Opinion ID: 528890
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Violation of Pre-Trial Discovery of Brady Material

Text: 23 The district court denied Tham's petition for relief under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2255 on alternative grounds: 1) that Tham had failed to prove a Brady violation; and 2) that Tham's delay in filing his petition sufficiently prejudiced the government so as to require dismissal under Rule 9(a) of the Rules Governing Sec. 2255 Motions. Because we affirm the district court on the issue of the Brady claim, 3 we need not reach the delay issue. 24 Tham argues that the United States failed to disclose information it had a duty to disclose under Brady v. Maryland. To prove a Brady violation, Tham must show that the government failed to disclose material evidence. United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 674, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 3379, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985). Evidence is material only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. 473 U.S. at 682, 105 S.Ct. at 3383. 25 Tham's newly discovered evidence is not the type of information that can support the Brady violation he alleges. It consists principally of evidence that government agents had knowledge that a key witness, James Fratianno, had attempted to sell eye or dental care plans to Tham's union, as Tham had contended. That fact, however, was neither kept from Tham nor from the jury. Fratianno's testimony, while at times contradictory, clearly included statements that he was trying or had tried to sell medical plans to Tham's union. The subject was brought out in both direct and cross-examination. The Brady rule was therefore not violated. See United States v. Dupuy, 760 F.2d 1492, 1501 n. 5 (9th Cir.1985); United States v. Shelton, 588 F.2d 1242, 1247-49 (9th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 442 U.S. 909, 99 S.Ct. 2822, 61 L.Ed.2d 275 (1979). In addition, none of the evidence now offered by Tham directly contradicts the specific charges of which he was convicted. Tham consequently has not made the required showing of materiality under Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682, 105 S.Ct. at 3383; there is no reasonable probability that disclosure would have led to a different result at trial. 26 Nos. 88-1396 and 88-1445 are AFFIRMED.