Prendergast v. Secretary, DOC et al
Filing
20
OPINION AND ORDER re: 1 Petition for writ of habeas corpus. The Florida Attorney General is dismissed as a named Respondent. The petition for writ of habeas corpus filed by Timothy Michael Prendergast is dismissed with prejudice as time-barred. Alternatively, the claims raised in the petition are denied. Petitioner is denied a certificate of appealability. Signed by Judge Sheri Polster Chappell on 11/24/2015. (drn)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
FORT MYERS DIVISION
TIMOTHY MICHAEL PRENDERGAST,
Petitioner,
v.
Case No: 2:14-cv-619-FtM-38MRM
SECRETARY, DOC and FLORIDA
ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Respondents.1
/
OPINION AND ORDER2
This matter comes before the Court upon a petition for habeas corpus relief filed
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 by Timothy Michael Prendergast (“Petitioner”). Petitioner,
through counsel, filed a memorandum and supplemental memorandum in support of the
petition (Doc. 2; Doc. 10). Petitioner attacks the conviction entered by the Twentieth
Judicial Circuit Court in Lee County, Florida in 2008 for second degree murder (Doc. 1,
1
When the petitioner is incarcerated and challenges his present physical
confinement “the proper respondent is the warden of the facility where the prisoner is
being held, not the Attorney General or some other remote supervisory official.”
Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 436 (2004)(citations omitted). In Florida, the proper
respondent in this action is the Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections.
Therefore, the Florida Attorney General will be dismissed from this action.
2
Disclaimer: Documents filed in CM/ECF may contain hyperlinks to other
documents or Web sites. These hyperlinks are provided only for users’ convenience.
Users are cautioned that hyperlinked documents in CM/ECF are subject to PACER fees.
By allowing hyperlinks to other Web sites, this court does not endorse, recommend,
approve, or guarantee any third parties or the services or products they provide on their
Web sites. Likewise, the court has no agreements with any of these third parties or their
Web sites. The court accepts no responsibility for the availability or functionality of any
hyperlink. Thus, the fact that a hyperlink ceases to work or directs the user to some
other site does not affect the opinion of the court.
filed October 23, 2014). Respondent moves to dismiss the petition as untimely filed (Doc.
15). Petitioner filed a reply (Doc. 16).
Petitioner raises two claims in his petition.
Petitioner asserts that: (1) defense
counsel was ineffective for failing to have Petitioner evaluated for competency prior to
entering a plea; and (2) he was deprived of his constitutional due process rights because he
was convicted and sentenced while incompetent (Doc. 1). The Court cannot reach the
merits of these claims because the pleadings, exhibits, and attachments before the Court
establish that the petition should be dismissed as untimely and the claims as unexhausted.
Alternatively, the Court concludes that the claims raised in the petition lack merit.
Because the Court may resolve the Petition on the basis of the record, an
evidentiary hearing is not warranted. See Schriro v. Landrigan, 550 U.S. 465, 474 (2007)
(if the record refutes the factual allegations in the petition or otherwise precludes habeas
relief, a district court is not required to hold an evidentiary hearing).
I.
Background and Procedural History
Petitioner asserts that, after suffering from years of serious and chronic health
problems, in December of 2006 he moved from Nevada to live with his parents in Lee
County, Florida (Doc. 2 at 4-5). On December 11, 2006, just prior to the move, he began
taking Chantix, a smoking cessation medication, which was prescribed by a doctor in
Nevada. Id. at 4. Petitioner also asserts that this doctor “allowed [him] to be taking both
Librium and Ativan at the same time when [the doctor] intended for [him] to be only taking
Ativan.” Id. at 6.
On March 27, 2007, Petitioner stabbed his father multiple times, “hours” after an
altercation over Petitioner’s unauthorized borrowing of money from his mother’s purse
(Doc. 2 at 6). Petitioner's mother intervened, and told Petitioner to call the police. Id.
-2-
Petitioner did so, but told the dispatcher that somebody must have broken into his home
and stabbed his father. Id. Petitioner's father died as a result of the attack. Id.
On April 24, 2007, Petitioner was charged by information with second degree
murder in violation of Florida Statute § 782.04(2) (count one) and with aggravated battery
with a deadly weapon or causing harm in violation of Florida Statute § 784.045 (count
two) (Ex. 1).3 On October 15, 2008, Petitioner entered a plea of no contest to count one
in exchange for a sentence of fifteen years in prison followed by ten years of probation
(Ex. 2; Ex. 3). Judgment and sentence were entered on October 20, 2008 (Ex. 3).
On December 9, 2008, Petitioner filed a pro se motion for reduction or modification
of sentence pursuant to Rule 3.800(c) of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure (Ex. 5).
In the motion, Petitioner argued for a more lenient sentence on the ground that he suffered
from various medical infirmities for which he took medication. Id.
Petitioner further
argued that his use of these medications, particularly the anti-smoking medication
Chantix, caused him to commit the crime to which he pleaded no contest:
I have researched Librium, Adivan, and Chantix, and learnt
that “Chantix” is actually an insecticide utilized as a
medication when I began taking it, but it has since been
receiving “national” attention as being the “cause” of hundreds
of deaths, the FDA has received many complaints about it, the
FDA currently has it listed as “Number 1” on their Black-List
of Medications, and it has been learnt that the side-effects
from taking “Cahntix” are: 1) impulsive behavior, 2)
aggression, 3) suicidal tendencies, and 4) vivid dreams. As
should be apparent now, my being under the influence of
medically prescribed Librium (25 mg. 3 per day), Adivan (1
mnr. 2X per day) and Chantix (1 mt. 1X per day), while on
3
Unless otherwise indicated, references to exhibits are to those filed by
Respondent on May 4, 2015 (Doc. 18). The pages of evidentiary hearing transcript,
located in Petitioner's Exhibit D, will be referred to by Bates number at the bottom of the
page and cited as (EH at ___). The documents in Respondent’s Exhibit 11 will be
referred to by Bates number.
-3-
oxygen 24-7 and Nubulizer Treatment every 4-hours and
coupled with my debilitated and diminished physical/medical
condition would explain and “account for” even a physically
healthy individual succumbing to an emotional and mental
state wherein they would have unintentionally and
unknowingly participated in such acts as I did.
I struggle daily in living with the life and circumstances that my
actions stemming forth from being under the influence of
these intoxicating, mind and mood-altering narcotics all at the
same time has rendered me, and having conducted what
limited research I have been enabled to since the day of those
events that resulted in me taking the life of my very own father
has served to some-what provide a sense of comfort and
knowing that while it was “through I,” it was not “I” that
committed those acts, I believe the physician’s error and those
medications have resulted in me being as much a victim as
my Dad, Mother, and the remainder of my family.
Your Honor, due to the fact my case was resolved through
plea bargaining, naturally most of the specific and in depth
facts herein and above disclosed were not made known to and
considered previously by this court. As may be recognized
at this time presented are documented and evidenced facts
that not only limit my culpability on the day of the incident, but
also could have supported and established a viable defense
at a trial.
(Ex. 5 at 8-9) (emphases in original). On January 5, 2009, the trial court denied the
motion on the ground that it would “not reduce or modify a sentence imposed as part of
a negotiated plea agreement.” (Ex. 7).
On October 14, 2009, Petitioner filed a motion for post-conviction relief pursuant
to Rule 3.850 of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure (“Rule 3.850 motion”) (Ex. 8).
Petitioner voluntarily dismissed the motion (Ex. 9; Ex 10). Subsequently, on November
10, 2010, Petitioner filed a second Rule 3.850 motion (Ex. 11 at 1-9, 23-58). Petitioner
filed a third Rule 3.850 motion on November 25, 2011 in which he argued that his trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to conduct an adequate investigation into his involuntary
intoxication defense and requested to withdraw his plea on the ground that “newly
-4-
discovered evidence” proved that Chantix’ side effects caused him to murder his father
(Ex. 11 at 134-202). After an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief
(Ex. 11b; Ex. 11a at 357-65). Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal affirmed (Ex. 15);
Prendergast v. State, 115 So. 3d 1010 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013). Mandate issued on July 12,
2013 (Ex. 18).
Petitioner filed the instant habeas petition on October 23, 2014 (Doc. 1).
II.
Analysis
A.
A 28 U.S.C. § 2254 federal habeas corpus petition is subject to a oneyear statute of limitation
Pursuant to the requirements set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 2244, as amended by the
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”), a one-year limitation
period applies to the filing of a habeas petition by a person in custody pursuant to a state
court judgment. This limitation period runs from the latest of:
(A)
the date on which the judgment became final by the
conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for
seeking such review;
(B)
the date on which the impediment to filing an application
created by State action in violation of the Constitution or laws
of the United States is removed, if the applicant was
prevented from filing by such State action;
(C)
the date on which the constitutional right asserted was initially
recognized by the Supreme Court, if that right has been newly
recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively
applicable to cases on collateral review; or
(D)
the date on which the factual predicate of the claim or claims
presented could have been discovered through the exercise
of due diligence.
28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). Here, Petitioner does not allege, nor does it appear from the
pleadings or record, that the statutory triggers set forth in §§ 2244(d)(1)(B)-(D) apply.
-5-
Therefore, the statute of limitations is measured from the remaining statutory trigger,
which is the date on which Petitioner's conviction became final. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)(A).
1.
Petitioner's federal habeas corpus petition is untimely under 28
U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)(A)
Petitioner's plea based judgment was rendered on October 20, 2008 (Ex. 3).
Petitioner did not appeal, and his judgment became final thirty days later. See Bridges v.
Johnson, 284 F.3d 1201, 1202 (11th Cir. 2002) (holding that where a petitioner did not seek
direct review of his judgment of conviction or sentence, his judgment of conviction (entered
upon his guilty plea) became “final” for purposes of § 2244 on the date his 30–day right to
appeal expired); Hampton v. State, 837 So.2d 611 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003) (when defendant did
not directly appeal his conviction, the judgment and sentence became final 30 days after they
were rendered); Davis v. State, 693 So.2d 700 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997) (judgment and sentence
become final when 30–day period to file notice of appeal expires). Accordingly, Petitioner's
judgment became final on November 19, 2008.
Petitioner then had through November 19, 2009 to file his federal habeas petition.
Downs v. McNeil, 520 F.3d 1311, 1318 (11th Cir. 2008) (AEDPA's one-year “limitations
period should be calculated according to the ‘anniversary method,’ under which the
limitations period expires on the anniversary of the date it began to run.”) (citing Ferreira
v. Sec’y, Dep’t of Corr., 494 F.3d 1286, 1289 n.1 (11th Cir. 2007)).
Petitioner's federal habeas petition was filed on October 23, 2014. Therefore, it
was filed 1799 days late.
2.
Petitioner has not demonstrated “actual innocence” so as to
excuse his failure to comply with the AEDPA’s one-year statute
of limitation
Petitioner concedes that his § 2254 petition is untimely under the AEDPA, and
-6-
does not assert that statutory or equitable tolling should apply. Rather, Petitioner argues
that “actual innocence may provide a ‘gateway’ to allow federal constitutional claims to
be heard in a § 2254 proceeding in situations where the petitioner is otherwise
procedurally barred by the applicable period of limitations.” (Doc. 2 at 24) (citing
McQuiggin v. Perkins, 133 S. Ct. 1924 (2013)) (emphasis in original).
Indeed, the
Supreme Court's recent decision in McQuiggin, provides that “actual innocence, if proved,
serves as a gateway through which a petitioner may pass whether the impediment is a
procedural bar, as it was in Schlup [v. Delo, 513 U.S. 298 (1995) ] and House [v. Bell,
547 U.S. 518 (2006) ], or [an] expiration of the [AEDPA] statute of limitations.” Id. at 1928.
In Schlup, the Supreme Court held that a prisoner otherwise subject to procedural
bars on the filing of abusive or successive writs of habeas corpus may have his federal
constitutional claim considered on the merits if he makes a proper showing of actual
innocence. 513 U.S. at 326–27.
“To be credible, such a claim requires petitioner to
support his allegations of constitutional error with new reliable evidence—whether it be
exculpatory scientific evidence, trustworthy eyewitness accounts, or critical physical
evidence—that was not presented at trial.” Id. at 324. “To establish the requisite
probability, the petitioner must show that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror
would have convicted him in the light of the new evidence.” Id. at 327. Because this
standard is intended to focus the inquiry on actual innocence, “the district court is not
bound by the rules of admissibility that would govern at trial.” Id. “Instead, the emphasis
on ‘actual innocence’ allows the reviewing tribunal also to consider the probative force of
relevant evidence that was either excluded or unavailable at trial.” Id. at 327–28. Indeed,
“[t]he habeas court must make its determination concerning the petitioner's innocence in
-7-
light of all the evidence, including that alleged to have been illegally admitted (but with
due regard to any unreliability of it) and evidence tenably claimed to have been wrongly
excluded or to have become available only after the trial.” Id. at 328 (internal quotations
omitted). “It is not the district court's independent judgment as to whether reasonable
doubt exists that the standard addresses; rather the standard requires the district court to
make a probabilistic determination about what reasonable, properly instructed jurors
would do.” Id. at 329. “Thus, a petitioner does not meet the threshold requirement unless
he persuades the district court that, in light of the new evidence, no juror, acting
reasonably, would have voted to find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.4
The procedural posture of the instant situation is different than that presented in
McQuiggin. McQuiggin pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
Perkins v. McQuiggin, 2009 WL 1788377 (W.D. Mich. June 18, 2009) (“McQuiggin I”).
McQuiggin obtained three affidavits which he claimed would prove his innocence, yet he
waited nearly six years before presenting his newly discovered evidence to any court; in
fact, there is no indication that McQuiggin ever presented his actual innocence claim to
the state courts. Id. at *3.5 In contrast, Petitioner's state post-conviction court considered
4
Petitioner did not go to trial in this case. However, in Bousley v. United States,
523 U.S. 614, 623 (1998), the Supreme Court held that the defaulted claim of a petitioner
who pleaded guilty may still be reviewed in a collateral proceeding if he can establish that
the constitutional error in his plea colloquy has probably resulted in the conviction of one
who is “actually innocent” in accord with Schlup, 513 U.S. at 327–328, and Murray v.
Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 496 (1986).
McQuiggin’s failure to timely pursue relief was viewed by the district court as
falling “far short of demonstrating the requisite diligence.” McQuiggin I, 2009 WL 1788377
at *3. However, the Supreme Court determined that reasonable diligence is not a
precondition to relying on actual innocence as a gateway to adjudication of a federal
habeas petition on the merits. McQuiggin, 133 S. Ct. at 1935. However, the Supreme
Court also rejected the Sixth Circuit’s interim conclusion that timing of a petition should
5
-8-
his actual innocence assertion when it was raised in his Rule 3.850 motion as a claim of
newly discovered evidence (Ex. 11 at 134-202).6 An evidentiary hearing on Petitioner's
Rule 3.850 motion was held in state court, and Petitioner presented the testimony of
consultant toxicologist Lawrence Masten (“Masten”), psychiatrist Michael Maher
(“Maher”), Petitioner, and Petitioner's trial attorney Philadelphia Beard (“Beard”).
Toxicologist Masten explained that the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System
(“AERS”) was set up to allow people to submit information about adverse effects of
specific drugs (EH at 386-87). He testified that he requested the AERS reports relating
to homicidal ideation and homicide correlated with Chantix use and received over 250
reports with seven homicides discussed. Id. at 399. He also discussed an article from
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, in which the authors reviewed twenty-six cases of
aggression by users of Chantix. Id. at 402-04.
Psychiatrist Michael Maher testified that he interviewed Petitioner in preparation
for the Rule 3.850 hearing and that he (Petitioner) told him that he had suffered mental
illness prior to starting Chantix and that his symptoms increased significantly after he
began using the drug, “so in spite of the possibility that he may have been getting side
effects from the Chantix, he continued to take it.” (EH at 463). Maher based his opinions
be completely eliminated as relevant in evaluating the reliability of a petitioner’s proof of
innocence. The Court noted that “[u]nexplained delay in presenting new evidence bears
on the determination whether the petitioner has made the requisite showing [of actual
innocence].” Id.
Although this Court concludes that AEDPA deference to the state court’s findings
on this issue is not required (because the entire purpose of a gateway review is to
consider whether the petitioner is entitled to have the federal courts review his claim under
the AEDPA), the state court’s reasoning and conclusions are helpful when considering
whether any juror, “acting reasonably, would have voted to find [Petitioner] guilty beyond
a reasonable doubt.” Schlup, 513 U.S. at 329.
6
-9-
on interviews with Petitioner, the police and investigative reports, and on telephone
conversations with the victim’s mother. Id. at 463-65. Maher testified that he reviewed
the available information about Chantix and concluded that “the reports and the series
that have been collected absolutely clearly, without doubt establish that there is a
vulnerable group of patients who take Chantix who experience completely unpredictable,
unprovoked, dramatic and potentially lethal urges of aggression and violence.” (EH at
473-74, 478-79).
Petitioner testified at the evidentiary hearing that he had asked his attorney to
pursue the Chantix defense at trial but that she concluded that “Chantix wouldn’t have
caused [him] to kill [his] father.” (EH at 506). Petitioner testified that he was unaware of
the studies linking Chantix to homicidal thoughts and that had he been aware of such, he
would not have entered a plea. Id. at 508
Petitioner's attorney testified that the lowest possible sentence for Petitioner's
crimes was more than 23 years in prison and that Petitioner's 15 year sentence was a
downward departure (EH at 522). She testified that she considered both a “straight
insanity” defense and an involuntary intoxication defense. Id. at 524. Petitioner was
evaluated for both competency and insanity and, although aware of Petitioner's Chanitx
use, the psychiatrist did not believe there was a viable insanity defense based upon the
circumstances of the case and his evaluation of the defendant. Id. at 525. Counsel did
not believe that an insanity or involuntary intoxication defense would work in Petitioner's
case because twenty minutes had passed between the argument over Petitioner's theft
of money and the altercation in the bedroom, “[s]o there was that time for reflection and
time to – it wasn’t like an automatic reaction; there was time to reflect.” Id. at 526. She
- 10 -
also noted that Petitioner had told the police that an intruder had stabbed his father,
indicating a consciousness of guilt. Id. She stated that “generally when those two things
happen, even though you can still have a defense, the success of that defense may not
be great with the jury hearing those types of facts[.]” Id. at 526-27. Counsel also testified
that Petitioner had asked her whether he could just say that his mother, not he, was the
person who stabbed his father, but counsel did not “think that that was necessarily a
viable defense in this case either.” Id. at 528. She stated that, had she been aware of
the FDA AERS reports at the time of Petitioner's plea, she may have hired additional
experts to look at an involuntary intoxication defense, but still did not believe it would have
been a successful defense strategy. Id. at 529.
The state court summarized the experts’ testimony and rejected Petitioner's claim
of actual innocence in a detailed order:
Defendant argued that newly discovered evidence entitles
him to a new trial. Dr. Masten, a toxicologist, was admitted
as an expert in toxicology. He testified that he evaluated
Defendant's case in early 2010 by reviewing Defendant's
medical records, prescription records, family statements, and
Dr. Maher’s report. The purpose of his evaluation was to look
for evidence that one of the prescriptions Defendant was
taking, Chantix, may have caused involuntary intoxication in
Defendant. Chantix is a drug produced by Pfizer to block the
effects of nicotine on the nervous system, and has been on
the market since 2006. Defendant began taking Chantix on
December 11, 2006. Defendant was also taking several
other medications. Dr. Masten testified that he requested,
through the Freedom of Information Act, reports from the Food
and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Advers Event Reporting
System (AERS), regarding Chantix and homicidal thoughts or
actions. These reports are generally reports to the FDA from
medical personnel regarding adverse side effects of a
medication on a patient, either reported by the patient or
observed by the medical personnel. Dr. Masten stated that
he believed he had been the first individual ever to request the
AERS reports on Chantix, since there was a significant delay
- 11 -
while the FDA redacted patient information from the reports,
and if the reports had been requested previously, these
redactions would already have been done. The AERS
reports were made between 2007 and 2010, and show seven
homicides and 226 reports of homicidal thoughts allegedly
attributed to Chantix.
Dr. Masten stated that at the time of the offense, the known
side effects of Chantix were those of nicotine withdrawal, and
some reports of suicidal thoughts. In 2009, however, the
FDA placed a black box warning on the label of Chantix,
warning that if a patient experiences suicidal thoughts,
agitation, or any changes in behavior not typical of nicotine
withdrawal, to stop taking the drug at once and seek medical
attention. Dr. Masten said that some of the AERS warnings
indicated inexplicable or unprovoked acts of aggression. A
peer reviewed article published in 2010 linked Chantix use
with homicide, aggression, and violence. He found no other
published articles about Chantix prior to this 2010 article. Dr.
Masten testified that prior to 2006, these side effects would
not have been known to toxicologists. He was not aware of
any other medications which would cause homicidal thoughts
or unpredicted, uncontrollable, rage. Dr. Masten stated that,
at the time Defendant pled, only the first AERS report dated
January 15, 2008 relating to homicidal thoughts and actions
had been field by the FDA, and the next two reports filed in
October of 2008 would not have been available by the plea
date even if they had been requested.
Dr. Masten believed there was a real possibility that Chantix
could cause homicidal thoughts in a percentage of people
taking it. He testified that the dosage of Chantix prescribed
to Defendant exceeded the recommended dosage, and
Defendant was not monitored by his doctor while taking
Chantix. Based on Defendant's records and the AERS
reports, he believed that there was a very high probability that
Chantix caused Defendant to kill his father. Dr. Masten
opined that Defendant was legally insane at the time of the
crime due to involuntary intoxication from the adverse effects
of Chantix.
Dr. Maher, a psychiatrist and physician, was admitted as an
expert in forensic psychiatry. He testified that he reviewed
police reports, interviewed Defendant's mother at least three
times, interviewed Defendant, researched medication issues,
and reviewed Defendant's medical and medication records.
His interview with Defendant lasted about two and a half
- 12 -
hours, and involved a psychiatric evaluation and interview.
Dr. Maher related that Defendant reported to him being
depressed prior to the offense upset, anxious, and worried
about his illness and having to move back into his parents’
home to recuperate. Defendant reported confusion at times,
and feeling disconnected from what was happening around
him, and that these feelings increased after he started taking
Chantix. Defendant told Dr. Maher during his interview that
he believed he had unrealistic emotions and pessimism.
Defendant allegedly reported some irritability to his doctor.
Dr. Maher stated he corroborated Defendant's statements
with police reports and through speaking with Defendant's
mother.
Dr. Maher testified that he believed that there is a group of
vulnerable patients in which Chantix causes sometimes lethal
aggressive behavior.
It was his opinion that in that
vulnerable population Chantix can cause homicidal thoughts,
inexplicable, unprovoked violent acts, and uncontrollable
rage. He believed that the disconnected feeling and other
symptoms described by Defendant are a very strong clue that
Defendant may be among that vulnerable population. None
of the other medications Defendant was taking would cause
uncontrollable rage or homicidal thoughts or actions. These
symptoms were unique to Chantix. Dr. Maher testified that it
was his opinion that Defendant did not have the capacity to
understand the consequences of his actions, or that his
actions were wrong, and that Defendant was involuntarily
intoxicated at the time of the offense due to Chantix.
To obtain a new trial based on newly discovered evidence, a
defendant must show that the evidence was not known by the
trial court, the party, or counsel at the time of trial, that the
defendant or defense counsel could not have known of it by
the use of due diligence, and that the newly discovered
evidence must be of such nature that it would probably
produce an acquittal on retrial. Preston v. State, 970 So. 2d
789, 797 (Fla. 2007), citing Jones v. State, 709 So. 2d 512,
521 (Fla. 1998). When claiming that newly discovered
evidence would have affected the plea process, a defendant
must allege that withdrawal of their plea is necessary to
correct a manifest injustice. See Bradford v. State, 869 So.
2d 28, 29 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004); Deck v. State, 985 So. 2d 1234,
1237 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008). The burden of proving manifest
injustice is on the Defendant. Scott v. State, 629 So. 2d 888,
890 (Fla. 4th DCA 1993).
- 13 -
FDA warnings and evidence of drug side effects have been
found to be newly discovered evidence in Florida. See
Brancaccio v. State, 27 So. 3d 739 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). Trial
counsel, Ms. Beard, testified she was unaware of the
existence of AERS reports until the filing of the 3.850 motion,
so this evidence of the side effects of Chantix was unknown
to her at the time of the plea. Defendant testified that these
side effects were unknown to him at the time of the plea.
Regardless of whether the AERS reports in this case could
have been discovered with due diligence, Defendant has
failed to meet his burden of proving manifest injustice.
Neither party has argued the admissibility of the reports had
they been introduced at a trial in this case. No relief is
warranted if the evidence would be inadmissible. Miller v.
State, 814 So. 2d 1131 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002), citing Sims v.
State, 754 So. 2d 657, 660 (Fla. 2000). While Defendant
presented evidence of reports that Chantix has caused
homicidal thoughts or actions in others, he presented no
evidence, other than self-reporting to Dr. Maher during the
post-conviction proceedings, that Defendant suffered from
those side effects at the time of the offense. Nor did Defendant
present any evidence that he had no prior history of such
behavior before taking Chantix. Rather there was testimony
that some of the side effects, such as depression, confusion
and disconnect, occurred before the Defendant began taking
Chantix. Further, Ms. Beard testified there were problems
with the facts of the case that would tend towards a finding of
premeditation, as the offense occurred twenty minutes
following Defendant's altercation with his father. She also
related that Defendant's statement to 911 that someone must
have broken in and killed his father, and a statement to her
asking whether they could blame the murder on his mother,
were problematic, as they would tend to indicate guilty. Even
if Defendant were allowed to withdraw his plea, and the case
proceeded to trial, it does not appear that the AERS reports
alone, if admissible at trial, would probably produce an
acquittal in light of the problems that Ms. Beard testified
existed in this case. The facts of the case, the evidence, and
the evidentiary hearing testimony do not support a conclusion
that withdrawal of the plea is necessary to correct a manifest
injustice.
(Ex. 11a at 358-62). The post-conviction court’s adjudication was affirmed on appeal
(Ex. 15).
Petitioner does not argue with the post-conviction court’s evaluation or
conclusions. Rather, he provides this Court with additional evidence consisting of: an
- 14 -
affidavit from Petitioner's mother; the transcript of a June 10, 2008 pre-trial evidentiary
hearing; affidavits from Masten dated November 11, 2010 and July 7, 2014; the transcript
of the Rule 3.850 evidentiary hearing; an article from The Annals of Pharmacotherapy; a
competency evaluation report from August 13, 2014; and Petitioner's Lee County Jail
medical records (Petitioner's Exhibits A-I).7
Petitioner's mother attests that, in the month prior to stabbing his father, Petitioner
acted oddly and had become silent and withdrawn (Petitioner's Exhibit A).
She
requested additional AER reports from the FDA on Chantix for the time periods between
August of 2006 and June of 2014, and found 25 reports of homicide and 826 reports of
homicide ideation listed as an adverse reaction to Chantix.8
In his November 11, 2010 affidavit (Petitioner’s Exhibit C), Masten attests that he
requested the FDA to provide copies of reports from their Adverse Event Reporting
System (“AERS”) on Chantix for homicide and homicidal ideation. Id. at 39. 9
He
reviewed 234 AERS reports and found seven homicides associated with Chantix. Id. He
also noted that Petitioner had not been “gradually introduced” to his Chantix dosage over
7
The last two exhibits support Petitioner's habeas claims, not the actual innocence
claim.
8
Mrs. Prendergast also attests that she spoke personally with the FDA Paralegal
Specialist, Office of Regulatory Policy, Division of Information Disclosure Policy, who
assured her that all of her requests had to be redacted, and that she understood this to
mean that no one had ever requested this information for the specific time frames
requested (Petitioner's Exhibit A at 3). Given that Masten also attests that he requested
much of the same information (prior to Mrs. Prendergast’s request), which also had to be
redacted, the Court concludes that Mrs. Prendergast is mistaken in her assumption that
the necessity for redaction means that the information has never been requested.
9
Although Masten attests that he asked for the AERS reports on homicide and
homicidal ideation, his request actually sought “suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, and
homicide.” (Petitioner’s Exhibit C).
- 15 -
a week as recommended by Pfizer, the drug manufacturer, but was immediately started
on 1 milligram twice daily. Id. at 36, 42. Masten attests that Petitioner told him that he
experienced suicidal thoughts and strange impulsive behavior without any reason just
days before he killed his father. Id. at 42. Masten concluded:
[W]ithin reasonable scientific certainty, it is highly likely that
the Chantix program Mr. Prendergast participated in, for two
and a half months, played a major role in or was
responsible for causing Mr. Prendergast to injure and kill his
father, based on the AERS reports submitted to FDA for this
drug, including seven homicides and at least 226 reports of
homicidal ideation, aggressive behavior and abnormal
dreams while taking Chantix alone or with a variety of drugs
used to treat anxiety and depression and lessen pain.
(Petitioner's Exhibit C at 44) (emphasis in original). Masten provided an updated affidavit
on July 7, 2014 in which he attests that there were 17 reports of homicide and 795 reports
of homicidal ideation related to Chantix and its European equivalent Champix between
August of 2006 and May of 2012 (Petitioner's Exhibit F at 2-3).
Masten also
summarized a 2010 observational study published in the online Annals of
Pharmacotherapy entitled “Thoughts and Acts of Aggression Violence Towards Others
Reported in Association with Varenicline.”10 Id. Masten noted that the study concluded
that “a clear temporal relationship, lack of prior history of this behavior, and unusual nature
of these events strengthens the accumulating scientific evidence that varenicline
(Chantix) is associated with thoughts and acts of aggression/violence.” Id. at 5. Masten
concluded that “it is highly likely that Chantix use can lead to homicidal ideations and
homicidal actions in people who use it.” Id. at 6.
10
Thomas J. Moore, Joseph Glenmullen, and Curt D. Furberg. This is the same
study discussed at Petitioner's evidentiary hearing.
- 16 -
Petitioner attaches a copy of the Pharmacotherapy article to his petition. The
article, which reviewed 26 cases that identified Chantix as suspect in causing violence or
aggression, concluded that Chantix aggression may occur in “a relatively small and
susceptible population that is affected early.” (Petitioner's Exhibit E). The paper did not
identify the characteristics of a person who may exhibit aggression as a result of Chantix
use, but concluded that “a well-designed case-controlled study appears to be the most
feasible approach” to identify patients vulnerable to the syndrome. Id.
After reviewing the evidence presented at the Rule 3.850 evidentiary hearing as
well as the additional evidence presented by Petitioner, the Court is not persuaded that
no juror, acting reasonably, would have voted to find him guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt.
Under Florida law, “[a]n accused may be completely relieved of criminal
responsibility if because of involuntary intoxication, he was temporarily rendered legally
insane at the time he committed the offense.” Brancaccio v. State, 27 So. 3d 739, 740-41
(Fla. 4th DCA 2010).
In order to establish an involuntary intoxication defense, a
defendant must first present sufficient evidence that an intoxicated condition was brought
about by the introduction into the defendant's body “of any substance which he does not
know and has no reason to know has a tendency to cause an intoxicated or drugged
condition.” Brancaccio v. State, 698 So.2d597, 600 n. 4 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997). The
defendant would then have the burden to prove that this involuntary intoxication rendered
him unable to understand what he was doing and to understand the consequences of his
actions, or if he did understand, that he was unable to know that his actions were wrong.
See generally Hall v. State, 568 So.2d 882 (Fla. 1990).
“If a defendant introduces
evidence sufficient to present a reasonable doubt about sanity, the presumption of sanity
- 17 -
vanishes and the state must prove the accused's sanity beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.
at 885 n. 6.
The additional evidence presented in the instant petition -- that isolated incidences
of violence associated with Chantix continue to occur – is merely cumulative to the
evidence already considered and rejected by the state court in Petitioner's Rule 3.850
motion. Notably absent from the instant petition is any statistical analyses regarding the
population’s overall use of Chantix; the frequency of Chantix-induced homicidal activity in
the population of users as compared to the population of people who attempt to quit
smoking without the aid of Chantix; or any evidence that Petitioner is a member of the
population that could be affected by Chantix. 11 In essence, even if a reasonable juror
11
The Court takes judicial notice of information available on the United States
Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA’s”) website that appears to contradict Petitioner's
instant claims. See Stanifer v. Corin USA Ltd. Inc., Case No. 614-cv-1192-Orl-37DAB,
2014 WL 5823319, at *3 (M.D. Fla Nov. 10, 2014) (“Courts in this District and elsewhere
regularly take judicial notice of public records available on the FDA’s website because
such document[s] satisfy the requirements of Rule 201.”); Kaiser v. Depuy Spine, Inc.,
944 F. Supp. 2d 1187, 1189 n. 2 (M.D. Fla. 2013) (taking judicial notice of “public records
of the FDA relating to the medical device involved in the case”); Chapman v. Abbott Labs.,
930 F.Supp.2d 1321, 1323 (M.D. Fla. 2013) (taking judicial notice of drug label that was
“available on the FDA's website”).
The website summarizes studies done on the neuropsychiatric adverse events
associated with varenicline (the generic name of Chantix). The results did not conclude
that Chantix caused suicidal or homicidal activity in its users; instead the FDA noted that
a pooled analysis of 18 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials,
“showed a similar incidence of common psychiatric events in patients treated with Chantix
compared to patients treated with placebo.” The FDA also discussed four observational
studies, each including 10,000 to 30,000 Chantix users compared to users of other
prescription smoking cessation methods. Recognizing that these studies had certain
limitations, the FDA noted that two of the studies found no difference in risk of
neuropsychiatric hospitalizations between users of Chantix and the nicotine patch; a third
study reported no difference in risk of psychiatric adverse events diagnosed during an
emergency department visit or inpatient admission between users of Chantix and
bupropion; and a fourth study concluded that the suicide rate among Chantix users was
similar to that of users of other prescription nicotine replacement therapy.
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm436494.htm
- 18 -
could find that Chantix rage exists, Petitioner has presented no evidence that he was so
affected.
As noted by Petitioner's attorney, Petitioner's statement to the 9-1-1 operator that
someone had broken into his home and stabbed his father is damaging to his current
claim of involuntary intoxication. A reasonable juror could reject Petitioner's involuntary
intoxication defense on that ground alone -- either by concluding that Petitioner’s attempt
to mislead the police negated his claim that he was unable to understand the
consequences of his action, or by finding that his attempt to do so supported the state’s
assertion that Petitioner was sane at the time of the stabbing. Hall v. State, 568 So.2d
882 (Fla. 1990). Also troubling is Petitioner's question to his attorney as to whether he
could escape prosecution by blaming his mother for the attack.12
Moreover, even if the defense was able to convince the jury that Chantix rage
exists and overcome the presumption of sanity, Petitioner has not demonstrated that the
state could not prove Petitioner's sanity beyond a reasonable doubt. While additional
evidence that some Chantix users committed homicide has surfaced subsequent to
Petitioner's plea, “Chantix rage” was considered and rejected as a possible defense by
his defense attorney prior to his plea. Petitioner testified that Beard had initially been
interested in pursuing the Chantix defense, but after speaking with a toxicologist,
concluded that Chantix would not have caused Petitioner to kill his father (EH at 506).
Defense counsel testified that Petitioner's psychiatrist did not think a Chantix defense
The standard under Schlup requires this Court to survey “all the evidence, old
and new, incriminating and exculpatory, without regard to whether it would necessarily be
admitted under rules of admissibility that would govern at trial.” See House v. Bell, 547
U.S. 518, 538 (2006).
12
- 19 -
would be successful in Petitioner's case.
Given that Petitioner's toxicologist and
psychologist rejected the defense, it is logical that the state would present their own
experts to refute any evidence of Chantix’ effect on Petitioner. Moreover, the results of
the summaries contained in the FDA website cast doubt on the existence of Chantixinduced neuropsychiatric adverse events. Finally, at his sentencing hearing, Petitioner's
sister testified that she believed Petitioner “has been like this his whole life. This was not
an isolated incident. This was his pattern for many years.” (Ex. 11a at 287).
Accordingly, Petitioner has failed to demonstrate that no reasonable juror
considering Petitioner's new evidence, could conclude that Petitioner was sane at the
time he killed his father.
Petitioner has failed to satisfy McQuiggin’s actual innocence
exception to the AEDPA statute of limitation, and this petition must be dismissed as
untimely.
B.
Petitioner has not demonstrated entitlement to habeas relief
Even assuming arguendo that Plaintiff presented sufficient evidence of actual
innocence to open a gateway to habeas review, and that the same showing excuses his
failure to exhaust his claims in state court, he is not entitled to federal habeas relief. See
28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(2) (“An application for a writ of habeas corpus may be denied on the
merits, notwithstanding the failure of the applicant to exhaust the remedies available in
the courts of the State).
In his first habeas claim, Petitioner asserts that defense counsel was ineffective
for failing to “have [Petitioner] evaluated for competency to enter his plea and be
sentenced.” (Doc. 2 at 31). Petitioner claims that he was “severely hyperthyroidal” prior
to his plea, “and that said hyperthyroid condition could have also detrimentally affect [his]
- 20 -
competency to proceed.” Id. at 33. In his second claim, he asserts that he was deprived
of his constitutional due process rights because he was convicted and sentenced while
incompetent. Id. at 37.
A guilty plea made while the defendant is mentally incompetent is constitutionally
invalid, and the standard of competency for pleading guilty is the same as the standard
for standing trial. Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 396–97 (1993).
A defendant is
competent to stand trial if he possesses: (1) sufficient present ability to consult with his
attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding; and (2) a rational and factual
understanding of the proceedings against him. Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402
(1960); Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.211(a)(1).
A court is not required to make a competency
determination in every case where a defendant enters a plea.
Rather, a competency
determination is necessary only when a court has reason to doubt the defendant’s
competence. See Drope v. Missouri, 420 U.S. 162, 180-81 (1975) (“the failure to observe
procedures adequate to protect a defendant's right not to be tried or convicted while
incompetent to stand trial deprives him of his due process right to a fair trial.”); Pate v.
Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 385 (1966) (A trial judge must conduct a sua sponte sanity hearing
only when the defendant's conduct and the evidence raises a “bona fide doubt” regarding
the defendant's competence to stand trial.). Therefore, in a Pate claim raised on habeas
review, a petitioner must establish that the state trial judge ignored facts raising a “bona
fide doubt” regarding the petitioner’s competence to stand trial.” James v. Singletary, 957
F.2d 1562, 1572 n. 15 (11th Cir. 1992). Although there are “no fixed or immutable signs
which invariably indicate the need for further inquiry to determine fitness to proceed,”
“evidence of a defendant's irrational behavior, his demeanor at trial, and any prior medical
opinion on competence to stand trial are all relevant.” Drope, 420 U.S. at 180.
- 21 -
In his Rule 3.850 motion, Petitioner did not assert that he was incompetent to enter
a plea, and this was not an issue at the evidentiary hearing on the motion. Rather, the
focus of the motion was that Chantix rendered him legally insane at the time he killed his
father.
Nevertheless, Beard testified that she had no doubts about Petitioner's
competency to enter a plea and no doubts as to whether he understood the terms of the
plea agreement (EH at 533). She stated that “if I had thought he was incompetent, I
would have, um – wouldn’t have gone forward.” Id. Beard also testified that she had
Petitioner evaluated by a psychiatrist twice before his plea.
Petitioner’s assertion that “Attorney Beard admitted that she did not seek a
competency determination,” is directly contradicted by the record (Doc. 2 at 33). On
cross-examination, defense counsel sought to establish that Beard had not had Petitioner
properly examined for a potential insanity defense by proving that the two psychiatrist
visits had been solely to determine whether he was competent to proceed. Beard denied
the allegations, noting:
I asked when – when I talked – no, it wasn’t only for
competency. It was for, um, insanity at the time of the
offense, specifically. If it had been competency, I would have
had the court pay for it. He was a confidential doctor for the
defense only. And when I asked him to go out there – I
always ask them to check for competency, but I um – he
was specifically set to go out there because I didn’t really have
any concerns about, um, Mr. Pendergast’s competency.
Um, I was looking for defenses.
(EH at 536-37) (emphases added). Defense counsel challenged Beard’s assertion that
the psychiatrist had done more than a mere competency exam by noting that the bill from
the psychiatrist said “forensic competency evaluation.” Id. at 539.
Given Beard’s
assertion that the psychiatric evaluations included competency evaluations and the
resulting bills for “forensic competency evaluations,” Petitioner's current claim that Beard
- 22 -
failed to have Petitioner evaluated for competency, which directly contradicts his prior
claim that counsel had him examined only for competency, demonstrates a disturbing
lack of probity. Under the two-part test for ineffective assistance of counsel set out in
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88 (1984), Petitioner must establish that
counsel’s performance was deficient and fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness and that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Id. Because
the record shows that Beard had Petitioner's competency evaluated prior to his plea, she
could not be deficient for failing to do so. Petitioner has failed to satisfy the first Strickland
prong on Claim One.
Likewise, even had counsel failed to have a competency exam conducted, the
record before this Court does not approach the threshold of showing a bona fide doubt
about Petitioner's capacity to plead guilty. At the plea colloquy, Petitioner denied that he
suffered from a mental condition that affected his understanding of the plea (Ex. 11a at
293) Petitioner affirmed his understanding of the rights he was giving up by pleading. Id.
at 293-95.
He affirmed his understanding of what was discussed with counsel and
agreed that she had done everything asked of her. Id. at 297. Petitioner told the court
that he believed the plea to be in his best interest. Id. at 2905. After the factual basis for
the plea was read into the record, Petitioner was asked if he had any questions, and
Petitioner stated that he did not. Id. at 298. Petitioner did not demonstrate irrational
behavior or an improper demeanor at the colloquy. Nothing in the record would have
alerted the state court or counsel to the possibility that Petitioner did not possess a rational
understanding of the proceedings against him.
This conclusion is supported by Petitioner's testimony at the evidentiary hearing
- 23 -
on his Rule 3.850 motion. Petitioner testified that a psychiatrist met with him on two
separate occasions, and he believed the doctor was hired to give a competency
evaluation and a second competency evaluation. Id. at 498. At no time did Petitioner
state, argue, or imply that he lacked the competency to enter a plea or that the plea was
improvidently entered due to his incompetence.
To the contrary, when questioned by
collateral counsel, Petitioner testified that, given Beard’s reluctance to pursue an
involuntary intoxication defense, he believed that entering a plea was in his best interests.
Id. at 508.
Q.
After you were told that you did not have an involuntary
intoxication defense, what other defenses did you
believe were available to you if you were to go to trial?
A.
Uh, there was none – no other defense that was ever
discussed with Miss Beard and myself and my mother
than the involuntary intoxication.
Q.
Okay, at the time of your plea, had you been aware that
there are now expert opinions and proof that Chantix
can cause homicidal actions, what would your decision
have been with regard to the entry of your nolo
contendere plea?
A.
Oh, I wouldn’t have entered that plea. Absolutely not.
Q.
If you would have had testimony such as that we heard
from Dr. Maher and Dr. Masten today, how would that
have affected your decision to enter the plea?
A.
Oh, that would have entirely affected my decision. I
wouldn’t have taken any plea at that time. Uh, with all
this evidence that has been uncovered in the postconviction investigation, I most definitely would have
elected to take my case to trial. There’s no question
about that.
(EH at 508-09). The record before this Court does not suggest that Petitioner was
incompetent to enter his plea. Furthermore, although Petitioner now argues that his
- 24 -
hyperthyroidism and diagnoses of psychosis prior to his plea raise a substantial doubt as
to his competency to stand trial, he shows nothing to indicate that he lacked the “sufficient
present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational
understanding” and lacked “a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings
against him.” Dusky, 362 U.S. at 402. Accordingly, even if Claim Two was timely filed, it
would not present a constitutional claim under Pate, Drope, or Dusky.
Any of Petitioner's allegations not specifically addressed herein have been found
to be without merit.
IV.
Certificate of Appealability13
Petitioner is not entitled to a certificate of appealability. A prisoner seeking a writ
of habeas corpus has no absolute entitlement to appeal a district court's denial of his
petition. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1). Rather, a district court must first issue a certificate of
appealability (“COA”).
“A [COA] may issue . . . only if the applicant has made a
substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). To
make such a showing, Petitioner must demonstrate that “reasonable jurists would find the
district court's assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong,” Tennard v.
Dretke, 542 U.S. 274, 282 (2004) (quoting Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000)),
or that “the issues presented were ‘adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed
further.’” Miller–El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 335–36 (2003). Petitioner has not made the
requisite showing in these circumstances.
13
Pursuant to Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the United
States District Courts, the “district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability
when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant.” Id. As this Court has determined
that Petitioner is not entitled to habeas corpus relief, it must now consider whether
Petitioner is entitled to a certificate of appealability.
- 25 -
Because Petitioner is not entitled to a certificate of appealability, he is not entitled
to appeal in forma pauperis.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1.
The Florida Attorney General is DISMISSED as a named Respondent.
2.
The petition for writ of habeas corpus filed by Timothy Michael Prendergast
is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE as time-barred. Alternatively, the claims raised in the
petition are DENIED.
3.
Petitioner is DENIED a certificate of appealability.
4.
The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate any pending motions, enter
judgment accordingly, and close this case.
DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on this 24th day of November, 2015.
SA: OrlP-4
Copies: All Parties of Record
- 26 -
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?