Opinion ID: 172808
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Direct loss

Text: The record contains evidence demonstrating by a preponderance that beginning in mid-2003, while she was Norvell's fiduciary, Griffith began making unauthorized cash withdrawals (including checks made out to cash) from one of Norvell's bank accounts, sometimes making notations on the checks to the effect that the money was for payment of bills. These withdrawals are substantiated by copies of checks made payable to Cash or to Griffith, as well as by copies of cash withdrawal slips. During the period that Griffith was making these withdrawals, she failed to make payment on a number of Norvell's bills, in the amount of $9,495. The Government has provided copies of these bills, as well as clear evidence that they were not paid. [10] The Government thus proved the $9,495 direct loss by a preponderance. The Government likewise proved by a preponderance the direct loss of $7,000 from the sale of one of Norvell's properties in December 2002, shortly before the VA declared Norvell incompetent to handle [his] own financial affairs (R. vol. III. at 67) on January 13, 2003. The Government put on evidence that Griffith forged the signature of Norvell's son Ross on the check for the proceeds of this sale, deposited the check into one of Norvell's accounts, and then had a cashier's check issued to herself from that account. Far less compelling is the Government's evidence that Griffith should be held responsible for $16,000 in direct loss resulting from Norvell's purchase of a 2002 Pontiac for her exclusive use. After Norvell traded in his 1939 Hudson, valued at $6,000, for the down payment on the Pontiac, he financed the remainder of the $16,000 purchase price with a $10,000 installment loan. When Griffith failed to make payments on the installment loan, the vehicle was repossessed. Yet despite acknowledging the repossession of the Pontiac, which served as collateral on the installment loan, the PSR held Griffith accountable for the unpaid balance on that loan, and the district court adopted this element of the PSR's loss calculation. The Government failed to prove by a preponderance that Griffith's conduct caused a loss of $10,000 in unpaid loan debt where the collateral on that debt was seized. Therefore, the district court clearly erred in including this $10,000 debt in its direct loss calculation. [11]