Opinion ID: 613154
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Explanation of Reasonably Foreseeable Loss Necessary

Text: Leiskunas argues that the court erred in attributing $1,792,000 to him in reasonably foreseeable loss without explaining its conclusion that he was actually responsible for $1,792,000. The definition of loss is a question of law that we review de novo, and the amount of loss calculated by the district court is a finding of fact that we review for clear error. United States v. Vivit, 214 F.3d 908, 914 (7th Cir.2000). [3] We review de novo whether the court followed proper procedures at sentencing. United States v. Abebe, 651 F.3d 653, 655-56 (7th Cir.2011). We find that the court should have explained its rationale in attributing the loss amount it did to Leiskunas. The court adopted the presentence report, but it did not address Leiskunas's position regarding the amount of loss that was reasonably foreseeable to him. Leiskunas argued in his sentencing memorandum and again at his sentencing hearing that $1,792,000 could not be attributed to him in reasonably foreseeable loss because he had no idea that the properties were going to go into foreclosure. A sentencing court commits procedural error by not adequately explaining its choice of sentence. United States v. Garcia-Oliveros, 639 F.3d 380, 381 (7th Cir.2011) (per curiam). And some statement of the district court's reasoning is necessary for this court to be able to meaningfully review its decision. United States v. Marion, 590 F.3d 475, 477 (7th Cir.2009) (remand of district court's denial of a sentence reduction under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2)). Here, the lack of explanation by the district court in attributing $1,792,000 to Leiskunas in reasonably foreseeable loss means we cannot meaningfully review the court's decision. And, because of the court's silence, we cannot be sure of the effect that Leiskunas's argument had, or could have had, on the court's sentencing decision. United States v. Villegas-Miranda, 579 F.3d 798, 802 (7th Cir.2009) (citing United States v. Cunningham, 429 F.3d 673, 679 (7th Cir. 2005)). See also United States v. Johnson, 643 F.3d 545, 549 (7th Cir.2011) (A sentencing court need not respond expressly to every argument a defendant makes, but it must address all of a defendant's principal arguments that are not so weak as to not merit discussion.) (citations and internal quotations omitted). These procedural standards operate as safeguards against unintentional infringements on defendants' rights. We remand to give the court an opportunity to explain its rationale in attributing a loss amount to Leiskunas. We express no opinion as to the propriety of arriving at the same figure of reasonably foreseeable loss on remand, but such a determination should be explained by the district court. On remand, the district court should also address Leiskunas's restitution order and the $1,500 arithmetical error that both parties concede is currently present.