Opinion ID: 2426901
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Girod's Specific Intent To Commit Medicaid Fraud

Text: Girod also argues she lacked the intellectual capacity to form the specific intent to commit fraud. Girod points to evidence that she only completed eighth grade and had difficulty reading, and that Dr. Michael Chafetz (Ph.D.), a neuropsychologist, determined that she had low verbal comprehension, read at a fifth-grade level, and had a first- or second-grade level of reading comprehension. While Girod may have had a low level of education and was low performing, there was sufficient evidence from which a rational jury could have determined she had the mental capacity to form the specific intent to commit health care fraud. On cross-examination, Dr. Chafetz testified that Girod is capable of knowing right from wrong, knowing that stealing is wrong, and telling a lie. He also testified that Girod has passed a drivers' test, has raised kids, and can sign and cash checks. According to Dr. Chafetz, Girod is capable of making decisions, and she tested at the nineteenth percentile (81% do better) for daily living skills, which is adequate. Dr. Chafetz further testified that she is also capable of fulfilling basic activities of daily living and recognizing when someone else is doing that for her children. Multiple other witnesses who know Girod testified that they did not know or suspect she had any mental disabilities or problems. Christie Coleman, the parent of one of Girod's PCS clients, testified that, in the fourteen years she had known Girod, Girod never seemed mentally impaired and never had any problems communicating with her. Scott testified that she had no knowledge that Girod had any mental or physical problems. Lee testified that Girod never showed any difficulty in understanding the material explained in the training sessions. Multiple witnesses testified that, while Girod was never an ANBNO employee, she posed as Steward at training sessions (sign-ins and taking tests), picked up Steward's checks and mail at ANBNO, and signed payroll receipt forms in Steward's name. The jury could have concluded based on Dr. Chafetz's testimony that Girod could understand that it was wrong to pretend to be someone else, and that she did it anyways by helping Steward avoid the mandatory ANBNO training requirements for providing PCS services. Finally, Scott testified that Girod asked her to put Girod's checks in Scott's name to avoid involving Girod's social security withholdings. Girod's purposeful tax fraud is further proof Girod had the capacity to commit health care fraud. Viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, the jury could have reasonably concluded that Girod knew right from wrong, knew PCS services were not being provided to her children, and knew she was pre-signing blank PCS time sheets for services that were not being provided to her children in exchange for money from Lee and Scott.