RICHARD C. DAVIS, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Davis appealed his larceny conviction claiming he was immune from prosecution because the prosecutor questioned him about misappropriated estate funds while Davis sought a declaration of insolvency. The court held that Davis did not have immunity because his testimony was not "required of him" under Florida law and he voluntarily testified despite the trial judge's attempts to clarify he was not compelled to speak.
Davis was not immune from prosecution because his testimony was not "required of him" within the meaning of Florida Statutes § 932.29. Although the trial judge was pressed into a tentative agreement that refusal to answer would deny the insolvency motion, the judge explicitly stated Davis was not required to answer, and Davis voluntarily interrupted the judge and testified despite warnings.
[1] A defendant's testimony regarding alleged embezzlements is not considered "required" for the purpose of statutory immunity when the trial judge explicitly states that the…
[2] A defendant cannot claim immunity from prosecution based on testimony given after interrupting a judge's clarification of the defendant's rights and the absence of immuni…
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The trial judge explicitly so stated. Pressed into a halting and tentative agreement with Davis' contention that refusal to talk would result in denial of his request for public financing of his defense, Davis interrupted the judge before he had a chance to finish talking, much less reflect upon what he had said.”
Demonstrates why Davis's testimony was not "required" - the judge had not finished explaining Davis was not compelled to testify when Davis voluntarily began answering
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceDavis, a lawyer and justice of the peace, moved for an order declaring him insolvent to obtain public financing for his defense. During the hearing, t…
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The only arguable question presented on this appeal is whether Davis was immune from this prosecution for larceny after the prosecutor interrogated him, on Davis’ motion for an order declaring him to be insolvent, about the disposition of funds belonging to estates administered by Davis. Counsel for defendant sought to inquire whether the court’s ruling that the prosecutor could ask about these funds constituted an instruction that Davis “must, in fact, answer the questions.” The judge replied that it was not the court’s instruction that he answer any question in the proceeding. Counsel said, “But if he doesn’t, then, of course, the motion will be denied.” The judge replied, “I think that that’s probably a fair statement, but I don’t think in any— I don’t think in any way does this operate as any — ” whereupon the defendant asked the prosecutor, “What did you ask me, Mr. Oldham?” “You ready to answer questions, Mr. Davis?” “Yes.” And on he talked, obviously thinking himself immune.
He was mistaken. We do not condone the suggestion implicit in the prose*642cutor’s questions that stolen money might be “available” for Davis’ defense. It certainly is not an obligation of an estate from which funds have been embezzled to finance the defense of the embezzler. But the testimony was not “required of him” within the meaning of Florida Statutes § 932.29 (1967), F.S.A. The trial judge explicitly so stated. Pressed into a halting and tentative agreement with Davis’ contention that refusal to talk would result in denial of his request for public financing of his defense, Davis interrupted the judge before he had a chance to finish talking, much less reflect upon what he had said. Then Davis began talking about the various embezzlements in which he had been involved and then claimed immunity. We cannot think this the correct interpretation of the statute. Cf. State v. Schell, Fla. App.1969, 222 So.2d 757, in which we held that codefendants cannot immunize each other by mutual deposition-taking.
Appellant relies on State v. Dayton, Fla.App. 1968, 215 So.2d 87. In that case the Third District Court of Appeal held that immunity attached where the person under investigation executed a waiver of immunity after being informed of a provision of the Code of Metropolitan Dade County providing that a county employee who refuses to waive immunity will lose his position and another provision purporting to fine such a person as much as $1,000. The defendant in that case asserted that he knew of those provisions and “waived” immunity under their compulsion. Garrity v. New Jersey, 1967, 385 U.S. 493, 87 S.Ct. 616, 17 L.Ed.2d 562, holds that a state cannot compel a public employee to waive Fifth Amendment rights at the cost of his job if he refuse. Therefore, a coerced waiver is invalid. This case is different. The defendant was a lawyer, a justice of the peace and should have been aware that the trial judge was attempting to clarify his position. Had Davis allowed him to conclude his remarks on the subject he might have understood the error of his position. But Davis jumped eagerly into the testimony about the offenses charged, which was properly excluded from the trial before another judge, and in the face of warning that he was not offered immunity testified.
Affirmed.
PIERCE, Acting C. J, and McNULTY, J., concur.
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THE Florida BAR v. Davis, 272 So. 2d 485 (Fla. 1972)…of his duties as administrator, the Circuit Court for Pinellas County found that respondent committed the crime of grand larceny by stealing assets of the estate. The Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction in a decision reported at 233 So. 2d 641, and we denied cer-tiorari in an order published at 238 So. 2d 425.2 [*486] In addition, the Referee stated that respondent in his capacity as co-administrator for the estate of Grace G. Dix had failed, notwithstanding court orders, to distribute th…1 / 2
Authorities Cited
- Garrity v. New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (U.S. 1967)
- State v. Schell, 222 So. 2d 757 (Fla. 2d DCA 1969)
- State v. Dayton, 215 So. 2d 87 (Fla. 3d DCA 1968)