I have just looked at the toxicology file for the case in which I am to be deposed today only to discover that the matter involves the essentially negative results (only inactive THC metabolite present) of a urine tox analysis. I fail to understand why I am continually deposed on cases of alleged DUI when only a urine specimen is available for analysis as urine results, especially when the only finding is the inactive metabolite of Delta-9 THC is present, only inform us of what an individual has been exposed to over the 3 or 4 days prior to the specimen collection (7 to 10 days prior in reference to the Cannabinoids Delta-9 THC and Delta-9 Carboxy THC) and bears no relationship to what may or may not have been present in the blood at the time of specimen collection and certainly none to the time of any alleged incident prior to the collection. The ASA should be cognizant of these facts since I have testified to this in deposition and in court at least 6 or 7 times since mid-May of this year (the time of Mr. Wagner's retirement).
I certainly understand the need for and purpose of depositions but when they provide nothing more than information that is already available in recent testimony from the expert witness to be deposed it seems that the time and expense of all parties involved could be put to far more profitable ends; in my case that means being spared the trip from Dania Beach to the Courthouse and being allowed to perform my principle function as a postmortem toxicologist working for the District 17 Medical Examiner.
Please note that I would copy the prosecutor on this case except that, in the normal fashion of the Broward County SAO, they have not contacted me concerning the toxicology results in this matter so I do not know who is the ASA most recently assigned to this matter. I encourage you to forward this email to them if you do know who they are, again, in the interest of saving us all from a needless expenditure of our very valuable time.
Thank You for your attention in this matter and I look forward with hope to notification that my deposition will not be required while anticipating that I will lose the greater part of an afternoon being deposed and trying to catch up on real work (ME casework) this weekend.
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I sent this email here to be posted. Apparently, in misdemeanor DUI we only get the toxicology report and not the whole file.
I wanted to know the concentrations of the drugs, and was told by the ASA, that information was not available and the lab never supplied it to them.
I filed a motion to compel and was sent 23 pages of the toxicology report that was not in the initial discovery request. Even the ASA expressed surprise. And the concentrations were in the report.
He said with metabolites he is NEVER able to testify or render an opinion that the individual was under the influence at the time of driving.
Without knowing when the individual and went to the bathroom before giving his sample, or whether the person was hydrated or dehydrated , he can render an opinion as to intoxication with just a urine report.
Blood was a different story.
So, If you did not know to ask for a full report, you would not know this additional evidence existed.
While judges can put time limits on jury questioning, in Hopkins' case the strict time limit prevented his attorney from questioning all of the prospective jurors, Judge Carole Taylor wrote for the three-judge appellate panel. Palm Beach County Judge Marni Bry(s)on allowed attorneys only 3.6 minutes to question each potential juror. "The trial court abused its discretion," Taylor said.