United States v. Wiggan
United States v. Wiggan
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Joann Wiggan appeals from the district court’s denial of her motion to dismiss the government’s first superseding indictment. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.
Wiggan argues that the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment bars the government from re-litigating the three counts contained in the superseding indictment. She bears the burden of proving that collateral estoppel applies. See Dowling v. United States, 493 U.S. 342, 350-51, 110 S.Ct. 668, 107 L.Ed.2d 708 (1990). To determine whether Wiggan has met this burden, we undertake any or all of the following inquiries:
(1) An identification of the issues in the two actions for the purpose of determining whether the issues are sufficiently similar and sufficiently material in both actions to justify invoking the doctrine;
(2) an examination of the record of the prior case to decide whether the issue was “litigated” in the first case; and (3) an examination of the record of the prior proceeding to ascertain whether the issue was necessarily decided in the first case.
United States v. Hernandez, 572 F.2d 218, 220 (9th Cir. 1978). Applying this framework and focusing on inquiry three, we conclude that collateral estoppel does not apply because Wiggan has not demonstrated that the issues contained in the superseding indictment were “necessarily decided” in her first case. Id.
At trial, Wiggan’s attorney invited the jury to acquit her on three independent
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
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