29 Citing Breeding, Edward argues that because the jury did not find that she caused
the accident, it was error for the court to require her to pay restitution. This case is easily
distinguishable from Breeding. In Breeding, the defendant was convicted of theft of a
motor vehicle and ordered to pay restitution for damage to the car. Breeding, ¶¶ 4, 5, 8.
Breeding appealed, arguing that the order of restitution against him was improper
because the damage to the vehicle was caused by another individual before Breeding
became involved in the subsequent theft of the car. Breeding, ¶¶ 1, 3, 5. We agreed,
finding no statutory authority for imputing to Breeding the damage caused by a third
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party. Breeding, ¶ 19. Here, by contrast, the court concluded based upon the evidence
that Edward was directly involved in the accident.
¶30 It is undisputed that Zaso incurred losses that arose out of the facts or events of the
accident, as substantiated by the evidence in the record and as required by
§ 46-18-243(1)(a), MCA. The question is whether Zaso’s losses were “a result of the
commission of an offense,” as required by § 46-18-243(2)(a)(i)(A), MCA, and the
associated provision for restitution, § 46-18-241(1), MCA. The Municipal Court found
the evidence provided to the jury, including the testimony of four of the five witnesses,
was sufficient to allow it to determine that Zaso’s losses resulted from Edward’s
commission of the offenses. This testimony included that of Desson and Hagan, both of
whom stated they saw Edward’s vehicle hit Zaso’s bicycle. Given the strength of this
testimony, we cannot conclude that the court erred in determining that Zaso’s losses
resulted from Edward’s commission of the offenses.
¶31 Edward also argues on appeal that Zaso broke the law by riding her bicycle on the
sidewalk, in violation of § 24-602 of the City Code of Billings, which provides that “[n]o
person shall ride a bicycle on a sidewalk within a business district except authorized law
enforcement personnel.” Billings City Code at §§ 24-602 and -609. She therefore posits
that Zaso was negligent per se, and that her negligence contributed to her damages.
Edward maintains that Zaso’s negligence should have been placed before the jury for its
determination of comparative fault of the parties. She argues that the amount of
restitution should thereafter have been adjusted to account for Zaso’s comparative
negligence.
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¶32 The problem is that Edward raises this argument for the first time on appeal. In
both the Municipal Court at the restitution hearing and on appeal to the District Court,
Edward argued that the court lacked the authority to impose any restitution order against
her because the offenses of which she was convicted did not state as an element that she
actually caused the accident. In other words, she argued that no causal connection
existed between her conduct and the claims for restitution. She did not raise the issue of
Zaso’s negligence or comparative fault in either court; she does so for the first time on
appeal. We generally decline to consider new issues on appeal. State v. Longfellow,
2008 MT 343, ¶ 19, 346 Mont. 286, 194 P.3d 694; State v. West, 2008 MT 338, ¶ 16, 346
Mont. 244, 194 P.3d 683. This fact distinguishes this case from City of Whitefish v.
Jentile, 2012 MT 185, ¶ 28, ___ Mont. ___, ___ P.3d ___, in which we concluded that
Jentile had raised the negligence of the other party as a defense at the time of the
restitution hearing.
¶33 We conclude that the lower courts did not err in awarding restitution to Zaso, and
that the award was legal and not an abuse of discretion.
¶34 Issue Two: Does substantive evidence in the record support the amount of
restitution awarded?
¶35 At the restitution hearing on December 21, 2010, the Municipal Court ordered
Edward to pay $4,148.60 in restitution to Zaso for lost wages, eyeglasses, a copy of the
accident report, and mileage costs. The District Court affirmed the award, and Edward
appeals on the basis that the record lacks substantive evidence to support the amount.
12
Edward argues that Zaso failed to provide substantial evidence of her employment, hours
and salary, and that she lost her job as a result of the accident, among other things.
¶36 Both parties were represented by counsel at the restitution hearing. Counsel for
the City of Billings presented evidence in support of the request for restitution. Edward’s
counsel did not present any evidence, though she did cross-examine Zaso about some of
the evidence and the amounts requested. The Order from the District Court specifically
lists the evidence that was admitted at the hearing and which was before the Municipal
Court when it decided to award $4,148.60 in restitution.2
¶37 Under Section 46-18-242, MCA (2009), proof of pecuniary loss may be made
either by way of affidavit submitted with the presentence report, or by way of evidence of
the victim’s loss at the time of sentencing. Edward cites State v. Coluccio, 2009 MT 273,
¶ 45, 352 Mont. 122, 214 P.3d 1282, overruled in part on other grounds, State v. Kirn,
2012 MT 69, ¶ 8 n. 1, 364 Mont. 356, 274 P.3d 746, for the assertion that assumptions
and speculative calculations are insufficient upon which to make findings of fact. The
findings of fact in the instant case were based on the evidence presented at the hearing,
including Zaso’s sworn testimony. Zaso’s sworn testimony satisfied the statutory
2
The District Court Order states that:
[T]he following were admitted into evidence at the hearing: a letter written by
Zaso to State Farm, Edward’s insurance company; a letter from State Farm to
Zaso; various medical bills from several providers, including Heights Eyecare,
Daniel J. Farren, O.D., Billings Clinic, and Stetson Physical Therapy; an invoice
from The Spoke Shop and an exhibit documenting the bicycle’s value; a police
report; a letter wherein Zaso obtained a job in Butte, MT; a notice to pay rent or
vacate, the bottom of which included handwriting documenting Zaso’s lost wages
at Denny’s; a receipt for a hotel room; and gas receipts.
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requirement and was not based on speculation. We conclude there was sufficient
substantive evidence to support the restitution award.
¶38 Issue Three: Were Edward’s constitutional rights to a jury and a fair trial
violated?
¶39 Edward argues that her fundamental constitutional rights to procedural and
substantive due process were violated when she was deprived of her property without a
jury determining causation and apportionment, when the City of Billings did not cite
Zaso for violating the law, and when the Municipal Court administered the Allen charge.
¶40 Our conclusion in Issue One is dispositive of these causation and comparative
negligence arguments. As reasoned above, the sentencing court was not required to order
the jury to determine causation or comparative negligence under the facts and
circumstances of this criminal case, whether for the purpose of awarding restitution or to
satisfy Edward’s constitutional rights to a jury and a fair trial. Because causation is not
an element of Edward’s criminal convictions and Edward did not properly preserve the
comparative negligence defense, we decline to apply plain error review in this case and
on these grounds. Furthermore, a mere assertion that constitutional rights are implicated
or that a manifest miscarriage of justice would result if review of the claimed error did
not occur is insufficient to implicate the plain error doctrine. Wilson, ¶ 16. Edward’s
claim also rests upon what she calls the State’s “arbitrary charging decisions.” It is not
up to this Court to determine who should be charged with what violation. We decline to
apply plain error review under these circumstances.
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¶41 After the jury indicated it might be deadlocked, the Municipal Court gave the
following instruction:
The judicial process assigns tasks to the various units. It is the task
of the witnesses to testify truthfully as they recall the facts. It is the task of
the lawyers to prepare the case for final submission to the trier of the facts,
the jury. It is the task of the Judge to preside, instruct you as to the law and
to rule on the admissibility of the evidence. It is the task of the jury to
decide the case. The ultimate responsibility of the jury is to render a
verdict in this cause. You are not partisan nor are you advocates in this
matter but you are the judges; you are the judges of the facts; it is you and
you alone that can render a verdict in this case. There is no reason to
believe that any other 6 men and women could possess any more ability,
intelligence and courage to do the ultimate task assigned to a jury under the
American system of justice.
The final test of the quality of your service will be in the verdict
which you return to this Court. It is only by rendering a verdict in this
cause that you can make a definite contribution to efficient judicial
administration as you arrive at a just and possible verdict. We have never
asked, as a matter of fact we have instructed you, that you should not
surrender your honest convictions in this matter for the mere purpose of
returning a verdict or solely because of the opinion of other jurors, but this
does not mean that you should avoid a task assigned to you of rendering a
verdict in this cause.
Edward argues that her fundamental constitutional rights to procedural and substantive
due process were violated when the Municipal Court gave this Allen charge 3 to the jury,
as she alleges it was “coercive and improper” and “encouraged the minority to surrender
their convictions to provide a unanimous verdict.” Citing Norquay, Edward argues that
providing the instruction led to a manifest miscarriage of justice, as it did not allow the
jurors “to hold steadfast to their opinions.”
3
This jury instruction is the Montana criminal pattern jury instruction for a potentially hung jury,
and is also known as the Allen instruction. Mont. Pattern Jury Instr. Crim. 1-121 (2009).
15
¶42 Under the plain error doctrine’s two-part test, Edward must show that the alleged
error implicates a fundamental right and that failing to review it “may result in a manifest
miscarriage of justice, may leave unsettled the question of the fundamental fairness of the
trial or proceedings, or may compromise the integrity of the judicial process.” Wilson,
¶ 28. Instead, Edward merely asserts that “dynamiting the jury [with the Allen charge]
resulted in a conviction where there [otherwise] would have been a hung jury,” and a
hung jury would have precluded a restitution hearing. We find insufficient evidence in
the record to support this assertion. We have previously stated that “a mere assertion that
constitutional rights are implicated or that failure to review the claimed error may result
in a manifest miscarriage of justice is insufficient to implicate the plain error doctrine.”
State v. Gunderson, 2010 MT 166, ¶ 100, 357 Mont. 142, 237 P.3d 74.
¶43 We have repeatedly upheld application of the Allen charge jury instruction.
Norquay, ¶ 36; see State v. Bieber, 2007 MT 262, ¶ 70, 339 Mont. 309, 170 P.3d 444;
State v. Cline, 170 Mont. 520, 540, 555 P.2d 724, 736 (1976). Though the language of
the instruction was changed in 2011 by Norquay, there is no evidence that the instruction
was inappropriately applied at the time it was given, and neither party objected to the
court giving the instruction. Norquay, ¶ 43. Edward did not carry her requisite burden,
and we therefore decline to review the application of the Allen charge for plain error.
¶44 Issue Four: Did Edward receive ineffective assistance of counsel?
¶45 Finally, Edward argues on appeal that her trial counsel provided ineffective
assistance by failing to argue that the restitution hearing violated Edward’s rights to due
process, a fair trial, and an impartial jury, and that Zaso did not fit the statutory definition
16
of a victim and was therefore not entitled to restitution. In her reply brief, Edward also
argues that if this Court finds that Edward did not preserve for appeal the issue of
comparative negligence, then her counsel was ineffective for failing to do so. The State
argues that these claims should not be reviewed on direct appeal as they are not
record-based. If these claims are reviewed on direct appeal, the State asserts that Edward
has neither demonstrated that her counsel was ineffective nor that she was prejudiced by
her counsel’s performance.
¶46 We generally address only record-based claims for ineffective assistance of
counsel on direct appeal. Herman, ¶ 15. “A claim is record-based if ‘the record fully
explain[s] why counsel took the particular course of action.’ ” Herman, ¶ 15 (quoting
State v. White, 2001 MT 149, ¶ 20, 306 Mont. 58, 30 P.3d 340). “[I]f there is ‘no
plausible justification’ for counsel’s conduct,” we may address a claim that is not record-
based on direct appeal, though these situations are “relatively rare.” Herman, ¶¶ 15-16
(quoting State v. Jefferson, 2003 MT 90, ¶ 50, 315 Mont. 146, 69 P.3d 641; State v.
Kougl, 2004 MT 243, ¶ 15, 323 Mont. 6, 97 P.3d 1095).
¶47 Edward’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is not record-based, as the
record does not explain why Edward’s counsel proceeded in the manner to which Edward
objects. Because the crucial question of why is not answered by the record, Edward’s
claim is not record-based and thus not appropriate for direct appeal.
CONCLUSION
¶48 Based on the foregoing, we affirm the Order of the District Court.
/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
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We concur:
/S/ JIM RICE
/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT
/S/ BETH BAKER
/S/ BRIAN MORRIS
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