Opinion ID: 75566
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Neal’s Appeal

Text: Because we can dispose of Neal’s arguments in fairly short order, we address his appeal first. He raises three arguments. First, he argues that the district court’s refusal to bifurcate the trial of the claims against him from those against the City resulted in unfair prejudice because Griffin was permitted to introduce evidence that Neal harassed other women and had a reputation as a harasser to prove that the City had a custom or policy of being indifferent to women. Neal contends that although such evidence may have been admissible as to Griffin’s claims against the City, it was 8 inadmissible character evidence as against Neal intended to show that he was a “bad person” who acted in conformity with his prior bad acts. Rule 42(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure affords a district court discretion to order separate trials where such order would further convenience, avoid prejudice, or promote efficiency. In this case, we cannot say that the district court abused its discretion in concluding that bifurcation would “not significantly increase judicial efficiency” or in its conclusion that bifurcation would “result in the Court essentially trying the same case twice.” See Omnibus Order, March 8, 2000. There is clearly substantial overlap in the issues, facts, evidence, and witnesses required for Griffin’s claims against both Neal and the City. Moreover, although Neal argues at length that his rights were prejudiced by the introduction of his prior bad acts, he neither objected to the introduction of such evidence at trial; nor did he ask the district court for a limiting instruction. We do not believe that the district court committed plain error in failing to provide a limiting instruction sua sponte.2 United States v. Cross, 928 F.2d 1030, 1051, n.69 (11th Cir. 1991)(reviewing for plain error district court’s failure to sua sponte caution jury that testimony could not be considered as evidence of defendant’s bad character or 2 It does appear that the district court offered some limiting instruction either sua sponte or at the request of the City regarding testimony about prior acts of harassment by Neal. The court instructed the jury in the final charge that evidence of other acts of harassment could not be considered in determining whether Neal harassed Griffin. 9 disposition to commit the crime); United States v. Waldrip, 981 F.2d 799 (5th Cir. 1993)(court’s failure to sua sponte provide a limiting instruction is plain error only when the court’s charge as a whole is so erroneous as to result in a likelihood of a grave miscarriage of justice); United States v. Tracy, 12 F.3d 1186, 1195 (2d Cir. 1993)(when defendant fails to request instruction, trial court’s failure to instruct is a ground for reversal only when it constitutes an error that is “egregious and obvious” and reversal is “necessary to redress a miscarriage of justice”); Fed.R.Evid. 105 (when evidence is admissible for one purpose but not another, “the court, upon request, shall restrict the evidence to its proper scope and instruct the jury accordingly”). In light of our determination that the district court’s failure to sua sponte provide a limiting instruction was not plain error, we need not decide whether the evidence of Neal’s prior bad acts would have actually been admissible in Griffin’s case against Neal. Although Fed.R.Evid. 404(b) prohibits the introduction of prior bad acts to prove a defendant’s bad character or that he acted in conformity therewith, the Rule does not preclude the introduction of such evidence to demonstrate a defendant’s plan, motive, opportunity, intent, pattern, etc. Evidence of Neal’s harassment of other women who worked under him is arguably admissible for one or more of these acceptable purposes.
10 Next, Neal argues that the district court erred in allowing an expert witness to testify that Griffin’s post-assault behavior conformed to that of other assault victims. Griffin offered the testimony of Professor Louise Fitzgerald, an expert in sexual harassment, assault, and rape. Fitzgerald testified about common responses by victims of rape or harassment, such as the failure to resist a perpetrator, bathing immediately after the assault, and the failure to file or a delay in filing a formal report or charge. After reviewing the testimony, we do not believe that Fitzgerald commented on Griffin’s credibility, veracity, capacity for truthful testimony, or whether the events described by Griffin, in fact, transpired. Accordingly, we do not believe that the district court abused its discretion in permitting the testimony.
Finally, Neal argues that the district court abused its discretion in not granting him a new trial because the jury was tainted by emotional outbursts from Griffin and another witness. The first incident occurred before voir dire of the jury when Griffin became very emotional and upset and left the court room crying out loud. She walked through the lobby where the jury panel was waiting and then into the bathroom. Many prospective jurors witnessed the incident. Although Neal argues on appeal that the district court erred in not granting him a new trial based on Griffin’s emotional outburst, it appears that Neal neither requested a mistrial at the time of the incident; 11 nor did he move to strike the jury panel. In any event, we find no abuse of discretion in the district court’s decision not to strike the panel.3 The court questioned each of the prospective jurors about what they had witnessed and what effect it might have on their partiality. Each juror ultimately selected to serve on the jury stated that he or she could ignore the incident and decide the case based on the evidence. The second incident upon which Neal bases his appeal occurred during the testimony of Joanne Jeffery, a Florida City employee, who testified that Neal had harassed her on daily basis while he was an employee of Florida City. Jeffery’s testimony was almost immediately interrupted when she broke down crying on the witness stand. The court promptly ordered a recess, and both Neal and the City moved for a mistrial. Although the court initially expressed serious concern about the emotional nature of the testimony, it ultimately declined to grant a mistrial. The court then instructed the jury to disregard the witness’ crying, and each of the jurors indicated that they were able to do so. One week later, the court struck Jeffery’s testimony “in toto” and instructed the jury that it was to completely disregard it. Although Neal contends that Jeffery’s emotional outburst on the witness stand was so severe and disruptive that he was denied his right to a fair and impartial jury, we have held that because the trial judge is in the best position to assess the prejudicial 3 The City did request that the district court strike the panel, and the district court refused. 12 effect of an emotional outburst, the decision whether to grant a mistrial lies within his sound discretion. Messer, 760 F.2d at 1087(affirming trial judge’s refusal to grant mistrial after murder victim’s father began screaming at and lunged toward the defendant during defendant’s testimony). The district court gave curative instructions and ultimately struck the testimony of the witness. Raulerson v. Wainwright, 753 F.2d 869, 876 (11th Cir. 1985)(stating that we presume that juries follow the court’s instructions). As such, we find no abuse of discretion.