Opinion ID: 613237
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Joann Fike

Text: Joann Fike was the owner of the Chrysler LeBaron that Jalowiec borrowed on the night of Lally's murder. She testified for the prosecution that her nephew Brian Howington let Jalowiec borrow the car, and that it was covered with ice and had blood on it when Jalowiec and Raymond Smith returned it several hours later. After the LeBaron was impounded in connection with the murder investigation, Detective Leiby helped Joann Fike find another car, gave her $200 for a set of four tires, and helped her obtain the car's return. Jalowiec contends Leiby's help represents evidence that he induced Fike's cooperation, evidence that should have been disclosed. The district court acknowledged that the help Leiby gave may or may not have been usual protocol, but concluded that this information should have been disclosed to Jalowiec. Jalowiec, 2008 WL 312655, at . Nonetheless, the district court concluded the error was harmless. Id. Jalowiec argues that any inducement given to Fike was important because she was a key witness who placed Jalowiec in her car on the night of the homicide. The Warden concedes that the economic consideration Fike received was relevant to her credibility, but argues that the evidence would not have altered the outcome of the trial if it had been given to the defense. We agree. Fike's testimony was corroborated by other witnesses. There is no good reason to question her credibility. Even though the evidence of help Fike received should have been disclosed, Jalowiec has presented no reason to believe the information could have been used to so impeach Fike as to call the fairness of the trial and its outcome into question. We also find no error in the district court's determination that evidence that Fike was granted transactional immunity in exchange for her cooperation with the investigation of Lally's death was not material for purposes of Brady. Again, the grant of immunity should have been disclosed, but inasmuch as Fike did not reveal any self-incriminating information, the impeachment value of the immunity agreement was minimal. See Marshall v. Hendricks, 307 F.3d 36, 56 (3d Cir.2002) (recognizing that the impeachment value of the immunity agreement is inextricably tied to the self-incriminating evidence that was provided after the immunity agreement was executed.).