Opinion ID: 2555770
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 19

Heading: Cumulative Effects of Alleged Errors and Ineffective Assistance

Text: Appellant next contends that the cumulative effect of the alleged errors and ineffective assistance warrants a grant of relief, summarily asserting cumulative prejudice from the combination of court error, improper actions by the prosecution, and deficient performance by counsel at both the trial and appellate stages. Appellant's Brief at 92. Comprising only six sentences in total, this claim does not develop any specific, reasoned argument for cumulative prejudice. Appellant merely cites Commonwealth v. Johnson, 600 Pa. 329, 966 A.2d 523, 532 (2009), and Commonwealth v. Sattazahn, 597 Pa. 648, 952 A.2d 640, 670-71 (2008), for the principle that a claim of error based on cumulative prejudice may be viable. The PCRA court denied Appellant's claim of cumulative effect based on its findings that none of Appellant's individual claims warrant relief. PCRA Court Opinion at 25, 58. We have often held that no number of failed [] claims may collectively warrant relief if they fail to do so individually. Johnson, supra at 532 (quoting Commonwealth v. Washington, 592 Pa. 698, 927 A.2d 586, 617 (2007)). However, we have clarified that this principle applies to claims that fail because of lack of merit or arguable merit. Sattazahn, supra at 671. When the failure of individual claims is grounded in lack of prejudice, then the cumulative prejudice from those individual claims may properly be assessed. Id.; Johnson, supra at 532 (citing Commonwealth v. Perry, 537 Pa. 385, 644 A.2d 705, 709 (1994), for the principle that a new trial may be awarded due to cumulative prejudice accrued through multiple instances of trial counsel's ineffective representation). We have denied most of Appellant's claims based on lack of merit, and there is no basis for a claim of cumulative error with regard to these claims. With regard to the few claims that we have denied based on lack of prejudice, see one sub-claim in Issue 9, two sub-claims in Issue 11, and Issue 15, we are satisfied that there is no cumulative prejudice warranting relief. These claims are independent factually and legally, with no reasonable and logical connection that would have caused the jury to assess them cumulatively.