Opinion ID: 1597347
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Giglio/Brady

Text: In addition to the claim of newly discovered evidence arising from Dr. Miller's testimony, Taylor asserts that the trial court erred in denying his claim that through Miller's testimony the State intentionally permitted false or misleading evidence to be presented to the jury in violation of Giglio (where the United States Supreme Court held it to be a violation of due process when a prosecutor failed to disclose to the defense a promise made by the prosecution to a key witness that he would not be prosecuted if he testified for the prosecution). Finding there was no change in Dr. Miller's testimony, the trial court denied this claim. We conclude that the trial court properly denied Taylor's claim because it is refuted by the record. To prevail under Giglio, a claimant must show that false testimony was presented by the State and that there is a reasonable possibility that the false evidence affected the judgment of the jury. See Ventura v. State, 794 So.2d 553, 564-65 (Fla.2001) (holding that a witness's testimony was not material under Giglio where the witness was significantly impeached); Routly v. State, 590 So.2d 397, 400-01 (Fla.1991) (finding that an equivocal statement did not have a reasonable probability of affecting the judgment of the jury). Taylor alleges that Dr. Miller's trial testimony was false because it was contradicted by his testimony at the evidentiary hearing. As the trial court concluded, the record does not support this allegation. Dr. Miller's testimony did not materially change. When the trial court finds that the testimony is not false, and there is competent substantial evidence to support that finding, we defer to the trial court's findings. Accordingly, Taylor has not shown cause for relief under Giglio. Alternatively, Taylor asserts that the State withheld material, favorable information in violation of Brady. Brady requires the State to disclose material information within its possession or control that is favorable to the defense. Mordenti v. State, 894 So.2d 161, 168 (Fla.2004) (citing Guzman v. State, 868 So.2d 498, 508 (Fla.2003)). To establish a Brady violation, the defendant has the burden to show (1) that favorable evidence, (2) was willfully or inadvertently suppressed by the State, and (3) because the evidence was material, the defendant was prejudiced. Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82, 119 S.Ct. 1936, 144 L.Ed.2d 286 (1999); Cardona v. State, 826 So.2d 968, 973 (Fla. 2002); Way v. State, 760 So.2d 903, 910 (Fla.2000). The remedy of retrial for the State's suppression of evidence favorable to the defense is available when the favorable evidence could reasonably be taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict. Strickler, 527 U.S. at 290, 119 S.Ct. 1936 (quoting Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 435, 115 S.Ct. 1555, 131 L.Ed.2d 490 (1995)). Here, however, the trial court has concluded, and we agree, that neither the State nor its actors suppressed evidence. Because the trial court has concluded that Dr. Miller's testimony is unchanged, there is nothing the State has been demonstrated to have suppressed.