Opinion ID: 867478
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Characterization of Malingerer as Liar

Text: ¶ 108 Moody also alleges that Dr. Morenz exceeded the scope of permissible expert testimony by offering an opinion on [Moody's] credibility by characterizing malingering as a medical term for lying. The defense takes Dr. Morenz's statement out of context. ¶ 109 On direct-examination, Dr. Morenz defined a malingerer as someone who makes up their [sic] symptoms for a particular purpose. He further stated that [i]n Mr. Moody's case, [that purpose is] to escape criminal prosecution or gain some kind of leniency from the court. On cross-examination, defense counsel asked Dr. Morenz whether Moody had been called a malingerer, which is a medical term for liar. Dr. Morenz responded, yes. Moody claims that by that answer, Morenz improperly expressed his professional opinion that [Moody] is a liar. ¶ 110 We find no merit in Moody's argument for two reasons. First, the question posed by defense counsel is a compound question. For that reason, it is unclear whether Dr. Morenz was answering yes to the question whether Moody had been called a malingerer, or whether he was affirming that malingerer is a medical term for a liar. ¶ 111 Second, even if we assume that Dr. Morenz intended to testify that malingerer ... is a medical term for liar, that definition was offered as a leading question by defense counsel on cross-examination. This court has long held that a defendant who invited error at trial may not then assign the same as error on appeal. See, e.g., State v. Endreson, 109 Ariz. 117, 122-23, 506 P.2d 248, 253-54 (1973). We can envision few situations in which a defendant can be said to invite an error more condemningly than by asking a leading question that he assigns to the witness on appeal. For that reason, while we find no error here because of the compound nature of the question and the ambiguous response, even if Dr. Morenz's statement were erroneous, it was invited by the defense and for that reason would not provide a basis for reversal.