Opinion ID: 325263
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: hutcheson's double jeopardy claim

Text: 37 Appellant Hutcheson argues that he has been subjected to double jeopardy. He bases this claim upon a former trial in which he was a defendant, United States v. Trans Continental Insurance Co., No. 72--310 (S.D.Fla.). There are two considerations which have led us to conclude that this contention is without merit. 38 First, the trial judge in Trans Continental declared a mistrial as to Hutcheson and one other defendant when their trial counsel was injured in an automobile wreck and was unable to continue the trial. 8 It is hornbook law that a defendant may be tried a second time when upon the first trial the court properly declared a mistrial. But Hutcheson says that the mistrial was declared without his consent. A broad reading of certain rather casual language in Green v. United States, 355 U.S. 184, 78 S.Ct. 221, 2 L.Ed.2d 199 (1957) seems to support that argument. Justice Black stated: 'This Court, as well as most others, has taken the position that a defendant is placed in jeopardy once he is put to trial before a jury so that if the jury is discharged without his consent he cannot be tried again.' The cases cited by Justice Black to support this statement do not warrant such a broad rule. Indeed, he went on to say that 'unforeseeable circumstances' might arise during the first trial making its completion impossible, such as the failure of a jury to agree. The broad rule in Green was explained just four years later in Gori v. United States, 367 U.S. 364, 81 S.Ct. 1523, 6 L.Ed.2d 901 (1961), wherein the Court said: 39 Where for reasons deemed compelling by the trial judge, who is best situated intelligently to make such a decision, the ends of substantial justice cannot be attained without discontinuing the trial, a mistrial may be declared without the defendant's consent and even over his objections, and he may be retried consistently with the Fifth Amendment. 40 367 U.S. at 368, 81 S.Ct. at 1526, 6 L.Ed.2d at 904. 41 We believe that the particular circumstances in Trans Continental were such that the trial court was justified in declaring a mistrial. 9 42 Second, we have looked at the indictment in Trans Continental and compared it with the indictment in the case before us. Although both involved similar alleged schemes to befraud, the precise acts involved are different. No victim mentioned in the Trans Continental indictment is mentioned in the indictment presently before us. Trans Continental Casualty Company, Ltd. is mentioned in the indictment in our case but only to the extent that the defendants represented it to be a financially sound company with substantial funds available for lending. In our review of the record we do not find that any evidence was presented as to the Trans Continental scheme. To support a claim of double jeopardy, Hutcheson must show that the two offenses are in law and in fact the same offense. Dryden v. United States, 403 F.2d 1008 (5th Cir. 1968). The two fraudulent schemes which Hutcheson would have us consider are separate and distinct. 43 Affirmed.