Opinion ID: 698684
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Garcia's Testimony

Text: 17 Garcia next contends that Stanton should have allowed Garcia himself to testify. He argues that he would have denied circulating or writing the letters and would have explained that he was confused and uncomprehending when he signed the statement. 18 Again, Garcia is simply challenging Stanton's strategy. Stanton chose to contest the writing of the letters rather than their distribution. He decided not to put Garcia on the stand because he believed that Garcia would not be a credible witness. Given that Garcia had already contradicted himself, it was reasonable for Stanton to fear that Garcia would not stand up well under cross-examination. Failing to call him to the stand, then, was not an arbitrary act but a strategy decision. While Garcia may disagree with this strategy, it is again not our place to question Stanton's choices on strategy. 19 In addition, Garcia has again failed to show that the outcome would probably have been different had he testified. It is certainly possible that the arbitrator would have found Garcia a sympathetic witness and ruled differently, but it is equally possible that Garcia's testimony would have done him more harm than good. As with Khalil's testimony, the arbitrator's doubts about Garcia's credibility suggest that calling Garcia to the stand to refute his signed statement would not have helped his case.