2007 Decisions

Opinions of the United

States Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit

5-1-2007

Marcavage v. Bd Trustees Temple

Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 05-5521

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 *

The Honorable David D. Dowd, Jr., Senior District Judge for the Northern District of

Ohio, sitting by designation. 

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

 

No. 05-5521

 

MICHAEL ANTHONY MARCAVAGE,

 Appellant

v.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF TEMPLE

UNIVERSITY OF THE COMMONWEALTH

SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION;

WILLIAM BERGMAN, INDIVIDUALLY,

AND IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY

AS VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR TEMPLE UNIVERSITY;

CARL BITTENBENDER, INDIVIDUALLY,

AND IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY

AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS

SAFETY SERVICES FOR TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

 

On Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

(District Court No. 00-cv-05362)

District Judge: The Honorable Petrese B. Tucker

 

Argued February 15, 2007

Before: SMITH and FISHER, Circuit Judges

and DOWD, District Judge*
2

(Filed: May 1, 2007)

Brian Fahling (argued)

Stephen M. Crampton

Michael J. DePrimo

AFA Center for Law & Policy

100 Parkgate Dr., Suite 2-B, Post Office Drawer 2440

Tupelo, MS 38803

Counsel for Appellant

Joe H. Tucker, Jr. (argued)

Bacardi L. Jackson

Booth & Tucker, LLP

One Penn Center at Suburban Station

1617 JFK Blvd., Suite 1700

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Counsel for Appellees

 

OPINION

 

SMITH, Circuit Judge.

The main issue in this case is whether the District Judge should have disqualified

herself pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 455(a). We conclude that the District Judge did not abuse

her discretion by not disqualifying herself pursuant to § 455(a). We also note that, even if

the language of the District Judge’s written order denying the § 455(a) motion created a

situation where her impartiality might be reasonably questioned, no party was harmed by

any rulings made by the District Judge during the course of these proceedings. We will

therefore affirm. We find no error in the District Court’s orders at issue in this appeal,

including the District Judge’s decision to permit an expert to testify as to reasonableness
3

under Pennsylvania’s Mental Health Procedures Act (MHPA), 50 PA. CONS. STAT. ANN.

§ 7101 et seq. 

I.

Because we write primarily for the parties, we omit a discussion of facts not

relevant to our disposition. This case arises out of a series of unfortunate incidents

involving Plaintiff/Appellant Michael Marcavage, then a Dean’s List student at Temple

University, and high-ranking Temple officials. During the Fall 1999 semester,

Marcavage learned of an upcoming campus-sponsored play that planned on depicting

Jesus Christ and his disciples as gay. This production offended Marcavage. In late

October and early November 1999, Marcavage began meeting with the University’s Vice

President of Operations, William Bergman, and Director of Campus Safety, Carl

Bittenbender, to see if he could arrange logistics for a protest event that he was

organizing. This alternative event, scheduled to occur in early November, would portray

Jesus in a different light than the event that depicted him and his disciples as gay. 

The meeting that formed the basis for this lawsuit occurred on November 2, 1999. 

Marcavage, Bergman, and Bittenbender met in Bergman’s office to discuss the logistics

of Marcavage’s play. Immediately prior to this meeting, Marcavage met with a secretary

at the Board of Trustees’ office. While the parties disagree as to what happened between

Marcavage and the secretary, the secretary pressed the panic button to summon campus

police because she believed Marcavage was making a commotion in the office. Bergman

responded personally, and took Marcavage to his office. In the office, Bergman told
4

Marcavage that the University would not provide a stage for his event. The

interpretations of Marcavage’s actions in the office differ significantly between Bergman

and Bittenbender on one hand and Marcavage on the other. 

According to Bittenbender, during this meeting Marcavage began to cry and then

sob, shake, and otherwise behave erratically. Bittenbender testified that Marcavage then

hopped up out of his chair, said “it’s over,” and ran into the bathroom, slamming and

locking the door. Bittenbender became concerned about Marcavage’s safety, and testified

that he shouted to Marcavage to see if he was doing all right. Bittenbender testified that

he banged and kicked on the bathroom door and then frantically asked for the keys to the

bathroom, worrying that Marcavage might be trying to commit suicide. After about

fifteen minutes, Marcavage came out of the bathroom and, according to Bittenbender,

looked like he was going to collapse. Bergman provided similar testimony. 

Marcavage’s version of events differs greatly. He testified that, after the officials

told him that the stage would not be provided, tears welled up in his eyes and he excused

himself to go into a nearby restroom to pray. According to Marcavage, he locked the

door and, “within moments,” heard someone yelling for him to come out. 

After these events, Dr. Denise Walton of the University’s counseling center

arrived. She found Marcavage to be very confused and in a great deal of crisis and

distress. Dr. Walton testified that “the most humane thing was for [Marcavage] to have

an evaluation” because she saw him sobbing, his body occasionally jerked, he looked

confused, and “at times it didn’t even look like he understood that [she] was there or he
 1

The District Court exercised jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1343(a). We

have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. In addition to the issues we discuss here,

Marcavage also argues that the District Court erred by: dismissing some of his state and

federal claims at the summary judgment stage and through Rule 50, dismissing Temple

University as a defendant, issuing improper jury instructions, excluding two doctors’

records and testimony, and limiting the scope of cross-examination of an expert witness. 

We find no error in these District Court rulings.

5

didn’t even understand what [she] was saying.” Bittenbender then ordered Marcavage to

be evaluated for his own protection pursuant to Pennsylvania’s MHPA. Marcavage was

transported by campus police to the Temple University Hospital. Bittenbender then filled

out the paperwork for the “302 Application” for Marcavage’s involuntary examination. 

See 50 PA. CONS. STAT. ANN. § 7302. After doctors at the hospital concluded that

Marcavage was not in need of emergency involuntary treatment, Marcavage was released. 

Marcavage then filed a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging

violations of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Marcavage alleged that, in

retaliation for the exercise of his First Amendment rights, he was assaulted, physically

restrained, placed in custody, and forced to undergo an involuntary mental examination

pursuant to §§ 301 and 302 of the MHPA. See 50 PA. CONS. STAT. ANN. §§ 7301, 7302.

Marcavage also included several state law claims in his suit. After several pre-trial

rulings, the case went to trial. After the dismissal of some of the state law claims via

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. 

Marcavage’s appeal raises numerous issues, two of which we discuss here.1

II.
 2

We use the terms “recusal” and “disqualification” interchangeably, consistent with

the way the parties and the District Court used them. See In re Sch. Asbestos Litig., 977

F.2d 764, 769 n.1 (3d Cir. 1992). 

6

28 U.S.C. § 455(a) states that “[a]ny justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the

United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might

reasonably be questioned.”2

 In a Motion for Recusal filed on July 17, 2002, Marcavage

argued that the District Judge’s impartiality could be reasonably questioned for three

reasons. First, Marcavage noted that the District Judge and the lead counsel for the

defense are both members of the Barristers’ Association, and that trial counsel for the

defense, in his capacity as president of the Association, commented on the District

Judge’s selection by the Association for an award. Referring to the award selection,

which took place during the pendency of the case, defense counsel stated that the District

Judge was a “friend[] of the Barristers’ Association” who “gives both her time and her ear

to Barristers’ members.” Second, Marcavage pointed to the fact that the District Judge

received two awards from two Temple University Beasley School of Law student

organizations. Finally, he complained that the District Judge did not disclose the awards

or appearances at these events. 

The defendants objected to the plaintiff’s recusal motion, and suggested that, aside

from the stated recusal reasons, Marcavage’s argument “suggests a more darker and

sinister belief as the true basis for his recusal motion.” The defendants asserted that,

according to the plaintiff’s argument:
 3

The famous and eloquent opinion in Local Union 542 was authored by then-District

Judge Leon Higginbotham. In it, he rejects a recusal motion in a civil rights suit. The

groundless motion raised his leadership in the civil rights movement as a basis for

disqualification. 

7

Her Honor would have to recuse herself every time a Barristers’

Association member represented a party. Plaintiff’s counsel surely does not

suggest that every time a Catholic lawyer appears in front of a Catholic

judge that the judge should recuse himself because they too are members of

the same religion. This thinking is improper, ludicrous and, worse off,

dangerous.

Referring to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Local Union 542, 388 F.Supp. 155 (E.D.

Pa. 1974),3

 the defendants charged that “lawyers like Mr. Fahling [] would attempt to

intimidate black judges and lawyers by arguing in effect that blacks should essentially not

be allowed to practice law before black judges and black judges must disassociate

themselves from their race.” The defendants also discussed why the District Judge’s

affiliation with Temple University is not grounds for recusal. 

The District Judge denied Marcavage’s disqualification motion. Marcavage filed a

mandamus petition, which was summarily denied by this Court. The disqualification

review that we now conduct focuses on two different sets of facts. The first set relates to

the District Judge’s activities that led Marcavage to seek disqualification. The second set

is contained in the District Judge’s statements discussing her denial of Marcavage’s

recusal motion. “Where a motion for disqualification was made in the District Court, we

review the denial of such a motion for abuse of discretion.” Selkridge v. United of

Omaha Life Ins. Co., 360 F.3d 155, 166 (3d Cir. 2004). We may review both sets of facts
8

“because the ultimate issue here is whether the public can have confidence in the integrity

of the court’s judgments.” Id. at 169. Our review is objective, so that we focus on

whether an “observer reasonably might question the judge’s partiality.” Mass. Sch. of

Law at Andover, Inc. v. Am. Bar Ass’n, 107 F.3d 1026, 1042 (3d Cir. 1997); In re

Kensington Int’l Ltd., 353 F.3d 211, 220 (3d Cir. 2003). The disqualification statute

seeks to balance the need for federal judges to be free of actual and apparent bias or

prejudice against the need to prevent counsel from essentially having a veto over whether

a particular judge hears a case. See In re Boston’s Children First, 244 F.3d 164, 167 (1st

Cir. 2001).

The District Judge did not abuse her discretion by not recusing herself because of

her connections with the Barrister’s Association, Temple University, or the lead defense

counsel. “[W]hether to recuse from hearing a matter lies within the sound discretion of

the trial judge.” United States v. Wilensky, 757 F.2d 594, 599-600 (3d Cir. 1985). 

Common membership in a legal organization between a judge and counsel is not, by

itself, enough to create a situation in which a judge’s impartiality might reasonably be

questioned. Any other rule would potentially preclude a substantial number of judges

from presiding over cases before a large portion of the bar. Similarly, in this case, the

District Judge’s minimal contacts with her law school alma mater contained in the record

before us do not constitute grounds for disqualification. See United States v. Nackman,

145 F.3d 1069, 1076 (9th Cir. 1998) (collecting cases from several circuits as support for

this non-controversial point). Finally, the District Judge did not abuse her discretion
 4

According to its website, “the Barristers’ Association’s purpose, then and now, has

been to address the professional needs and development of African American lawyers in

the City of Philadelphia and surrounding counties through programs such as seminars,

cultural events, and publications.” See http://www.phillybarristers.org/index.html.

9

when she declined to recuse herself because of her relationship with the lead defense

counsel. There are a variety of reasonable interpretations of defense counsel’s statement

that the District Judge is a “friend[] of the Barristers’ Association” who “gives both her

time and her ear to Barristers’ members.” The District Judge stated that “a reasonable

person would undoubtedly draw the conclusion that the Barristers’ Association had my

attention for the purpose of advancing its mission.”4

 This interpretation of the defense

counsel’s statement is reasonable, and it certainly does not rise to the level of an abuse of

discretion. See, e.g., Henderson v. Dep’t of Pub. Safety and Corr., 901 F.2d 1288, 1295-

96 (5th Cir. 1990) (affirming a denial of a § 455(a) motion where the trial judge and

opposing counsel knew each other for a long time and the judge had been a friend of the

opposing counsel’s late father).

The District Judge was not required to recuse herself under § 455(a) because of

these connections. We need not decide whether the District Judge’s memorandum and

order denying the plaintiff’s motion to recuse created a situation where her “impartiality

might reasonably be questioned.” See 28 U.S.C. § 455(a). We conclude that any possible

error was harmless, and therefore make no ultimate decision as to any potential

appearance of impartiality. We write only to illustrate some of our concerns. The

District Judge labeled the plaintiff’s argument as “full of vehemence and innuendo.” 
10

More specifically, the District Judge referred to the “true motivation underlying” the

plaintiff’s disqualification motion, and proceeded to discuss the “race-based tactic such as

the one present in this recusal motion.” Mentioning two other federal judges who are

members of the Barristers’ Association, the District Judge stated that “since these

distinguished jurists are also members of the dark cabal known as the Barristers’

Association, it is reasonable to believe, if guided by Plaintiff’s logic, that these gentlemen

are similarly guided by a personal desire for a fellow Barristers’ Association member to

succeed. In any case, they would also be subject to disqualification under Plaintiff’s

analysis.” 

Marcavage argues, in contrast, that his recusal motion was not racially motivated. 

In Marcavage’s view, he expressed a legitimate concern that the District Judge had a

sufficiently close relationship with the lead defense counsel that her impartiality could be

reasonably questioned. Marcavage contends that the purpose of the Barristers’

Association is almost inconsequential. Marcavage’s point is that the lead defense counsel

was president of an organization that presented the District Judge with an award during

the pendency of the case and stated that she “gives both her time and her ear to [the

organization’s] members.” 

With this background in mind, we do not decide whether the District Court’s

September 30, 2002 Memorandum and Order denying the Plaintiff’s Motion for Recusal

created a situation where her impartiality could be reasonably questioned because

harmless error applies. The Supreme Court has stated that “[t]here need not be a
11

draconian remedy for every violation of § 455(a).” Liljeberg v. Health Servs. Acquisition

Corp., 486 U.S. 847, 862 (1988). There are three factors that we must consider in

determining the remedy: “the risk of injustice to the parties in the particular case, the risk

that the denial of relief will produce injustice in other cases, and the risk of undermining

the public’s confidence in the judicial process.” Id. at 864. While these three factors

were applied in the context of a Rule 60(b) motion in Liljeberg, this Court has used the

Liljeberg analysis more broadly to determine whether prior rulings should be vacated. 

See In re Sch. Asbestos Litig., 977 F.2d 764, 785 (3d Cir. 1992). We have agreed with the

majority position that harmless error applies to violations of § 455(a). See Selkridge, 360

F.3d at 171; In re School Asbestos Litig., 977 F.2d at 786; see also Faulkner v. Nat’l

Geographic Enters. Inc., 409 F.3d 26, 42 n.10 (2d Cir. 2005); Patterson v. Mobil Oil

Corp., 335 F.3d 476, 485 (5th Cir. 2003); Parker v. Connors Steel Co., 855 F.2d 1510,

1527 (11th Cir. 1988). 

With respect to “the risk of injustice to the parties in the particular case,” the able

District Judge’s trial rulings were all correct. After a careful review of the voluminous

record, we have found no prejudice suffered by Marcavage as a result of these rulings. 

See Martin v. Monumental Life Ins. Co., 240 F.3d 223, 237 (3d Cir. 2001) (stating that

“when the court has invested substantial judicial resources and there is indisputably no

evidence of prejudice, a motion for recusal of a trial judge should be supported by

substantial justification, not fanciful illusion”).

The second factor of the Liljeberg test is “the risk that the denial of relief will
12

produce injustice in other cases.” We can envision no future injustice as a consequence

of this ruling, because there were no mistakes in the District Judge’s actual trial rulings.

Opening up a jury verdict would be an unnecessary and grossly inefficient remedy. 

The analysis of the third factor, “the risk of undermining the public’s confidence in

the judicial process,” also weighs in favor of finding the District Judge’s disqualification

error harmless. As we have already stated, her trial decisions were all proper. Further,

ordering a new trial with a new judge risks harming the public’s confidence in the judicial

process. See United States v. Cerceda, 172 F.3d 806, 816 (11th Cir. 1999) (“Without

evidence that bias could have tainted the outcome of the hearings, there is a significant

risk that the public would find it unjust to require the Government to expend time and

money to conduct these proceedings a second time.”).

We therefore conclude that, under the three Liljeberg factors, Marcavage suffered

no harm by the District Judge’s failure to disqualify herself.

The next issue is whether Dr. Ilene Rosenstein should have been allowed to testify

as to the reasonableness of Bittenbender’s actions with respect to the MHPA. We review

a district court’s decision to admit expert testimony under the abuse of discretion

standard. United States v. Davis, 397 F.3d 173, 178 (3d Cir. 2005); Gen. Elec. Co. v.

Joiner, 522 U.S. 136 (1997). “To show an abuse of discretion, appellants must show the

district court’s action was arbitrary, fanciful or clearly unreasonable. We will not disturb

a trial court’s exercise of discretion unless no reasonable person would adopt the district

court’s view.” Stecyk v. Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., 295 F.3d 408, 412 (3d Cir. 2002)
13

(citation and quotation marks omitted). This Court gives wide latitude to district courts in

determining whether to admit expert testimony. See Kannankeril v. Terminix Int’l., Inc.,

128 F.3d 802, 806 (3d Cir. 1997) (“The Rules of Evidence embody a strong and

undeniable preference for admitting any evidence which has the potential for assisting the

trier of fact.” (emphasis added)). This Court has stated that “Rule 702, which governs the

admissibility of expert testimony, has a liberal policy of admissibility.” Id. Further, Rule

704 states that “testimony in the form of an opinion or inference otherwise admissible is

not objectionable because it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of fact.” 

See Forrest v. Beloit Corp., 424 F.3d 344, 353 (3d Cir. 2005). 

Section 301 of the MHPA provides for the involuntary emergency examination

and treatment of severely mentally disabled individuals in need of immediate treatment. 

50 PA. CONS. STAT. ANN. § 7301. Section 302 allows “authorized person[s]” to apply for

such an examination. 50 PA. CONS. STAT. ANN. § 7302. “[T]he guiding inquiry must be

whether, when viewing the surrounding facts and circumstances, a reasonable person in

the position of the applicant ... could have concluded that an individual was severely

mentally disabled and in need of immediate treatment.” In re J.M., 726 A.2d 1041,

1049 (Pa. 1999). The MHPA provides broad immunity “to physicians and others who

participate in the involuntary commitment process.” Benn v. Universal Health Sys., Inc.,

371 F.3d 165, 176 (3d Cir. 2004). Immunity from civil and criminal liability attaches

unless the individual acts with “willful misconduct or gross negligence.” 50 PA. CONS.

STAT. ANN. § 7114(a). 
14

We address the propriety of Dr. Rosenstein’s testimony. With respect to Dr.

Rosenstein’s qualifications, she is the Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s

Counseling and Psychological Services. She received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology

from the University of Missouri-Columbia, an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology from the

American University, and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Ithaca College. She

has been actively involved in college counseling since the early 1980s. According to her

testimony, she has vast experience with § 302 examinations. Dr. Rosenstein testified that,

during the academic year, Counseling and Psychological Services saw several cases a

month that implicated the MHPA. She also ran seminars on emergency response and

crisis intervention. Dr. Rosenstein has guest lectured on voluntary and involuntary exams

and treatment. Her research focuses in part on university students with mental disorders. 

Dr. Rosenstein was also previously a psychiatric intake worker in a hospital setting. 

With respect to her specific testimony, on direct examination she discussed her

qualifications, her experience with the MHPA, and then the circumstances surrounding

Marcavage’s involuntary examination. On direct examination, she affirmatively

answered the question of whether she could give an opinion within a reasonable degree of

psychological certainty that Carl Bittenbender had reasonable grounds to believe that

Marcavage was in the type of mental state to qualify for a Section 302 commitment. Dr.

Rosenstein stated that she based her opinion on the testimony she heard and depositions

she read. One representative exchange on direct examination illustrates this point:

Q: Would it have been appropriate based upon what you have heard for Mr.
 5

There are statements made by Dr. Rosenstein on cross-examination that might be

construed as vouching for Bittenbender and Bergman’s testimony. However, these

statements must be viewed against the backdrop of Dr. Rosenstein’s entire testimony,

where she repeatedly states that she was not present at the November 2, 1999 meeting and

based her psychological opinion on depositions and testimony of other witnesses. Even if

we were to conclude that the admission of Dr. Rosenstein’s testimony was

erroneous—which we do not—we would deem the error harmless because of the

testimony of other witnesses who easily support the conclusion that Marcavage’s

involuntary examination was reasonable under the MHPA. See Betterbox

Communications Ltd. v. BB Techs., Inc., 300 F.3d 325, 329 (3d Cir. 2002) (“In a civil

case, an error is harmless if it is highly probable that it did not affect the complaining

party’s substantial rights. Under this standard, the admission of [the expert’s] testimony,

even if erroneous, was harmless.” (citation omitted)). 

15

Bittenbender and Mr. Bergman to let Mr. Marcavage leave that room in his state? 

A: Absolutely not. First of all, I don’t know how he could leave the room. He could

hardly walk according to their testimony. And on top of that, even if he could, this

was somebody who was in their mind, that’s the important piece, in their

perception as irrational, not in control of self, showing poor judgment, and really

had a kind of demeanor and wasn’t able to discern reality.

This type of testimony is admissible to aid the jury in deciding the reasonableness of

Bittenbender’s actions. Dr. Rosenstein’s testimony also assisted the trier of fact in

determining whether Bittenbender’s actions were grossly negligent or willful. She was

able to discuss these issues as an expert under the MHPA, and could therefore give her

considered opinion as to Bittenbender’s perception of Marcavage’s psychological status.5

III.

For these reasons, we will affirm the orders of the District Court.
 6

Marcavage argues that this error was exacerbated when the District Court refused to

allow him to cross-examine Dr. Rosenstein regarding the medical reports of Drs. Villaluz

and King, who examined Marcavage at the hospital and whose reports Dr. Rosenstein had

considered when forming her own expert opinion. 

16

Marcavage v. Board of Trustees of Temple University

No. 05-5521

DOWD, District Judge, concurring:

Although I concur in Judge Smith’s opinion, I write separately with respect to one

issue.

Marcavage argues that it was reversible error for the District Court to allow

defendants’ expert, Dr. Ilene Rosenstein, to testify on the ultimate issue of reasonableness

under the MHPA, first, declaring that Bittenbender’s application contained no false

information (a fact that was strenuously disputed by the plaintiff at trial) and, second,

declaring that, on the facts presented by Bittenbender, he acted reasonably when seeking

the involuntary emergency examination of Marcavage.6

In my view, it was error for the District Court to permit expert testimony with

respect to the question of whether Bittenbender acted reasonably. This is not a matter that

requires expert testimony. I have no problem with Dr. Rosenstein’s testifying as to the

simple procedural steps which must be taken under the MHPA; however, her testimony

went beyond that. In particular, I am troubled by what I consider to be, essentially, Dr.

Rosenstein’s “vouching” for Bittenbender’s version of the facts as expressed by him in

the application for the involuntary examination of Marcavage, as opposed to Marcavage’s
 1

Dr. Rosenstein listened to the testimony of several witnesses at trial, including that of

Bittenbender, but not that of Marcavage. She was ill when Marcavage testified (see Trial

Day 5 at 174); however, she did read his deposition testimony (see, Trial Day 5 at 195). 

17

version.1 During cross-examination, while being questioned with respect to the facts set

forth by Bittenbender on the application form, the following exchange occurred:

Q. If I’m following, you have testified that the descriptive

narrative that Mr. Bittenbender signed here under oath was

sufficient to meet the requirements of the Mental Health

Procedures Act, correct?

A. Let me say two parts to that. One is that it doesn’t matter if it

was sufficient or not. This was his statement of what he

perceived was going on. And in my mind -- so that is one

piece. Because there are many people who fill out -- who --

quite frankly, oftentimes it’s rejected even when it’s filled out

by the mental health worker. So there was enough in here

that it was approved, even though it didn’t need the approval

in my mind.

The second part, as a psychologist reading -- as

someone who does this all the time, it was sufficient stuff here

to be of concern.

Q. When you say approved, you are referring to a mental health

advocate?

A. Yes, I am.

Q. Now, the mental health advocate relies on the

recommendations of the people making -- 

A. Correct.

Q. So if he is not telling the truth and they say -- How

significant is it that they approve an application that

contains blatant false information?

A. I don’t believe these have false information.
18

Q. I’m not asking that. How significant with the mental health

advocate is it if it contains blatant falsehoods, is that

significant then?

A. Is it significant? Yes, it’s a problem.

(Trial Day 5 at 191-92, emphasis added). When further pressed, her testimony was as

follows:

Q. Doctor, is it fair to say based on answers such as that one that

you really don’t allow for much possibility that there is

another version of what happened that day that could have

occurred, do you?

A. I believe what I said in this report, which is that, in fact, they

did the exact thing I would want them to do. It was the right

thing to do. 

Q. But that all depends on your conclusion, Doctor -- and you’re

not the finder of facts -- that Mr. Marcavage was in fact

irrational, was in fact mute; that there were legitimate reasons

to be concerned?

A. His behavior as observed by Mr. Bittenbender clearly

indicated to Mr. Bittenbender that this was a young man in

crisis. This was beyond just slight agitation or annoyance. 

This was up to a point of serious mental illness. And because

of that, he went ahead with the procedure.

Q. Doctor, can you assume that the actions of Defendant

Bittenbender and Defendant Bergman in processing this

application was not motivated by concern for his safety?

A. Why, no.

Q. You can’t, can you?

A. I can’t understand -- from reading everything, I could not

understand why -- It seemed to me these were people that

really, really cared and wanted to do a good job, I think, at
19

their university, and cared about safety. They are both

policemen.

Q. It was a simply yes or no. I’m just thinking to limit -- so

really you can’t consider any alternate, can you?

A. I did consider the alternate. In the beginning when I went

through all the stuff, I went with an open mind reading the

stuff. Mr. Tucker knows clearly I don’t do this as a

profession. I’m not an expert witness. I have another fulltime job and a family. So going through this stuff, I didn’t

know which way I was going to go. My conclusion was

absolutely that this was the right thing to do.

(Trial Day 5 at 199-201, emphasis added).

In my view, the District Judge abused her discretion by allowing Dr. Rosenstein to

testify as an expert and to wander into the province of the jury by testifying as to whose

facts she believed. 

That having been said, I would not conclude, in light of the record as a whole, that

this was reversible error. There clearly was enough testimony from which the jury could

have independently decided that Bittenbender’s actions were reasonable and in

compliance with the MHPA. In other words, although I believe it was error to allow Dr.

Rosenstein to testify as to anything but the procedures relating to the MHPA, I also

conclude that it was harmless error because the result would have been the same with or

without her testimony.

I concur in the result.