Opinion ID: 1704647
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: ineffectiveness as to penalty-phase performance

Text: In Davis's sixth issue, he raises several conclusory subclaims centered on penalty-phase counsel Terrana's effectiveness. First, Davis argues that Terrana should have used Dr. Gamache to establish statutory and nonstatutory mitigation. Next, Davis argues that Terrana ineffectively prepared Dr. Gamache and that as a result, Dr. Gamache did not accurately testify about Davis's history. Finally, Davis argues that Terrana should have presented additional mitigation evidence. After analyzing the testimony at the evidentiary hearing, the postconviction court denied all of Davis's subclaims together, explaining: The testimony elicited during the evidentiary hearing fails to support that Mr. Terrana was ineffective.... Dr. Gamache testified that he spoke with Mr. Terrana on several occasions and that had he needed additional information from Mr. Terrana, he would have requested it. Although Mr. Terrana did not discuss specific questions with Dr. Gamache, Mr. Terrana's decision was a strategic one. Dr. Gamache's testimony fails to support the argument that he should have been used to establish statutory and non-statutory mitigators. Additionally, Mr. Terrana was not ineffective for failing to prepare Dr. Gamache or using him to establish statutory and non-statutory mitigators. Mr. Terrana called five additional witnesses to testify on Defendant's behalf. Defendant also states that he has secured witnesses who could testify regarding many relevant facts that could have been brought out during the penalty phase; however, the fact that Defendant's postconviction counsel presented two experts with more favorable reports during Defendant's evidentiary hearing does not render Mr. Terrana's performance deficient. See Davis v. State, 875 So.2d 359, 372 (Fla.2003); Asay v. State, 769 So.2d 974, 986 (Fla.2000). As such, Defendant is not entitled to relief as to [this claim]. Postconviction Order at 28-29. We affirm the postconviction court. First, Davis argues that Terrana should have used Dr. Gamache to establish statutory and nonstatutory mitigation. The postconviction court noted that Dr. Gamache testified in Davis's penalty phase to much of the mitigation that Davis's postconviction experts emphasized. We agree with the postconviction court that Davis did not elicit testimony or introduce evidence at the evidentiary hearing demonstrating that Dr. Gamache should have established additional statutory or nonstatutory mitigation. Instead, the unrefuted testimony at the hearing was that Davis had no history of diagnosis or treatment for any psychological disorders. Additionally, when given psychological assessment tests by Dr. Gamache to address this weakness, Davis attempted to fake mental illness. Dr. Gamache testified at the evidentiary hearing that the results of Davis's tests suggested that Davis was grossly [exaggerating] problems of a mental health and mental illness nature. Dr. Gamache told Terrana that he would have to present these damaging facts to the jury if he was called to testify as to mental mitigation. These facts demonstrate that Terrana's decision to use Dr. Gamache in only a limited fashion was both strategic and reasonable. Thus, Davis has not demonstrated that Terrana's use of Dr. Gamache was deficient, and we affirm the denial of this subclaim. Next, Davis argues that Terrana ineffectively prepared Dr. Gamache. We disagree. Both Terrana and Dr. Gamache testified that they met several times and discussed aspects of Davis's case and how they would approach his defense. They also testified that they had experience working together from prior cases. Finally, the night before trial, Dr. Gamache thoroughly discussed Davis's history and case in a lengthy deposition. These facts do not support Davis's allegation that Terrana was deficient. However, even assuming Dr. Gamache could have been more effectively prepared by counsel, Terrana testified that he had a strategic reason for not doing soto avoid the risks inherent in a deposition. Terrana testified that he was concerned that if he laid out questions in detail, Dr. Gamache would have to reveal them when Dr. Gamache was later deposed by the State. Terrana also believed that based on working with Dr. Gamache on several prior cases, they did not need to discuss such strategy. Finally, Dr. Gamache and Terrana both testified that they felt they had sufficient information going into the deposition and trial. The postconviction court found that Terrana's decision not to prepare Dr. Gamache in detail was a strategic decision. Competent, substantial evidence supports this finding. Given these circumstances, we agree that it was also reasonable of Terrana to act as he did. We affirm the denial of relief on this subclaim. Finally, Davis argues generally that Terrana should have presented additional mitigation evidence. However, Terrana testified that it was his strategy to not inundate the jury with every fact from Davis's history. Terrana instead emphasized that Davis could be a productive, nonviolent inmate, and that society did not benefit from his execution. He called Dr. Gamache and five additional witnesses to support this strategy. We have rejected ineffective assistance claims in similar contexts where counsel focused on humanizing the defendant. See, e.g., Rutherford v. State, 727 So.2d 216, 222-23 (Fla.1998). After a careful review of the record, we agree with the postconviction court that Terrana's performance was not deficient. However, even if Terrana's performance was deficient, Davis has not established that he was prejudiced by it. Much of the evidence that Davis now alleges should have been introduced was testified to by Dr. Gamache in Davis's penalty phase. To establish prejudice, Davis had to show that counsel's ineffectiveness deprived [him] of a reliable penalty phase proceeding. Asay, 769 So.2d at 985 (quoting Rutherford, 727 So.2d at 223). Davis did not do so. Accordingly, we affirm the postconviction court's denial of relief on this final subclaim.