Opinion ID: 768508
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Expert Witness Funding

Text: 17 Ross argues that the trial court's denial of funding for an expert witness to testify regarding venture capital industry practice violated the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(e) and his Fifth Amendment right of due process. We disagree. 18 The Criminal Justice Act Revision of 1986 permits a financially unable defendant to request funding for investigative, expert, or other services necessary for adequate representation . . . . 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(e). In analyzing this claim, we consider whether Ross demonstrated a reasonable probability that the requested expert would aid in his defense and that denial of funding would result in an unfair trial. See Little v. Armontrout, 835 F.2d 1240, 1244 (8th Cir. 1987) (en banc), cert. denied, 487 U.S. 1210 (1988). At the time of his request, Ross must do more than allege the services would be helpful, rather he must show they are necessary to afford him 'an adequate opportunity to present [his] claims fairly within the adversary system.' Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 77, 80 (1985) (quoting Ross v. Moffitt, 417 U.S. 600, 612 (1974)). The decision of whether to fund an expert rests in the sound discretion of the trial court and we will not reverse absent an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Casal, 915 F.2d 1225, 1230 (8th Cir.1990). 19 Ross applied for court approval to hire two accountants as expert witnesses: (1) Henry Langer (Langer), a certified fraud examiner and retired Internal Revenue Service agent, at a cost of $8,350; and (2) Richard Rosenbaum (Rosenbaum), a certified public accountant with venture capital experience, at a cost of $19,300. Following an ex parte hearing, the magistrate judge found that the services of both experts would be cumulative and unnecessary. Based on this finding, the court certified the funding of Langer's services and denied funding as to Rosenbaum. 20 Ross argues that the denial of expert witness funding for Rosenbaum deprived him of a fair opportunity to defend himself. Specifically, he argues that Langer could do no more than follow the paper trail of money and loan agreements, but that testimony from Rosenbaum would have supported his position that his business practices were both lawful and consistent with industry practice. 21 In the application for expert services as to Langer, Ross stated Langer's testimony would show that the allegations of the Government with respect to the Defendant's involvement with money matters set forth in the indictment are incorrect and that the defendant acted lawfully . . . . Ross indicated that Rosenbaum would testify as to the appropriateness of acts by the Defendant to rebut the Government's allegations of fraud and money laundering and could summarize the overall business dealings of Consortium with third parties. 22 Based on Ross' characterization of the nature of the testimony of each witness and our review of the record, we agree with the district court that the purported testimony of the two expert witnesses, both schooled in accounting and testifying as to the legality of Ross' behavior, would be cumulative and unnecessary to his defense. Further, we agree that Ross failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability that Rosenbaum's services would aid his defense and that denial would result in an unfair trial. Thus, we find no abuse of discretion in the court's decision and cannot say that denial of Rosenbaum's services rendered the trial fundamentally unfair.