Opinion ID: 536999
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Specific Prejudice

Text: 57 The defendants argue that they were prejudiced at trial due to the lack of adequate preparation time in four different ways. They claim that the rush to trial: (1) contributed to the inability of any of the defendants to take the stand as they were not adequately prepared; (2) caused an inability to cross-examine the government's witnesses in an adequate manner; (3) inhibited the defense from interviewing and preparing favorable lenders to testify; and (4) prevented the defense from adequately preparing their expert witness to testify as to the economics of the organization and the tax fraud count. 58 As to the defendants' first claim of prejudice, they do not specifically identify why they could not take the stand. More than a general allegation of we were not prepared is necessary to demonstrate prejudice. 59 The defendants also fail to point to specific instances of shortfall in their lawyers' cross-examination that was flawed due to the denial of the continuance. Only one specific claim of lawyer error is made: further investigation revealed that two loan victims extended their loans so that they were not yet due at the time of trial. Yet even this assertion remains unsubstantiated. 60 As to the defendants' claim that they did not have time to find, interview, and prepare lenders who would have been favorable witnesses, their briefs again remain silent as to the names of such witnesses who have since been identified. We have previously held that post-hoc assertions by counsel that given more time something might have turned up will not suffice to demonstrate prejudice. Badwan, 624 F.2d at 1231. 61 Finally, the claimed defects in their expert's testimony do not establish prejudice. The defendants argue that the expert failed to rebut the government's contentions in several areas but they do not demonstrate that the shortcoming resulted from the lack of adequate preparation time rather than the merits of their case. The briefs are silent as to, specifically, how the expert could have testified to the contrary. 62 The defendants simply fail to point to specific errors made by their lawyers that resulted from the lack of adequate preparation time. While they allege that many areas of the defense could have been improved, they do not specifically state how such improvement could have been accomplished. Even assuming that the district court abused its discretion in denying a continuance, reversal of the defendants' convictions would be contrary to the Supreme Court's holding in United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 104 S.Ct. 2039, 80 L.Ed.2d 657 (1984). Cronic mandates the identification of specific prejudice when claiming ineffectiveness of counsel due to lack of preparation time. Id. at 666, 104 S.Ct. at 2050.