Court Opinion

ID: 4176581
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-06-09 21:12:19.637208+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:48.559001
License: Public Domain

2017 IL App (1st) 143644

                                                                                  FOURTH DIVISION
                                                                                       June 8, 2017

                                               No. 1-14-3644

     THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,                            )   Appeal from the Circuit Court
                                                                     )   of Cook County.
            Plaintiff-Appellee,                                      )
                                                                     )
     v. 	                                                            )
                                                                     )   Nos. 14 CR 4615
     GEORGE GATLIN,                                                  )   14 CR 4616
                                                                     )
            Defendant-Appellant.	                                    )   The Honorable
                                                                     )   Joseph M. Claps,
                                                                     )   Judge, presiding.

            JUSTICE BURKE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.

            Presiding Justice Ellis and Justice McBride concurred in the judgment and opinion. 

                                                 OPINION

¶1          Following a bench trial, which joined together two of his separate, but related, criminal

     cases, defendant George Gatlin was found guilty of aggravated battery in case number 14 CR

     4615 and aggravated battery in case number 14 CR 4616. The trial court subsequently sentenced

     him to concurrent terms of four years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant contends that (1) his

     right to a jury trial was violated in both cases because the trial court failed to adequately ensure

     he made a knowing waiver of this right and (2) even if the trial court adequately ensured that he

     knowingly waived his right to a jury trial, that waiver only applied to case number 14 CR 4616

     and not to case number 14 CR 4615. For the reasons that follow, we reverse and remand for a
     1-14-3644

     new trial in case number 14 CR 4615, but affirm defendant’s conviction in case number 14 CR

     4616.

¶2                                          I. BACKGROUND

¶3           On March 17, 2014, the State charged defendant in case number 14 CR 4615 with

     aggravated battery and unlawful restraint for his alleged actions against Migdalia Castro. That

     same day, in case number 14 CR 4616, the State charged defendant with robbery, aggravated

     battery, and unlawful restraint for his alleged actions against Chauncey Roberts. All of the

     charges against defendant were in connection with a series of incidents occurring on February

     23, 2014.

¶4           Defendant’s arraignment in both cases occurred on March 25, 2014. The court read the

     charges against him in case number 14 CR 4615, and after it read the charges against him in case

     number 14 CR 4616, the court informed him that the charges were “Class 2, 3 and 4 offenses for

     which [he had] the right to a trial, a right [to] a trial by a jury.” Defendant asked the court to

     repeat the charges against him in case number 14 CR 4616. After doing so, the court again told

     him that “[t]hese are charges for which you have a right to a trial, a right to trial by jury. Do you

     know what a trial by jury is?” Defendant replied, “[y]es, sir.” The court continued the matter.

¶5           At the next court date, the State elected to proceed on case number 14 CR 4616. At

     subsequent court dates, the parties discussed various matters, including outstanding discovery.

     On August 14, 2014, the trial court set case number 14 CR 4616 for a bench trial and continued

     case number 14 CR 4615 for a status date, both for September 30, 2014.

¶6           On September 30, 2014, the parties appeared in court, and the following colloquy

     occurred:

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                  “THE COURT: Are we ready? This case is set for trial, [defendant]. Do you

            want a trial by jury or a trial by judge?

                  THE DEFENDANT: Trial by judge.

                  THE COURT: Okay. You know what a trial by jury is?

                  THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

                  THE COURT: Your desire at this time is to waive your trial by jury and have

            me hear this case?

                  THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

                  THE COURT: Is this your signature on the document entitled Jury Waiver?

                  THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.”

     The record contains a written jury waiver signed by defendant and dated September 30,

     2014, specifically referencing case number 14 CR 4616.

¶7          The State subsequently told the trial court that, because both of the defendant’s cases had

     arisen from “one continuing incident,” it wanted to join the cases. After the State and the court

     discussed the allegations and the State’s witnesses, defense counsel objected to the joinder. The

     court granted the State’s motion to join both cases and asked defense counsel if she needed

     additional time to prepare because “there [were] now two, not one, offenses set for trial.”

     Counsel responded that defendant’s “witnesses [were] here on the other case as well so . . .” and

     did not request additional time. The State informed the court that it was ready for trial, and the

     court stated “we’ll try them both together over [defendant’s] objection.” Defendant’s bench trial

     immediately commenced.

¶8          At trial, the evidence showed that, during the afternoon of February 23, 2014, Migdalia

     Castro was talking with a friend near the intersection of Lockwood and Chicago Avenue in

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       Chicago when she saw defendant, whom she knew from the neighborhood, walking down the

       street. Defendant came over to them and pushed Castro’s friend. Defendant then put his hands in

       Castro’s face and pushed her to the ground. Castro got up, went to her nearby residence and told

       her fiancé, Chauncey Roberts, what happened. Roberts left their residence while Castro initially

       stayed behind and called the police. Roberts, who also knew defendant, went to the intersection

       of Lockwood and Chicago Avenue, observed defendant, and approached him. Roberts asked

       defendant why he pushed Castro and told him he was calling the police. As Roberts walked

       away, holding his cell phone in his hand, defendant came up from behind and began hitting him

       with a belt buckle. During the beating, Roberts dropped his cell phone. Defendant picked it up,

       asked Roberts “who you going to call now[?]” and ran away. Both Castro and Roberts spoke to

       the police and identified defendant as the offender.

¶9            The trial court found defendant guilty of aggravated battery in case number 14 CR 4615

       and aggravated battery in case number 14 CR 4616, but not guilty on the remaining counts.

       Following defendant’s unsuccessful motion for a new trial, the court sentenced him to concurrent

       terms of four years’ imprisonment. This appeal followed.

¶ 10                                            II. ANALYSIS

¶ 11          Defendant first contends that his right to a jury trial was violated in both cases because

       the trial court failed to adequately ensure that his waiver of this right was knowingly made. He

       argues that, despite affirmatively responding to the court’s jury waiver admonishments, the

       “cursory exchange” between him and the court cannot support a valid waiver because the

       admonishments never included questions as to whether he truly understood his right to a jury

       trial and the ramifications of waiving the right. The State responds, arguing that the

       circumstances establish that defendant knowingly waived his right to a jury trial.

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¶ 12          Initially, defendant acknowledges that he did not raise the issue in the trial court and

       therefore has forfeited the claim of error on appeal. See People v. Hood, 2016 IL 118581, ¶ 17.

       However, he argues we may review the claim of error for second-prong plain error, which allows

       review of a forfeited claim of error if the error is clear or obvious and “so serious that it affected

       the fairness of the defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial process, regardless

       of the closeness of the evidence.” People v. McDonald, 2016 IL 118882, ¶ 48. Before

       determining whether there is plain error, we must first determine whether an error actually

       occurred. Id.

¶ 13          The right to a jury trial is a fundamental right afforded to criminal defendants by both our

       federal and state constitutions. People v. Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d 52, 65 (2008) (citing U.S. Const.,

       amends. VI, XIV; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, §§ 8, 13). A defendant also has the right to waive a trial

       by jury, but any such waiver must be knowingly and understandingly made in open court. 725

       ILCS 5/103-6 (West 2014); People v. Bracey, 213 Ill. 2d 265, 269 (2004). Although it is the trial

       court’s duty to ensure that the defendant’s waiver is made “expressly and understandingly,” it is

       not required to give a specific admonition to the defendant. Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d at 66. The

       validity of each waiver must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis rather than by an exact

       formula. Bracey, 213 Ill. 2d at 269.

¶ 14          Although not dispositive of a valid waiver, a written waiver may provide evidence that

       the defendant knowingly relinquished his right to a jury trial. Id. at 269-70. Similarly, a present

       defendant’s silence when his defense counsel requests a bench trial may provide evidence that he

       knowingly relinquished his right to a jury trial. People v. Reed, 2016 IL App (1st) 140498, ¶ 7.

       “The crucial determination is whether the waiving defendant understood that his case would be

       decided by a judge and not a jury.” Id. The defendant bears the burden of establishing that his

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       jury waiver was invalid. Id. Where the facts are not in dispute, as is the case here, our review

       proceeds de novo. In re R.A.B., 197 Ill. 2d 358, 362 (2001).

¶ 15            In the present case, the circumstances show that the trial court fulfilled its duty to ensure

       that defendant knowingly and understandingly waived his right to a jury trial in case number 14

       CR 4616, and he has failed to demonstrate otherwise. 1 Prior to his scheduled trial in that case,

       the court asked defendant several questions concerning whether he wanted a bench trial or jury

       trial. In particular, after defendant informed the court that he wanted a “[t]rial by judge,” it asked

       him whether he knew the meaning of a jury trial. Defendant responded affirmatively. The court,

       however, followed up and asked defendant if he wanted “to waive [his] trial by jury” and allow

       the court to “hear this case.” Defendant again responded affirmatively. Furthermore, defendant

       signed a written jury waiver, indicating that he did not want to have a jury trial and instead

       wanted the court to hear the case. The court also confirmed with defendant that his signature

       appeared on the written jury waiver. Given these facts, the trial court made sure that defendant

       understood that his case would be decided by it rather than a jury, the critical question in

       resolving whether the trial court fulfilled its duty to ensure a knowing and understanding waiver.

       See Reed, 2016 IL App (1st) 140498, ¶ 7.

¶ 16            Furthermore, at the time defendant waived his right to a jury trial, he had an adult

       criminal history consisting of three felony convictions, which suggests a familiarity with the

       criminal justice system and the right to a jury trial and belies any notion that he did not

       understand the ramifications of his waiver in case number 14 CR 4616. See People v. Turner,

       375 Ill. App. 3d 1101, 1109 (2007) (finding a defendant’s criminal history consisting of two

       criminal convictions and multiple traffic convictions “demonstrate[d] a familiarity with the

                1
                 Although defendant argues that he did not knowingly waive his right to a jury trial in both cases, as will
       be discussed later, his jury waiver did not apply to case number 14 CR 4615.

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       criminal justice system and, thus, a familiarity with her right to a trial by jury and with the

       ramifications of waiving that right”); Reed, 2016 IL App (1st) 140498, ¶ 8 (same).

¶ 17          Nevertheless, defendant compares his case to People v. Sebag, 110 Ill. App. 3d 821

       (1982). In Sebag, the defendant represented himself and signed a written jury waiver. Id. at 828­

       29. The trial court’s jury waiver admonishments consisted of the following:

                      “ ‘THE COURT: You are entitled to have your case tried before a jury or judge.

                      DEFENDANT SEBAG: Judge.

                      THE COURT: Jury waiver. Do you understand that by waiving a jury at this time

              that you cannot reinstate it; do you understand that?

                      DEFENDANT SEBAG: Yes.’ ” Id. at 829.

       In finding that the defendant’s jury waiver was invalid, the appellate court found “[t]he

       defendant was without the benefit of counsel, and it does not appear that he was advised of the

       meaning of a trial by jury nor does it appear that he was familiar with criminal proceedings.” Id.

       Here, unlike in Sebag, defendant had the benefit of counsel, he had a criminal background, and

       he expressly acknowledged to the trial court that he knew the meaning of a jury trial. For these

       reasons, Sebag is clearly distinguishable.

¶ 18          Defendant further argues that, prior to accepting his waiver, the trial court did not

       determine whether he truly knew the meaning of a jury trial and failed to ask him such questions

       as whether he knew his right was constitutional in nature or whether his decision was voluntary.

       As previously discussed, the court was not required to give a specific set of admonishments to

       defendant before allowing him to waive his right to a jury trial. Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d at 66. The

       critical question was whether defendant understood that his trial would be decided by the trial

       court and not a jury. See Reed, 2016 IL App (1st) 140498, ¶ 7. The record shows such a

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       comprehension, and defendant fails to point to any hesitation or confusion on his part to

       demonstrate otherwise.

¶ 19          In sum, the trial court fulfilled its duty to ensure defendant knowingly and

       understandingly waived his right to a jury trial in case number 14 CR 4616. As the court did not

       commit any error, there can be no plain error. See McDonald, 2016 IL 118882, ¶ 48.

¶ 20          Defendant next contends that, even if the trial court adequately ensured that his waiver of

       his right to a jury trial was valid in case number 14 CR 4616, that waiver cannot apply to him in

       case number 14 CR 4615. He argues that, after he waived his right in case number 14 CR 4616,

       the State moved to join both of his cases, which the court granted. However, defendant asserts

       that the court never admonished him about waiving his right to a jury trial in case number 14 CR

       4615 and his signed jury waiver did not mention that case. Defendant concludes that case

       number 14 CR 4615 was outside the scope of his jury waiver in case number 14 CR 4616.

¶ 21          The State responds, arguing that defendant’s jury waiver applied to both cases because he

       was represented by counsel and during arraignment, the trial court informed him that he had a

       right to a jury trial in both cases. The State additionally asserts that both cases stemmed from the

       same sequence of events, involved the same witnesses and, although defense counsel objected to

       the cases being joined, once the court granted the State’s request, she stated she was ready for

       trial. The State posits that, from defendant’s “silent acquiescence, it can be inferred that [his]

       counsel intended to try both cases before the court in a bench trial.”

¶ 22          As in his first contention, defendant forfeited this claim of error for review, but argues

       that we review it for second-prong plain error. As before, we must first determine whether an

       error actually occurred. See McDonald, 2016 IL 118882, ¶ 48.

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¶ 23          Instructive is People v. Bracey, 213 Ill. 2d 265, 267 (2004), where the State charged a

       defendant with aggravated battery. Prior to trial, and after executing a written jury waiver and

       being admonished by the trial court about his right to a jury trial, the defendant waived his right

       to one. Id. The court found the defendant guilty, but later granted him a new trial in front of a

       different trial judge after determining that he did not knowingly and voluntarily waive his right

       to testify. Id. at 267-68. During a discussion to schedule the new trial date, the court clerk

       informed the parties that “ ‘[w]e are changing the date of the bench trial.’ ” Id. at 268. On the

       scheduled trial date, the new trial judge called the defendant’s case and stated: “ ‘Cause comes

       on for bench trial. I just verified to be sure that there was a jury waiver taken, and I see that there

       was by Judge Frobish back on March 20 of 2002. So anything, [prosecutor], before we start with

       the evidence?’ ” Id. Neither defense counsel nor the State raised any issues, the trial began, and

       the trial court ultimately found the defendant guilty of aggravated battery. Id.

¶ 24          On appeal, the defendant contended that the jury waiver he made prior to his first trial

       was not valid with respect to his second trial and the trial court erred when it failed to determine

       whether he wished to waive that right prior to his second trial. Id. Our supreme court initially

       found that the defendant’s written waiver and the trial court’s admonishments to him ceased to

       have “any effect once [his] first trial terminated” and thus could not apply to his new trial

       conducted months later. Id. at 271. Given the invalidity of the written waiver and

       admonishments, our supreme court observed that “[t]he question, then, is whether statements

       made in defendant’s presence prior to his second trial provide a sufficient basis for finding that

       defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to a jury at his retrial.” Id. at 272. The

       court noted that “everything in the record indicates that [the] defendant was led to believe that

       his jury waiver *** obligated him to a bench trial once again.” Id. It observed that the new trial

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       judge “simply relied upon” the defendant’s earlier written waiver and never determined whether

       he wanted to waive his right to a jury trial at his new trial. Id. Furthermore, defense counsel

       never made any statements in the defendant’s presence indicating that he “was electing, once

       again, to give up his right to trial by jury.” Id. at 273. In light of these facts, our supreme court

       held that the defendant’s “silent acquiescence” to the second bench trial was insufficient to

       support a knowing waiver. Id.

¶ 25          Similar to Bracey, where the defendant’s jury waiver prior to his first trial had no effect

       on his second trial, in the present case, the trial court’s admonishments to defendant and his

       signed written jury waiver in case number 14 CR 4616 had no effect on case number 14 CR

       4615. First, defendant’s written jury waiver only referenced case number 14 CR 4616. This

       makes sense because, on September 30, 2014, the day he signed and filed the written waiver,

       only case number 14 CR 4616 had been scheduled for a bench trial. Case number 14 CR 4615

       had merely been scheduled for a status date on September 30. Second, the court’s jury waiver

       admonishments to defendant also only concerned case number 14 CR 4616. Only after these

       admonishments did the State move to join both of defendant’s cases and did case number 14 CR

       4615 go from being scheduled merely for a status date to a bench trial. Therefore, given the

       content of the written waiver and the timing of the admonishments, it is clear that defendant’s

       waiver in case number 14 CR 4616 did not encompass case number 14 CR 4615. As in Bracey,

       the question becomes whether statements made in defendant’s presence prior to his combined

       trial provide a sufficient basis for finding that he knowingly and understandingly waived his right

       to a jury in case number 14 CR 4615.

¶ 26          After the trial court allowed the joinder of defendant’s cases over his objection, it asked

       defense counsel if she needed additional time to prepare because there were two “offenses set for

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       trial” rather than one. Counsel did not request additional time because defendant’s witnesses for

       case number 14 CR 4616 were already present. After the State informed the court that it was

       ready for trial, defendant’s combined bench trial immediately ensued. Just as in Bracey, the court

       never informed defendant that he also had a right to a jury trial in case number 14 CR 4615 and

       apparently relied upon his earlier written waiver and the admonishments in case number 14 CR

       4616. Furthermore, defense counsel never made any statements in defendant’s presence,

       indicating that he was electing to give up his right to a jury trial in case number 14 CR 4615.

       Although the trial court informed defendant of his right to a jury trial in both cases during

       arraignment, which occurred six months prior to trial, we cannot find this makes up for the lack

       of an express discussion by the court with defendant or his defense counsel more

       contemporaneously with his bench trial with respect to case number 14 CR 4615. See Bannister,

       232 Ill. 2d at 66 (stating that, although the trial court need not give a set admonishment to the

       defendant prior to allowing him to waive his right to a jury trial, it must ensure that the waiver is

       made “expressly and understandingly”).

¶ 27          We cannot assume that defendant still knew he had a right to a jury trial in case number

       14 CR 4615 after he waived this right in case number 14 CR 4616. See People v. Campbell,

       2015 IL App (3d) 130614, ¶ 21 (absent evidence that a defendant knew his right to a jury trial

       “was again available after he withdrew his [guilty] plea,” the appellate court would not assume

       he was aware of his right). Consequently, although defendant was silent at the commencement of

       his combined bench trial, his silent acquiescence was insufficient to support a knowing and

       understanding waiver of his right to a jury trial in case number 14 CR 4615.

¶ 28          Nevertheless, the State argues the situation in People v. Frey, 103 Ill. 2d 327 (1984), is

       more instructive to the resolution of this appeal than the one in Bracey. In Frey, the State

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       charged the defendant with two counts of reckless homicide stemming from an automobile

       accident. Id. at 329. Later, the trial court entered an order, which had been “approved by defense

       counsel, stating that ‘the defendant’s attorney indicates the defendant will waive a jury trial in

       this case.’ ” Id. Subsequent trial court orders showed that the case was set for a bench trial. Id.

       Additionally, defense counsel filed a motion, stating that “ ‘[d]efendant has waived jury trial so

       that the cause will be tried by the court’ ” and requesting the trial judge “ ‘as trier of the facts’

       view the scene of the accident.” Id. Thereafter, the State filed an information charging defendant

       with driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, which was added as “ ‘Count III’ ”

       and stemmed from the same automobile accident. Id. at 329-30.

¶ 29          Because two breathalyzer tests that the defendant took were only admissible at his trial

       for driving under the influence, the parties agreed that the counts of reckless homicide would be

       tried first. Id. at 330. They also “stipulated that most of the evidence presented in the reckless-

       homicide trial could be considered by the judge in the subsequent driving-under-the-influence

       trial.” Id. A subsequent trial court order showed that the defendant had a bench trial scheduled.

       Id. However, “[a]pparently no record was made of the discussions between court and counsel on

       the numerous occasions when counsel was in court prior to trial” and thus it was unclear what

       the content of those discussions were and whether the defendant had been present. Id. Despite

       this uncertainty, a prosecutor’s unrebutted testimony during a posttrial motion in the defendant’s

       presence demonstrated that he “was present on occasions when the matter of a bench trial was

       discussed, and at some point was advised of his right to trial by a jury or by the court.” Id. On the

       day of the defendant’s trial, the court announced that “ ‘these causes were set today for purposes

       of bench trial and the issues presented by all three counts pending against this defendant.’ ”

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       (Emphasis omitted.) Id. at 331. The trial court ultimately convicted the defendant of driving

       under the influence, but acquitted him of reckless homicide. Id.

¶ 30          On appeal, our supreme court had to decide whether the defendant had knowingly and

       understandingly waived his right to a jury trial on the charge of driving under the influence. Id. at

       331-32. The court observed that it was “entirely clear from this record that both court and

       counsel had understood *** that the case would be heard without a jury.” Id. at 332-33. It noted

       that, although the charge of driving under the influence was not filed until later in the

       proceedings, an order entered by the trial court afterward showed that a bench trial had been

       scheduled. Id. at 333. Our supreme court went on and stated:

              “[D]efense counsel’s willingness to stipulate in that case to the use of evidence

              presented to the judge on the reckless-homicide charges further reflects counsel’s

              intent to try the case before the court. It also appears from the record that

              defendant was aware of his right to a jury trial and was present at some point prior

              to trial when the jury waiver was discussed.” Id.

       In light of these facts, our supreme court found that the defendant’s “silent acquiescence”

       to the trial court’s statement that his case was set for a bench trial on all counts

       demonstrated that his jury waiver had been made knowingly. Id.

¶ 31          In Frey, based on defense counsel’s various representations and the trial court’s orders,

       the record plainly demonstrated that the defendant was going to have a bench trial on all of the

       charges against him. Furthermore, all three charges against defendant were contained within one

       case against him. Additionally, the prosecutor’s statements after trial demonstrated that the

       defendant had been advised of his right to a jury trial and his bench trial had been discussed in

       his presence. In the present case, unlike in Frey, defendant had two cases, one where there was a

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       valid jury waiver and another where there was absolutely no discussion with him about his right

       to a jury trial absent a brief statement by the trial court during arraignment six months prior to his

       trial. Therefore, Frey is inapposite.

¶ 32          Because the right to a jury trial is a fundamental right afforded to criminal defendants by

       both our federal and state constitutions (Bannister, 232 Ill. 2d at 65), it should not be deemed

       lightly waived. Critically, a defendant can only waive this right if he does so “knowingly and

       understandingly.” Bracey, 213 Ill. 2d at 269. And here, while defendant knowingly and

       understandingly waived his right to a jury trial in case number 14 CR 4616, the same cannot be

       said for case number 14 CR 4615. Given that an error occurred in this case, we must determine

       whether that error arose to the level of a plain error. It is well settled that, when a defendant’s

       right to a jury trial has been violated, such an error may be deemed a plain error under the second

       prong of the plain-error doctrine. See Bracey, 213 Ill. 2d at 270; Campbell, 2015 IL App (3d)

       130614, ¶ 22. Accordingly, we reverse defendant’s conviction in case number 14 CR 4615 and

       remand for a new trial.

¶ 33                                           III. CONCLUSION

¶ 34          For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed in

       case number 14 CR 4616, but reversed and the cause remanded in case number 14 CR 4615.

¶ 35          Affirmed in part; reversed and remanded in part.

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