Opinion ID: 2999474
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence From the Underlying Civil Suit

Text: Mitov next claims that the district court erred in limiting his use of evidence from the state court trial. We review these evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion, which will be found only where no reasonable person would agree with the decision of the district court. United States v. Thomas, 453 F.3d 838, 845 (7th Cir. 2006). In arguing this point, Mitov generally claims that his culpability on the attempted extortion charge is “inseparable from the strength of the proof of undue influence” in the underlying state civil suit. Defendant’s Br. 21. In presenting this theory at trial, he aimed to introduce Springer’s notes from the January 4, 2001, meeting, answers to interrogatories verified by Steven Japp, and prior amendments made to Leonard Japp, Sr.’s trusts. His apparent intention was to re-try the civil suit in federal court. But the district court judge was not required to allow this, and to do so would have been an unjustifiable expense and delay. FED. R. EVID. 102. As noted above, 18 U.S.C. § 1951 does not require that the victim’s fear be certain, it need only be reasonable. Further, Mitov was able to appropriately and extensively cross-examine Schultz on his expectations for the underlying case using the answers to interrogatories and the substance of Springer’s notes. This line of questioning brought to light apparent inconsistencies between the two documents, and thus the reasonableness of Schultz’s fear of harm. Notwithstanding Mitov’s general citation to FED. R. EVID. 103, rulings on evidence, he presents nothing to indicate that no reasonable person would have agreed with the district court. 14 No. 05-2275