Court Opinion

ID: 4680588
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-04-23 16:15:23.952533+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:56.105764
License: Public Domain

J-S03010-21

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    THOMAS EDWARD RADECKI                      :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 727 WDA 2020

               Appeal from the PCRA Order Entered July 1, 2020
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Clarion County Criminal Division at
                        No(s): CP-16-CR-0000540-2013

BEFORE:      DUBOW, J., MURRAY, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.:                                FILED: APRIL 23, 2021

        Appellant, Thomas Edward Radecki, appeals from the Order dismissing

his Petition filed pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42

Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546.           He raises numerous claims alleging ineffective

assistance of trial counsel. After careful review, we affirm.

        In April 2016, after a two-week trial, a jury convicted Appellant of nine

counts of Unlawful Prescription of Controlled Substance by Practitioner

(“Unlawful Prescription”), and one count each of Conspiracy, Dealing in

Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, and Corrupt Organizations.1 On September
____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1Appellant was a psychiatrist who had four offices in Clarion and three other
counties where he and other physicians and nurse practitioners treated people
with drug addictions. Only three of the four locations were licensed to dispense
controlled substances. The Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) and the
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21, 2016, the trial court imposed an aggregate sentence of 133 months to

266 months’ incarceration. This Court affirmed the Judgment of Sentence.

Commonwealth v. Radecki, 180 A.3d 441 (Pa. Super. 2018). Appellant did

not seek review from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

       Appellant filed a timely PCRA Petition, later supplemented, asserting

numerous ineffective assistance of counsel claims, including counsel’s failure

to raise certain objections and present certain evidence, such as testimony

from a third medical addiction expert, to demonstrate that the volume and

method of his business fell within acceptable medical standards of office-based

addiction treatment.2
____________________________________________

Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (“OAG”) began investigating
Appellant’s practice throughout the four counties in 2010 after receiving
reports from pharmacies and other psychiatrists that Appellant ordered and
provided, either in his office or via prescription, excessive doses of
buprenorphine (Subutex and Suboxone), benzodiazepines (Klonopin, Xanax),
Ritalin, and Adderall. After a grand jury investigation, the OAG charged
Appellant in 2013 in connection with his treatment of thirteen patients, as well
as Conspiracy, Dealing in Unlawful Proceeds, and Corrupt Organizations. The
Commonwealth presented evidence at trial showing, among other things, that
many of Appellant’s patients were poor, young women addicted to opioids and
Adderall/Ritalin whom Appellant exploited by cultivating sexual relationships
with them in exchange for free drugs, free housing, office jobs, and
forgiveness of account balances. Commonwealth v. Radecki, 180 A.3d 441,
446-448, 470 (Pa. Super. 2018). In addition to testimony from Appellant’s
patients, many drug investigators, and Cardinal Health (Appellant’s
medication wholesaler), the Commonwealth presented extensive expert
testimony at trial from Dr. Russell H. Carter who reviewed the files of the
patients at issue in this case and opined that Appellant’s treatment of each of
them fell below standards accepted by the medical profession.

2Dr. William Santoro, M.D., testified on Appellant’s behalf at trial as a board-
certified expert in the field of addiction medicine, contradicting many of Dr.

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       On August 9 and November 5, 2019, the PCRA court held evidentiary

hearings at which the court heard testimony from Appellant; Dr. Brian

Johnson,     an    addiction    expert     from   New   York   who   disputed   the

Commonwealth’s medical expert; Jill Muntz, a nurse practitioner who worked

in Appellant’s office for six months in 2012; and Joseph Troese, Esq.,

Appellant’s trial counsel, among others. On June 30, 2020, the PCRA court

denied relief, concluding that Appellant “has not met his burden of proving

that attorney John Troese committed errors which probably undermine

confidence in the guilty verdict and make it unreliable.”            PCRA Ct. Op,

6/30/2020, at 10.

       Appellant timely appealed.        Both the PCRA court and Appellant have

complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925.

Issues

       Appellant raises the following questions for our review:

       1. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel was effective
          in failing to request and/or secure an expert report from Dr.
          Brian Johnson and in failing to present the expert medical
          testimony by Dr. Johnson, which would have refuted the
          testimony of Dr. Carter, Agent Embree, Bonnie Anthony, Dr.

____________________________________________

Carter’s statements. See N.T. Trial, 4/22/16, at 237-321. He testified that
Appellant’s treatment of each of the patients at issue was done in good faith
and within the scope of the doctor-patient relationship.

Appellant also testified as an expert in substance abuse addiction. See N.T.
Trial, 4/19/16, at 193-94. Both Appellant and Dr. Santoro testified that
Appellant’s treatment of the thirteen patients was appropriate and accepted
within the medical addiction treatment community.

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        Hartwell, Heidi Gregg, Denise Irwin, and other Commonwealth
        witnesses?

     2. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel was effective
        in failing to present Jill Muntz?

     3. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel was effective
        when he failed to introduce and question the expert witnesses,
        including but not limited to Dr. Santoro, Dr. Radecki, Dr.
        Carter, and (Dr. Johnson had he called him), concerning
        studies on retention rates for buprenorphine treatment, which
        Dr. Radecki provided to him prior to trial?

     4. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel was effective
        in not introducing or adequately questioning the expert
        witnesses, including Dr. Radecki, (Dr. Johnson), Dr. Santoro,
        and Dr. Carter about weaning patients off of buprenorphine?

     5. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel effective in
        not providing to the Commonwealth Dr. Radecki’s 1800 patient
        records and expert report of how many of his patients had been
        treated with which medications & what their retention rates
        were and the drug urine screens including male vs. female,
        where Judge Amer had denied the Commonwealth’s pre-trial
        motion to preclude evidence of Dr. Radecki’s practice as a
        whole, and the Commonwealth introduced evidence concerning
        Dr. Radecki’s practice as a whole through Heidi Gregg, Denise
        Irwin, and Malorie McFarland?

     6. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel was effective
        in failing to present evidence that Mr. Morse’[s] testimony that
        Dr. Radecki purchased 589,140 units of buprenorphine was
        grossly erroneous;

     7. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel effective in
        failing to impeach the purported “expert” testimony of Agent
        Embree concerning the issue of abuse of buprenorphine and
        the effects of naloxone and not questioning Dr. Radecki or
        presenting Dr. Johnson to testify concerning studies which
        showed that naloxone has zero effect on oral abuse, minimal if
        any effect on intranasal abuse, and a minor effect, if any, on
        deterring IV abuse?

     8. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel was effective
        in his questioning of Dr. Radecki?

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         9. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel was effective
            in failing to object to testimony by Shawna Riva concerning her
            treatment and her sister’s treatment by Dr. Radecki where
            there was no allegation that Dr. Radecki improperly prescribed
            medications to her or her sister and in failing to object to
            Jessica Neely’s claims that she was raped as a result of taking
            medications prescribed by Dr. Radecki?

         10. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel was
            effective in failing to adequately rebut the erroneous testimony
            of Jessica Neely that Appellant had “a house he keeps girls
            in[,]” N.T., 4/14/16, at 154, and that Appellant had a “house
            with girls in it[,]” id. at 155?

         11. Did the PCRA court err[ed] in finding trial counsel effective
            when he failed to object to Dr. Russell Carter’s expert
            testimony in which he erroneously testified that having a
            sexual relationship with a patient was against the penal laws of
            Pennsylvania?

         12. Based on all of the aforementioned claims, . . . the
            cumulative errors in this matter [were] so significant that they
            deprived Dr. Radecki of a fair trial in violation of his due process
            rights and his state and federal constitutional right to a fair
            trial?

Appellant’s Br. at 6-7 (reordered).

Relevant Legal Standards

PCRA review

         We review an order denying a PCRA petition to determine whether the

PCRA court’s decision is supported by the evidence of record and free of legal

error.    Commonwealth v. Jarosz, 152 A.3d 344, 350 (Pa. Super. 2016)

(citing Commonwealth v. Fears, 86 A.3d 795, 803 (Pa. 2014)). “[We] must

defer to the PCRA court’s findings of fact and credibility determinations, which

are supported by the record.” Commonwealth v. Diaz, 183 A.3d 417, 421

(Pa. Super. 2018) (emphasis and citation omitted).            However, we give no

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deference to the court’s legal conclusions. Commonwealth v. Ford, 44 A.3d

1190, 1194 (Pa. Super. 2012).

Ineffective assistance of counsel

      Appellant alleges trial counsel provided ineffective assistance. In

addressing such claims, we presume counsel is effective. Commonwealth

v. Cox, 983 A.2d 666, 678 (Pa. 2009). To overcome this presumption, a

petitioner must establish that: (1) the underlying claim has arguable merit;

(2) counsel lacked a reasonable basis for his act or omission; and (3)

petitioner suffered actual prejudice. Commonwealth v. Treiber, 121 A.3d

435, 445 (Pa. 2015).      In order to establish prejudice, a petitioner must

demonstrate “that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s

error or omission, the result of the proceeding would have been different.”

Commonwealth v. Koehler, 36 A.3d 121, 132 (Pa. 2012) (citation omitted).

“A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in

the outcome.”    Commonwealth v. Sandusky, 203 A.3d 1033, 1044 (Pa.

Super. 2019).

      “If a petitioner fails to satisfy any prong of the ineffectiveness inquiry, a

claim of ineffective assistance of counsel will be rejected.” Commonwealth

v. Eichinger, 108 A.3d 821, 830-31 (Pa. 2014) (citation omitted). Thus, “if

it is clear that [an a]ppellant has not established that counsel’s act or omission

adversely affected the outcome of the proceedings, the claim may be

dismissed on that basis alone and the court need not first determine whether

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the first and second prongs have been met.” Commonwealth v. Gribble,

863 A.2d 455, 460-61 (Pa. 2004) (citation omitted).

      Finally, it is well settled that a defendant is entitled to a fair trial, not a

perfect one. Commonwealth v. Laird, 119 A.3d 972, 986 (Pa. 2015). An

ineffectiveness claim will not succeed where a petitioner claims, with the

benefit of hindsight, that counsel could have conducted his trial differently.

Id. In addition, the failure to present witness testimony that would have been

merely cumulative of other evidence he presented will not support a finding

of ineffective assistance of counsel where there is sufficient evidence in the

record for conviction. Commonwealth v. Showers, 782 A2d 1010, 1022

(Pa. Super. 2001).

Unlawful prescription, 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(14)

      Appellant asserts that counsel’s actions and omissions likely contributed

to his nine convictions for Unlawful Prescription. The statute defining this

offense provides that a medical practitioner may not prescribe a controlled

substance unless it is done (1) “in good faith in the course of his professional

practice,” (2) “within the scope of the patient relationship,” and (3) “in

accordance with treatment principles accepted by a responsible segment of

the medical profession.” 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(14). To establish a violation,

the Commonwealth must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the

defendant-practitioner wrote a prescription that violated any one of these

three standards. Commonwealth v. Salameh, 617 A.2d 1314, 1315-16 (Pa.

Super. 1992).

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Issues 1 and 2: Counsel’s Failure to Call Dr. Johnson and Jill Muntz

       Appellant first asserts that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

present testimony at trial from Dr. Johnson and Jill Muntz, the nurse

practitioner who worked at Appellant’s unlicensed location in Kane County.

Appellant’s Brief at 29, 73-74. He contends Dr. Johnson’s and Ms. Muntz’s

testimony was necessary to refute the Commonwealth’s evidence that

prescribing benzodiazepines (Klonopin) with buprenorphine (Subutex) is

“inappropriate” and “dangerous.” Appellant’s Br. at 36, 73. After providing a

detailed recitation of Dr. Johnson’s PCRA testimony, emphasizing numerous

instances where Dr. Johnson’s PCRA hearing testimony either rejected or

directly contradicted the Commonwealth’s expert’s testimony, Appellant

concludes that because Dr. Johnson is “one of the world’s leading experts in

addiction medicine,” he suffered prejudice from counsel’s failure to present

his testimony. Id. at 28-40.3 Appellant also avers that counsel should have

called Ms. Muntz as a fact witness at trial.

____________________________________________

3 In pre-trial proceedings, the court provided three different dates to Appellant
by which to produce Dr. Johnson’s expert report. Less than one month before
trial, on March 21, 2016, Appellant’s counsel again inquired whether Dr.
Johnson could testify as an expert even though Dr. Johnson had not produced
an expert report. Because Appellant had failed to meet the three deadlines,
and still had not provided a written report from Dr. Johnson, the court decided
Dr. Johnson could not testify as an expert. Commonwealth v. Radecki, 180
A.3d 441, 453 (Pa. Super. 2018). In addition, counsel attempted to call Dr.
Johnson at trial as a fact witness but the court ultimately forbid his testimony
as hearsay and, again, as precluded for failing to present an expert report.
N.T., 4/22/16, at 184.

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       “To be entitled to relief on a claim of ineffectiveness for failure to call a

witness, an appellant must demonstrate that (1) the witness existed; (2) was

available, and willing to cooperate; (3) counsel knew or should have known of

the witness; and (4) the absence of the witness’s testimony prejudiced the

appellant.” Commonwealth v. Johnson, 139 A.3d 1257, 1284 (Pa. 2016)

(citation omitted).     To establish prejudice, a petition must show that the

missing testimony “would have been beneficial under the circumstances of the

case.” Commonwealth v. Sneed, 45 A.3d 1096, 1109 (Pa. 2012) (citation

omitted). A claim will not succeed if the proposed witness’s testimony “would

not have materially aided him.” Commonwealth v. Bauhammers, 92 A.3d

708, 725 (Pa. 2014).

       Both Dr. Johnson and Ms. Muntz appeared at Appellant’s PCRA hearing

and testified that Appellant’s counsel knew that they were available and willing

to testify at Appellant’s trial.4 Although these witnesses could testify generally

in support of Appellant’s treatment program, neither of them addressed the

specific allegations pertaining to Appellant’s treatment of the thirteen patient-

victims underlying his criminal charges. See, e.g., N.T. PCRA, 8/9/19, at 116

(Dr. Johnson testifying that he knew insufficient details about Appellant’s

____________________________________________

4Ms. Muntz was named as a co-conspirator but at the time of Appellant’s trial,
she had not yet been charged and the statute of limitations had not yet
expired. See N.T.,4/22/16, at 4. Although the defense sent her a subpoena
and she did show up to testify at trial, defense counsel stated that because of
her potential criminal liability, “I don’t think she’s going to testify, and I don’t
want to put her in that position.” Id. at 5.

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impregnating a patient) and 21-40 (Ms. Muntz testifying generally about

Appellant’s tapering practice).

       Our review of the record indicates that neither Dr. Johnson nor Ms.

Muntz could have testified that Appellant prescribed and administered

medications to the specific nine patient-victims (1) in good faith and (2) within

the scope of the patient relationship. Accordingly, their generalized testimony

would not have materially aided Appellant in rebutting the Commonwealth’s

evidence proving those elements of the crime of Unlawful Prescription.

       Further, in light of the plethora of evidence presented against Appellant,

we find the PCRA court properly exercised its discretion in finding that

Appellant was not able to establish that, but for counsel’s error or omission,

there is a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have

been    different.   Seven   former   patients,   thirteen   drug   enforcement

investigators, including one from Appellant’s medication wholesaler, at least

two pharmacists, two doctors who practiced with him, and several other

employees, in addition to the expert witnesses, testified regarding his over-

prescription of addictive medications, his providing controlled substances

without a prescription at times and from unlicensed locations, and his

inappropriate behavior towards women patients, to prove Appellant guilty of

not only Unlawful Prescription with respect to the nine patient-victims, but

also Corrupt Organizations, Conspiracy, and Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful

Activities. We discern no abuse of the PCRA court’s discretion and conclude

no relief is due on these issues.

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Issue 3: Retention rates of patients

      Appellant next asserts that counsel should have presented numerous

retention rate studies and questioned the medical experts, including himself,

more vigorously about the importance of patient retention rates in

demonstrating successful substance abuse treatment programs. Appellant’s

Brief at 42-43. He contends that this evidence would have led the jury to

conclude that Appellant’s “prescribing practices were within the mainstream

of buprenorphine treatment.”    Id. at 43. Appellant notes that he testified at

trial that retention rates for a buprenorphine program of 38% is considered a

quality program and studies, if admitted, would have shown that his retention

rate of 54%, as testified to by Dr. Johnson, was “stellar” and “well-above

average.” Id. at 42-43.

      Our review indicates that Appellant presented testimony from both

himself and Dr. Santoro about the importance of retention rates during the

trial. In his four-paragraph argument, Appellant does not cite any case law

or attempt to articulate how even more, essentially identical, evidence

demonstrating the importance of retention rates of treatment programs

generally would rebut the Commonwealth’s evidence. Accordingly, Appellant

has not established that but for counsel’s failure to present more evidence

regarding retention rates of mainstream drug programs, there is a reasonable

probability that the jury’s verdict would have been different.

Issue 4: Medication reduction treatment studies

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      Appellant also asserts that counsel “did not adequately question either

Dr. Santoro or [Appellant] concerning weaning patients off buprenorphine”

with the use of numerous studies. Id. at 43-44. He contends that, as a result,

the jury was not informed that Appellant “had a weaning program in place

that was designed to slowly taper his patients [ ] to prevent relapses and

possible death.” Id. at 44. He contends that counsel’s failure to introduce

this evidence “left undisputed” the Commonwealth’s argument that Appellant

sought to prolong his patients’ substance abuse rather than treat it

responsibly. See id., at 44-45.

      The record belies Appellant’s contention that the jury was not informed

about Appellant’s weaning program. In fact, Appellant testified that he slowly

and deliberately tapered his patients’ buprenorphine dosage.         N.T. Trial,

4/21/16, at 64-66. In addition, Dr. Santoro agreed that this strategy was

appropriate. N.T. Trial, 4/22/16, at 272. Thus, the record does not support

Appellant’s contention that the Commonwealth’s theory was not rebutted.

      Moreover, Appellant again does not provide legal authority to support

his argument. He also fails to articulate how admission of medical studies

regarding general addiction treatment would have countered the evidence,

found credible by the jury, that Appellant did not prescribe the drugs in good

faith or within the patient relationship with respect to the nine patient victims

whose treatment engendered his convictions.          Accordingly, he has not

established that but for counsel’s omission, the outcome of the proceeding

would have been different.

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Issue 5: All Patient Records

       Appellant next asserts trial counsel was ineffective for failing to provide

the Commonwealth with the records of all of his 1800 patients and a summary

report Appellant himself compiled regarding his treatment of each patient,

their drug screen results, and those patients’ retention rates. Id. at 49. He

notes that he asked trial counsel to provide the records and tabulations to the

Commonwealth, but counsel allegedly informed Appellant “that he would

surprise the Commonwealth with the information at trial.” Id.

       Again, Appellant does not provide citation to legal authority or develop

any argument to inform us how such evidence negates the Commonwealth’s

evidence that Appellant’s treatment of the nine patient-victims was not in

good faith or within the patient relationship. Appellant’s summary conclusions

about his overall practice percentages do not establish that had counsel

provided this evidence to the Commonwealth, the jury would likely have

rendered a different verdict.

Issue 6: Volume of Buprenorphine Purchases

       Appellant asserts that counsel should have presented evidence to refute

testimony presented by the Commonwealth’s witness from Cardinal Health

who testified that Appellant purchased 589,140 dosages of buprenorphine in

2011.5     Id. at 61. Appellant contends that counsel should have called
____________________________________________

5 On cross-examination, Appellant’s attorney elicited from the Cardinal
Representative that the doses purchased by Appellant in 2011 were closer to
223,200. N.T., 4/14/16, at 41.

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Appellant’s daughter, then a medical student who had worked in Appellant’s

office, to testify about the pill purchases because she had reviewed the raw

data provided by the Commonwealth on a CD showing Appellant’s purchases

from Cardinal Health in 2011 and concluded that the actual number of doses

purchased by Appellant was closer to 100,000. Appellant’s Br. at 61.

      As with the prior issue, Appellant fails to articulate how this evidence

would have shown that Appellant prescribed medication to the nine patient-

victims in good faith and within the patient relationship. Accordingly, he has

not shown how the outcome of his proceeding would have been different but

for counsel’s omission.

Issue 7: Ineffective Questioning of Investigator Embree

      Appellant asserts that counsel should have impeached certain testimony

presented by Commonwealth witness Agent James Embree. Appellant’s Br. at

45.   Specifically, Appellant contends that counsel should have presented

witnesses to counter Agent Embree’s testimony that it was easier for patients

to abuse Subutex, Appellant’s preferred buprenorphine treatment, than

Suboxone, which contains naloxone.       Id. at 45.    In support, Appellant

emphasizes Dr. Johnson’s PCRA testimony that “[t]here is essentially no

difference” between Subutex and Suboxone.       Id. at 46, citing N.T. PCRA,

8/9/19, at 59. He also emphasizes his own PCRA testimony regarding the

effects of naloxone contained in Suboxone and contends that counsel’s failure

to impeach Agent Embree’s testimony was prejudicial because it left

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unchallenged the Commonwealth’s theory that Appellant sought to prolong his

patients’ addiction. See Appellant’s Br. at 48.

       Appellant’s contention is illogical and unsupported by the record. In fact,

there was testimony challenging the Commonwealth’s theory: the record

shows that both Appellant and Dr. Santoro testified that the naloxone

contained in Suboxone limited the euphoric effects of buprenorphine, thereby

limiting the risk that a patient would misuse the medication. See N.T.,

4/22/16, at 88-89, 252. This testimony mirrors Agent Embree’s testimony.

Therefore, impeaching Agent Embree’s testimony would have likewise

impeached Appellant’s credibility and the credibility of his own expert.

Accordingly, Appellant cannot demonstrate that counsel’s omission was

without strategic reason or that it caused prejudice.6

Issue 8: Appellant’s own testimony

       Appellant also asserts counsel should have asked Appellant different

questions while he was testifying in order to lead the jury to conclude he was

not guilty of Unlawful Prescription. Appellant’s Br. at 52-57. Appellant asserts

that to refute the Commonwealth’s position that Appellant was not prescribing

in good faith, counsel should have asked him questions to: (1) highlight the

differences between him and the Commonwealth’s expert, Dr. Russell Carter,

with respect to addiction education and expertise; (2) explain why Appellant
____________________________________________

6 In addressing Appellant’s direct appeal, this Court noted that Agent Embree’s
testimony was cumulative of that offered by Dr. Carter and Dr. Santora so any
error in the admission of this testimony was harmless. Radecki, 180 A.3d at
462.

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preferred to prescribe Subutex over Suboxone; and (3) expound on studies

regarding opioid dependent patients with co-existing anxiety disorders and

ADHD.    Appellant asserts that he suffered actual prejudice because more

detailed evidence from Appellant “would have cast significant doubt on the

testimony of multiple Commonwealth witnesses.” Id. at 58.

      Appellant’s contentions do not convince us that counsel’s performance

rendered him unable to have a fair trial. Appellant testified at length over the

course of three days about his medical credentials, his experience treating

patients with opioid addiction and other mental health issues, and the specific

allegations made by his patients. See, e.g., N.T. Trial, 4/19/16, at 168-94

(testifying to his credentials); N.T. Trial, 4/21/16, at 117-23 (addressing

treatment for those with opioid addiction and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder), 140-97 (addressing specific allegations); N.T. Trial, 4/22/16, at 26-

72 (same).    Appellant’s hindsight conclusion that his own testimony was

flawed and inadequate because it did not persuade the jury of his innocence

ignores the plethora of evidence that convinced the jury that he did not

prescribe to nine patients “in good faith in the course of his professional

practice,” and “within the scope of the patient relationship.” 35 P.S. § 780-

133(a)(14). Appellant’s argument does not demonstrate that but for counsel’s

omissions, the outcome of the trial would have been different. Accordingly,

no relief is due on this claim.

Issues 9: Failure to object to testimony from Shawna Riva and Jessica
Neely

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       Appellant claims he suffered actual prejudice when counsel failed to

object to testimony from two of his patients on relevancy grounds because

the Commonwealth did not charge Appellant with unlawfully prescribing

medications to these patients. See Appellant’s Br. at 65-67, 69-72. He notes

that trial counsel agreed at the PCRA hearing that he should have objected to

Shawna Riva’s testimony regarding Appellant’s unsuccessful treatment of her

sister and he did not know why he did not object. Id. at 66, citing N.T. PCRA

Hearing, 8/9/19, at 148. Appellant also notes that trial counsel admitted at

the PCRA Hearing that testimony from Jessica Neely regarding her alleged

rape after having taken Lithium was irrelevant and prejudicial.7 Appellant’s

Br. at 66, citing N.T. Trial, 8/9/19, at 144. Appellant argues that because the

Commonwealth insisted that treatment of patients other than the thirteen

alleged patient-victims was irrelevant and the Commonwealth did not charge

Appellant with improperly prescribing to Nealy, Riva, or Riva’s sister, his

counsel’s failure to object was highly prejudicial. Appellant’s Br. at 66.

       Our review of the PCRA hearing confirms that trial counsel stated that

Neely’s testimony regarding the rape was irrelevant and prejudicial, and that

____________________________________________

7 Neely testified that she was at a party after having taken Klonopin, Subutex,
and Lithium prescribed or otherwise provided by Appellant and, after having
a couple of drinks, she passed out and woke up in the hospital with bruises
between her thighs and blood on her. Id. at 163-64. She stated she “[didn’t]
really remember” what happened and attributed her inability to remember to
Lithium. Id. at 163-64. She also stated she had been raped. Id. The DNA kit
revealed only the presence of her boyfriend’s sperm. N.T. Trial, 4/14/16, at
164.

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he should have objected to Ms. Riva’s testimony about her sister. N.T. PCRA,

8/9/19, at 144, 148. He also stated that “some of the witnesses sounded so

unbelievable that I thought just let their testimony stand. . . . I think [Neely]

is one of the witnesses that – some of the stuff that they said was outlandish.”

Id. at 147.

      Assuming    this   claim   has   merit,   and    assuming     trial    counsel’s

acknowledgment and explanation of his failure to object falls short of a

reasonable strategy, we consider whether “there is a reasonable probability

that, but for counsel’s error or omission, the result of the proceeding would

have been different.” Commonwealth v. Koehler, 36 A.3d 121, 132 (Pa.

2012) (citation omitted).

      We conclude that, even if counsel had objected, the outcome of the trial

would not have changed in light of the evidence presented at trial. As noted

above, seven former patients, thirteen drug enforcement investigators,

including   one   from   Appellant’s   medication     wholesaler,   at      least   two

pharmacists, two doctors who practiced with him, and several other

employees, in addition to the expert witnesses, testified regarding Appellant’s

over-prescription of addictive medications, his providing controlled substances

without a prescription at times and from unlicensed locations, and his

inappropriate behavior towards women patients, to prove Appellant guilty of

not only Unlawful Prescription with respect to the nine patient-victims, but

also Corrupt Organizations, Conspiracy, and Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful

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Activities. It is unlikely that if Appellant’s counsel had objected to the specific

testimony Appellant now challenges, the outcome of the trial would have been

different.

Issue 11: Failure to object to Dr. Carter’s erroneous statement of law

      Appellant also claims counsel should have objected when Dr. Carter

erroneously testified that a sexual relationship between a doctor and patient

was “a violation of the penal code in Pennsylvania.” Appellant’s Br. at 67-68.

He notes that “[w]hile unethical, having a sexual relationship with a patient is

not, alone, against the law.”     Id. at 68.   While Appellant is correct in his

assessment, we nonetheless cannot conclude Appellant suffered prejudice

sufficient to warrant a new trial as a result of counsel’s omission.

      Dr. Carter testified over the course of two days, providing his expert

opinion of Appellant’s medical treatment program. When asked his opinion of

a hypothetical situation in which a prescribing doctor maintained a sexual

relationship with his patient, Dr. Carter responded: “Clearly unacceptable. I

mean, if you look at the American Psychological Association, it says don’t. The

American Psychiatric Association says don’t. The AMA says don’t. All of the

states say don’t, including Pennsylvania. It’s a violation of the penal code in

Pennsylvania.” Id.

      Our review of the PCRA hearing testimony and the trial testimony

reveals that counsel had a reasonable strategy for not objecting to Dr. Carter’s

brief reference to the penal code. The Commonwealth did not dwell on or

highlight this statement, and quickly moved on to another subject. See N.T.

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Trial, 4/19/16, at 67-68.      Any objection by counsel would have only

emphasized the entire comment to the jury.

      Moreover, Dr. Carter’s erroneous reference to the penal code was brief

and, in light of the plethora of evidence against Appellant, we cannot conclude

Appellant suffered prejudice. Accordingly, this issue warrants no relief.

Issue 12: Cumulative Prejudice

      In his final claim, Appellant asserts that counsel’s numerous errors, in

the aggregate, undermined confidence in the jury’s verdict. Appellant’s Br. at

72. “We have often held that no number of failed claims may collectively

warrant relief if they fail to do so individually.” Commonwealth v. Spotz,

18 A.3d 244, 321 (Pa. 2011) (citation and quotation marks omitted).

“However, we have clarified that this principle applies to claims that fail

because of lack of merit or arguable merit.” Id. “When the failure of individual

claims is grounded in lack of prejudice, then the cumulative prejudice from

those individual claims may properly be assessed.” Id.

      The PCRA court addressed the possibility of cumulative prejudice

resulting from trial counsel’s representation and determined that, even if

Appellant had established each discrete claim of counsel’s ineffectiveness,

there was no reasonable probability that the verdict would have been

different.    PCRA Ct. Op., 7/1/20, at 23.    We agree with the PCRA court’s

conclusion.    Based upon our review of each of Appellant’s ineffectiveness

claims, there is no cumulative prejudice sufficient to undermine confidence in

the jury’s verdict.

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CONCLUSION

      In summary, Appellant is not entitled to retry his case with the benefit

of hindsight. While it is certainly possible to comb through a record as

extensive as this and find minor inaccuracies or missteps by any competent

counsel, we disagree with Appellant that any of these alleged errors, if

corrected, would have changed the outcome of this trial.

      Order affirmed.

      Judge Murray joins the memorandum.

      Judge Strassburger did not participate in the consideration or decision

of this case.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 4/23/2021

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