State v. Goins , 2022 Ohio 985 ( 2022 )

[Cite as State v. Goins, 2022-Ohio-985.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
ALLEN COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 1-21-29
v.
MELVIN GOINS, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Lima Municipal Court
Trial Court No. 20CRB01928-A
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: March 28, 2022
APPEARANCES:
F. Stephen Chamberlain for Appellant
David Osborne, Jr. for Appellee
Case No. 1-21-29
ZIMMERMAN, P.J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Melvin Goins (“Goins”), appeals the June 18,
2021 judgment entry of sentence of the Lima Municipal Court. For the reasons that
follow, we affirm.
{¶2} This case stems from the events preceding the death of Brian Brinkman
(“Brian”), a resident of a group home for disabled adults, which was operated by
Champaign Residential Services, Inc. (“CRSI”). Goins, an employee of CRSI,
worked in the group home at which Brian was a resident, and was responsible for
caring for the residents of the group home. (June 18, 2021 Tr., Vol. II, at 300-301).
{¶3} On January 19, 2019, when another employee of CRSI, Julie Roberts
(“Roberts”), was working at the group home, Brian fell out of his bed. (June 17,
2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 48, 143); (June 18, 2021 Tr., Vol. II, at 258, 308-309). Roberts
failed to report Brian’s fall as she was required to do. (Id. at 143); (Id. at 259).
Instead, she informed Goins of Brian’s fall after he reported for work later that
evening. (June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 49, 144-145). Further, Goins did not report
Brian’s fall (or that Brian was acting differently) until January 21, 2021 when Goins
reported to his supervisor that Brian needed medical attention because it was
unusual for him to require assistance to ambulate from his room to the restroom.
(June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 49-50, 71); (June 18, 2021 Tr., Vol. II, at 310-312,
314, 316-321). (See also Joint Ex. 16-A). After Brian’s fall was reported, he was
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transported to the emergency room by ambulance “and that was the day that the
incident report was made” by Goins. (June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 49-50); (Joint
Ex. 10A).
{¶4} Brian was diagnosed with a hip fracture and discharged from the
hospital into his brother’s, Michael Brinkman (“Michael”), care with aftercare
instructions, which included pain-medication prescriptions and a follow-up
appointment with the Orthopedic Institute of Ohio (“OIO”) for the following day.
(June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 45-46, 113); (June 18, 2021 Tr., Vol. II, at 195); (Joint
Ex. 4A). After Brian was discharged from the hospital, Michael returned Brian to
the group home along with his medical book in which he put Brian’s aftercare
instructions and pain-medication prescriptions. (June 18, 2021 Tr., Vol. II, at 196-
197, 324). Goins assisted Brian into the residence but failed to look inside Brian’s
medical book for the aftercare instructions or pain-medication prescriptions. (Id. at
326-327). In other words, Goins did not submit an incident report when Brian
returned from the hospital reflecting Brian’s aftercare instructions as he was
required to do. (June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 47-48, 125-126); (June 18, 2021 Tr.,
Vol. II, at 229-230, 263, 328). As a result, Brian missed his follow-up appointment
with OIO and his pain-medication prescriptions went unfilled until January 23, 2019
when another staff member found the aftercare instructions and pain-medication
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prescriptions in Brian’s medical book. (June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 47-48, 51);
(Joint Ex. 5A).
{¶5} As soon as the unfilled pain-medication prescriptions were discovered
on January 23, 2019, Goins went to the pharmacy to fill the prescriptions and
administer the medications to Brian. Goins did not report (to his supervisor or
CRSI) Brian’s new medication or that Brian missed his follow-up appointment with
OIO until the next day, January 24, 2019, when Brian refused to get out of bed.
(June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 51); (June 18, 2021 Tr., Vol. II, at 235, 338-343).
When that report was made, Amanda Martinez (“Martinez”) a “field associate
nurse” with CRSI arrived at the group home to assess Brian. (June 17, 2021 Tr.,
Vol. I, at 52). Martinez determined that Brian needed to be transported to the
hospital by ambulance. (Id.). Brian was admitted to the hospital and later died on
January 27, 2019. (Id. at 104).
{¶6} On October 15, 2020, Goins was charged by complaint for a gross
patient neglect in violation of R.C. 2903.34(A)(2), a first-degree misdemeanor,
failing to provide for a functionally impaired person in violation of R.C. 2903.16(B),
a second-degree misdemeanor, and patient neglect in violation of R.C.
2903.34(A)(3), second-degree misdemeanor. (Doc. No. 2). On October 20, 2020,
Goins appeared and entered pleas of not guilty. (Doc. Nos. 4, 5).
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{¶7} On March 9, 2021, Goins filed a motion to dismiss the failing-to-
provide-for-a-functionally-impaired-person charge, which was granted by the trial
court on April 7, 2021. (Doc. Nos. 22, 29, 30).
{¶8} The case proceeded to a jury trial on June 17-18, 2021 on the remaining
charges. On June 18, 2021, the jury found Goins guilty of patient neglect, but not
guilty of gross patient neglect. (Doc. Nos. 58, 59, 60, 61). That same day, the trial
court sentenced Goins to 90 days in jail, with 60 days suspended conditioned on his
compliance with the conditions his probation. (Doc. No. 61). In lieu of serving his
30-day jail sentence, the trial court ordered that Goins “may serve 30 days on the
E.M.H.A. program * * * .” (Emphasis sic.) (Id.).
{¶9} Goins filed his notice of appeal on July 14, 2021. (Doc. No. 66). He
raises two assignments of error for our review.
Assignment of Error No. I
The Trial Court Erred in Denying Defendant/Appellant’s Motion
for Acquittal and the Evidence was Insufficient to Support the
Jury’s Conviction of Defendant/Appellant for the Crime of
Patient Neglect and the Jury’s Verdict Finding
Defendant/Appellant Guilty Beyond a Reasonable Doubt of the
Crime of Patient Neglect is Against the Manifest Weight of the
Evidence.
{¶10} In his first assignment of error, Goins argues that his patient-neglect
conviction is based on insufficient evidence and is against the manifest weight of
the evidence. Specifically, Goins argues that the State did not present any “medical
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testimony * * * that provided a direct nexus between [his] acts or omissions and
[Brian’s] serious physical harm.” (Appellant’s Brief at 13). Likewise, Goins
contends that the weight of the evidence does not support he “aggravated or
exacerbated” Brian’s harm. (Id. at 15).
Standard of Review
{¶11} Manifest “weight of the evidence and sufficiency of the evidence are
clearly different legal concepts.” State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 389
(1997). Thus, we address each legal concept individually.
{¶12} “An appellate court’s function when reviewing the sufficiency of the
evidence to support a criminal conviction is to examine the evidence admitted at
trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average
mind of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Jenks, 61 Ohio
St.3d 259 (1981), paragraph two of the syllabus, superseded by state constitutional
amendment on other grounds, State v. Smith, 80 Ohio St.3d 89 (1997). Accordingly,
“[t]he relevant inquiry is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most
favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential
elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. “In deciding if the
evidence was sufficient, we neither resolve evidentiary conflicts nor assess the
credibility of witnesses, as both are functions reserved for the trier of fact.” State v.
Jones, 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-120570 and C-120571, 2013-Ohio-4775, ¶ 33,
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citing State v. Williams, 197 Ohio App.3d 505, 2011-Ohio-6267, ¶ 25 (1st Dist.).
See also State v. Berry, 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-12-03, 2013-Ohio-2380, ¶ 19
(“Sufficiency of the evidence is a test of adequacy rather than credibility or weight
of the evidence.”), citing Thompkins at 386.
{¶13} On the other hand, in determining whether a conviction is against the
manifest weight of the evidence, a reviewing court must examine the entire record,
“‘weigh[ ] the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider[ ] the credibility of
witnesses and determine[ ] whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the [trier
of fact] clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice that
the conviction must be reversed and a new trial ordered.’” Thompkins at 387,
quoting State v. Martin, 20 Ohio App.3d 172, 175 (1st Dist.1983). A reviewing
court must, however, allow the trier of fact appropriate discretion on matters relating
to the weight of the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses. State v. DeHass,
10 Ohio St.2d 230, 231 (1967). When applying the manifest-weight standard,
“[o]nly in exceptional cases, where the evidence ‘weighs heavily against the
conviction,’ should an appellate court overturn the trial court’s judgment.” State v.
Haller, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-11-34, 2012-Ohio-5233, ¶ 9, quoting State v.
Hunter, 131 Ohio St.3d 67, 2011-Ohio-6524, ¶ 119.
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Sufficiency of the Evidence Analysis
{¶14} We begin by addressing Goins’s sufficiency-of-the-evidence
argument as it relates to his patient-neglect conviction. Goins was convicted of
patient neglect in violation of R.C. 2903.34(A)(3), which provides, in relevant part,
that “[n]o person who owns, operates, or administers, or who is an agent or
employee of, a care facility shall” “[c]ommit neglect against a resident or patient of
the facility.” Goins does not dispute that he was an employee of a care facility.
{¶15} For purposes of the statute, “‘[n]eglect’ means recklessly failing to
provide a person with any treatment, care, goods, or service that is necessary to
maintain the health or safety of the person when the failure results in serious
physical harm to the person.” R.C. 2903.33(C)(2). Reckless-mental culpability is
defined under R.C. 2901.22, which provides as follows:
A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the
consequences, the person disregards a substantial and unjustifiable
risk that the person’s conduct is likely to cause a certain result or is
likely to be of a certain nature. A person is reckless with respect to
circumstances when, with heedless indifference to the consequences,
the person disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such
circumstances are likely to exist.
R.C. 2901.22(C). “‘Serious physical harm’” includes:
(a) Any mental illness or condition of such gravity as would
normally require hospitalization or prolonged psychiatric treatment;
(b) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;
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(c) Any physical harm that involves some permanent incapacity,
whether partial or total, or that involves some temporary, substantial
incapacity;
(d) Any physical harm that involves some permanent disfigurement
or that involves some temporary, serious disfigurement;
(e) Any physical harm that involves acute pain of such duration as
to result in substantial suffering or that involves any degree of
prolonged or intractable pain.
R.C. 2901.01(A)(5). The Revised Code defines “physical harm” as “any injury,
illness, or other physiological impairment, regardless of its gravity or duration.”
R.C. 2901.01(A)(3).
{¶16} On appeal, Goins argues only that the State presented insufficient
evidence that “provided a direct nexus between [his] acts or omissions and [Brian’s]
serious physical harm.” (Appellant’s Brief at 13). That is, Goins alleges that the
State failed to present “evidence that the omissions [by him] resulted or caused new
or additional harm.” (Id. at 15).
{¶17} Although it is not statutorily defined, many courts—including this
court—have grappled with defining causation. See, e.g., Macleod, Ordinary
Causation: A Study in Experimental Statutory Interpretation, 94 Ind.L.J. 957, 958-
959 (noting that, in “[a] series of recent split Supreme Court decisions concerning
causation,” “the Court’s majority has explained—“[a]rmed with dictionaries,
thought experiments, intuition-pumping examples from everyday speech, and
common sense,”—“that statutory phrases like ‘because of’ and ‘results from’ entail
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but-for causation as a matter of ordinary usage”); State v. Carpenter, 3d Dist. Seneca
No. 13-18-16, 2019-Ohio-58, ¶ 47-54. Nevertheless, “it is well established that
Ohio law generally defines ‘cause’ in criminal cases identically to the definition of
‘proximate cause’ in civil cases.” Carpenter ¶ 51, citing State v. Emerson, 2d Dist.
Darke Nos. 2015-CA-24 and 2016-CA-1, 2016-Ohio-8509, ¶ 24. Importantly, “‘[i]t
is merely a matter of semantics that criminal cases are “cause” and “result” and civil
cases use “proximate cause” and “proximate result.” They mean the same thing.’”
(Emphasis added.) Id., quoting State v. Jacobs, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 51693,
1987 WL 10047, *2 (Apr. 23, 1987). Therefore, “[f]or a criminal defendant’s
conduct to be the proximate cause of a certain result, it must be determined if his or
her conduct was the actual and legal cause of the result.” Id., citing State v.
Lovelace, 137 Ohio App.3d 206, 216 (1st Dist.1999), citing Lafave & Scott,
Criminal Law, Section 35, 249 (1st Ed.1972).
{¶18} “There are several tests for actual causation, the most common of
which is the ‘but for’ test; however, there are circumstances under which the ‘but
for’ test is inapplicable and an act or omission can be considered a cause in fact if it
was a ‘substantial’ or ‘contributing’ factor in producing the result.” Id. at ¶ 52. See
also Wagoner v. Commonwealth, 63 Va.App. 229, 250, 756 S.E.2d 165 (2014)
(concluding that “where the legislature has not clarified otherwise, this Court should
give the phrase ‘results in’ its ordinary meaning, which imports ‘but for’ causation).
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“In other words, a defendant can still be held criminally responsible where the
defendant’s conduct combined with other occurrences to jointly result in a legal
injury.” Carpenter at ¶ 52, quoting State v. Hall, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2015-11-
022, 2017-Ohio-879, ¶ 72.
{¶19} “The second component of causation—the legal or ‘proximate’
cause—refers to the foreseeability of the result.” Id. at ¶ 53. “A ‘“defendant will
be held responsible for those foreseeable consequences which are known to be, or
should be known to be, within the scope of risk created by his conduct.”’” Id.,
quoting State v. Sabo, 3d Dist. Union No. 14-09-33, 2010-Ohio-1261, ¶ 25, quoting
State v. Losey, 23 Ohio App.3d 93, 95 (10th Dist.1985). “‘“[T]hat means that death
[or serious physical harm] reasonably could be anticipated by an ordinarily prudent
person as likely to result under these or similar circumstances.”’” Id., quoting Sabo
at ¶ 25, quoting Losey at 95.
{¶20} Here, the State presented sufficient evidence that Goins’s reckless
conduct was the actual and legal “cause” of the result in this case—that is, Brian’s
serious physical harm. Stated another way, the State presented sufficient evidence
that Goins’s reckless conduct was a “substantial” or “contributing” factor in
producing Brian’s serious physical harm and presented sufficient evidence that
Brian’s serious physical harm could be reasonably anticipated by an ordinarily
prudent person as likely to result under these or similar circumstances.
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{¶21} At trial, the State presented the testimony of five witnesses in support
of its case of patient neglect. Specifically, the State presented the testimony of
Michael, who testified that he was provided with Brian’s aftercare paperwork and
prescriptions when Brian was discharged from the hospital and that he put the
aftercare paperwork and prescriptions “in the front pocket of Brian’s medical book.”
(June 18, 2021 Tr., Vol. II, at 195-196). Michael further testified that he returned
Brian to the group home after Brian was discharged from the hospital and that he
told Goins that he “put the discharge instructions and that there were prescriptions
that needed to be filled” “in the front pocket” of Brian’s medical book. (Id. at 197).
According to Michael, Goins responded that that he would “take care of it first thing
in the morning.” (Id. at 197-198).
{¶22} Michael testified that he received a phone call on January 23, 2019
from a woman from Brian’s group home asking “if Brian had been given any
prescriptions for pain because he was complaining of pain.” (Id. at 198). Michael
testified that he notified the caller of Brian’s pain-medication prescriptions and
testified that the phone call “surprised” him because he thought that Brian’s pain-
medication prescriptions “would have been filled.” (Id.). Furthermore, Michael
testified that he advised the caller that he had already informed Goins of Brian’s
pain-medication prescriptions. (Id.).
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{¶23} The State also presented the testimony of Detective Jack Miller
(“Detective Miller”) of the Shawnee Township Police Department, who testified
that, because Goins did not review Brian’s aftercare instructions, Brian did not
appear for his follow-up appointment on January 22, 2019 with OIO as scheduled.
(June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 51). Detective Miller further testified that he learned
through his investigation that Brian’s pain-medication prescription was not “picked
up from the pharmacy” until January 23, 2019. (Id. at 47-48, 51); (Joint Ex. 5A).
He testified that another CRSI employee “discovered that not only did [Goins] miss
the appointment, [Goins] never filled the scrip [sic].” (June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at
51). Importantly, Detective Miller testified that, even though Brian’s pain-
medication prescription was filled on January 23, 2019, Brian did not receive his
follow-up care (“while Melvin Goins was working”) and “[n]o report was made to
the nurse” and “[n]o call to the doctor [was] made until the following morning,
which would be [January] 24th.” (Id. at 51).
{¶24} Furthermore, the State presented the testimony of Shirley Evans
(“Evans”), an investigator with the Allen County Board of Developmental
Disabilities (“ACBDD”), who testified regarding the policies that CRSI and the
ACBDD implemented to adhere to the rules and regulations put forth by the Ohio
Department of Developmental Disabilities. Evans identified Joint Exhibit 11A as
“the employee file for Melvin Goins for CSRI [sic]” and testified that the exhibit
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reflects CRSI’s incident-reporting policy, which Goins acknowledged receiving on
June 16, 2018. (Id. at 127-128, 134); (Joint Ex. 11A).
{¶25} As relevant here, Evans testified CRSI employees are required to file
an “unusual incident report” “[w]hen an incident happens, and staff are aware of a
concern or an injury or illness or a fight or anything that would happen, they are to
write an incident report immediately, and no later than the end of their work shift”
to ensure that a client receives any necessary care. (June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at
122). Evans testified that “[a] fall is an unusual incident.” (Id. at 123). For “unusual
incidents,” “CRSI, within 24 to 72 hours, depending on when an initial incident
report is learned by them, they have that amount of time to report to the [ACBDD].”
(Id. at 122). However, a fall can be elevated to a “major unusual incident,” which
requires reporting within 24 hours to the ACBDD. (Id. at 125). Furthermore, Evans
testified that the ACBDD has a policy which requires a “medical professional to be
notified immediately” [a]ny time there’s an injury that results in a fall [sic] and the
person is not doing the things that they would normally do,” on which Goins
received training. (June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 129-130, 134). (See also Joint Ex.
14A).
{¶26} Importantly, Evans testified that Goins “did not fill out the proper
paperwork to notify the rest of the team [to have] ensured and monitored that Brian
received the proper medical treatment.” (June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 133-134).
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Specifically, Goins did not submit an unusual-incident report or call anyone as
required by CRSI and ACBDD policy by the end of his shift on January 20, 2019
despite being “told by his coworker that [Brian] fell * * * .” (Id. at 134). Likewise,
Evans testified that Goins did not submit an unusual-incident report or call anyone
as required by CRSI and ACBDD policy reflecting that Brian was “still not walking,
he’s not doing what he usually does * * * .” (Id.). Similarly, Evans testified that,
because Brian “went to the hospital on January 21st and was diagnosed with a
facture,” Goins should have “made a report before the end of [his] shift” and the
major-unusual incident should have been reported to the ACBDD within 24 hours.
(Id. at 125-126).
{¶27} Considering the way in which causation (in Ohio) is defined, when
construing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational
trier of fact could have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Goins, with
heedless indifference to the consequences, disregarded a substantial and
unjustifiable risk that his conduct was likely to cause Brian serious physical harm.
Therefore, we conclude that the State presented sufficient evidence that Goins
recklessly failed to provide Brian treatment or care which resulted in Brian’s serious
physical harm. Consequently, Goins’s patient-harm conviction is based on
sufficient evidence.
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{¶28} Having concluded that Goins’s patient-neglect conviction is based on
sufficient evidence, we next address Goins’s argument that his patient-neglect
conviction is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
Manifest Weight of the Evidence
{¶29} Goins contends that his patient-neglect conviction is against the
manifest weight of the evidence because the weight of the evidence presented at
trial suggests that Brian’s serious physical harm did not result from Goins’s conduct.
Here, Goins makes many of the same arguments that he makes in his sufficiency-
of-the-evidence argument challenging his patient-neglect conviction. That is, Goins
argues that, because there is insufficient evidence that his conduct resulted in serious
physical harm to Brian, his patient-neglect conviction is also against the manifest
weight of the evidence.
{¶30} However, that evidence does not outweigh the evidence that we
summarized in our sufficiency-of-the-evidence analysis that Goins’s reckless
conduct resulted in serious physical harm to Brian. Notably, Goins overlooks the
substantial evidence presented by the State from which the jury could infer that he,
with heedless indifference to the consequences, disregarded a substantial and
unjustifiable risk that his conduct was likely to cause Brian serious physical harm.
{¶31} “Although we review credibility when considering the manifest
weight of the evidence, the credibility of witnesses is primarily a determination for
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the trier of fact.” State v. Banks, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 96535, 2011-Ohio-5671,
¶ 13, citing DeHass, 10 Ohio St.2d 230, at paragraph one of the syllabus. See also
State v. Mitchell, 3d Dist. Union No. 14-19-14, 2019-Ohio-5168, ¶ 32. “The trier
of fact is best able ‘to view the witnesses and observe their demeanor, gestures[,]
and voice inflections, and use these observations in weighing the credibility of the
proffered testimony.’” Banks at ¶ 13, quoting State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St.3d 382,
2007-Ohio-2202, ¶ 24, citing Seasons Coal Co., Inc. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d
77, 80-81 (1984). “When examining witness credibility, ‘the choice between
credible witnesses and their conflicting testimony rests solely with the finder of fact
and an appellate court may not substitute its own judgment for that of the finder of
fact.’” In re N.Z., 11th Dist. Lake Nos. 2010-L-023, 2010-L-035, and 2010-L-041,
2011-Ohio-6845, ¶ 79, quoting State v. Awan, 22 Ohio St.3d 120, 123 (1986). ““‘A
verdict is not against the manifest weight of the evidence because the [jury] chose
to believe the State’s witnesses rather than the defendant’s version of the events.”’”
State v. Missler, 3d Dist. Hardin No. 6-14-06, 2015-Ohio-1076, ¶ 44, quoting State
v. Bean, 9th Dist. Summit No. 26852, 2014-Ohio-908, ¶ 15, quoting State v.
Martinez, 9th Dist. Wayne No. 12CA0054, 2013-Ohio-3189, ¶ 16.
{¶32} In addition to Michael’s, Detective Miller’s, and Evans’s testimony,
the jury also heard the testimony of other witnesses describing the events
surrounding Brian’s injury. Indeed, the jury was able to compare the State’s
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witnesses’ testimony against the testimony that Goins presented in his defense
(including his own testimony), and it is well within the providence of the trier of
fact to determine a witness’s credibility in making a statement including the
prerogative to find a witness not to be truthful. See State v. Voll, 3d Dist. Union No.
14-12-04, 2012-Ohio-3900, ¶ 27. For instance, the jury was able to compare
Goins’s testimony that Michael did not say anything to him about Brian’s condition
or regarding Brian’s pain-medication prescription against Michael’s testimony to
the contrary. (June 18, 2021 Tr., Vol. II, at 197-198, 326-327). The jury was also
able to compare Goins’s testimony and Michael’s testimony against Evans’s
testimony that Michael informed her during their interview that Michael provided
Goins with Brian’s medical book when he returned Brian to the group home from
the hospital on January 21, 2019 and that Goins responded to Michael that “he
would take care of it.” (June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 158).
{¶33} Likewise, the jury was able to weigh Goins’s testimony that he is
unaware of any CRSI policy regarding family members taking clients to the hospital
and that he did not look in Brian’s medical book because “[t]here’s no reason to
look in the medical book” against Evans’s testimony that even though she is
unaware of a CRSI policy regarding client-medical books, the “responsible thing to
do, is to look and see what type of medical information is in their medical book.”
(June 17, 2021 Tr., Vol. I, at 159); (June 18, 2021 Tr., Vol. II, 326-328).
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Consequently, the jury was free to weigh that evidence and infer that Goins, with
heedless indifference to the consequences, disregarded a substantial and
unjustifiable risk that his conduct was likely to cause Brian serious physical harm.
That is, the jury was able to weigh that evidence and infer that Goins’s reckless
conduct was a “substantial” or “contributing” factor in producing Brian’s serious
physical harm and the jury was able to weigh that evidence and infer that Brian’s
serious physical harm could be reasonably anticipated by an ordinarily prudent
person as likely to result under these or similar circumstances. Therefore, we cannot
conclude that the jury clearly lost its way in concluding that Goins recklessly failed
to provide Brian treatment or care which resulted in Brian’s serious physical harm.
Consequently, Goins’s patient-harm conviction is not against the manifest weight
of the evidence.
{¶34} Goins’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. II
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel by Failing to Request a Jury
Instruction on Cause.
{¶35} In his second assignment of error, Goins argues that he was denied his
right to effective assistance of counsel. Specifically, Goins argues that his trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to request a jury “instruction regarding cause.”
(Appellant’s Brief at 18).
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Standard of Review
{¶36} A defendant asserting a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must
establish: (1) the counsel’s performance was deficient or unreasonable under the
circumstances; and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced the defendant. State v.
Kole, 92 Ohio St.3d 303, 306 (2001), citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,
687, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (1984). In order to show counsel’s conduct was deficient or
unreasonable, the defendant must overcome the presumption that counsel provided
competent representation and must show that counsel’s actions were not trial
strategies prompted by reasonable professional judgment. Strickland at 687.
Counsel is entitled to a strong presumption that all decisions fall within the wide
range of reasonable professional assistance. State v. Sallie, 81 Ohio St.3d 673, 675
(1998). Tactical or strategic trial decisions, even if unsuccessful, do not generally
constitute ineffective assistance. State v. Carter, 72 Ohio St.3d 545, 558 (1995).
Rather, the errors complained of must amount to a substantial violation of counsel’s
essential duties to his client. See State v. Bradley, 42 Ohio St.3d 136, 141-142
(1989), quoting State v. Lytle, 48 Ohio St.2d 391, 396 (1976), vacated in part on
other grounds, 438 U.S. 910, 98 S.Ct. 3135 (1978).
{¶37} “Prejudice results when ‘there is a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.’” State v. Liles, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-13-04, 2014-Ohio-259, ¶ 48, quoting
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Bradley at 142, citing Strickland at 691. “‘A reasonable probability is a probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.’” Id., quoting Bradley at 142
and citing Strickland at 694.
Analysis
{¶38} “‘An attorney’s decision not to request a particular jury instruction is
a matter of trial strategy and does not establish ineffective assistance of counsel.’”
State v. Harrison, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-14-16, 2015-Ohio-1419, ¶ 89, quoting State
v. Morris, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22089, 2005-Ohio-1136, ¶ 100, citing State v. Fisk,
9th Dist. Summit No. 21196, 2003-Ohio-3149, ¶ 9, citing State v. Hill, 73 Ohio
St.3d 433, 443 (1995), and citing State v. Oates, 3d Dist. Hardin No. 6-12-19, 2013-
Ohio-2609, ¶ 9. Nevertheless, “[a] trial court’s instructions to a jury must correctly,
clearly, and completely state the law applicable to the case.” State v. Orians, 179
Ohio App.3d 701, 2008-Ohio-6185, ¶ 10 (3d Dist.). Further, “a defendant is
entitled to have the jury instructed on all elements that must be proved to establish
the crime with which he is charged.” State v. Gardner, 118 Ohio St.3d 420, 2008-
Ohio-2787, ¶ 37, quoting State v. Adams, 62 Ohio St.2d 151, 153 (1980).
{¶39} Here, Goins contends that his trial counsel should have requested the
Ohio Jury Instruction relating to cause. Even assuming without deciding that an
instruction relating to causation should have been given to the jury, Goins’s trial
counsel’s failure to request the instruction was harmless since the evidence against
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Goins as to the offense of which the jury convicted him was overwhelming. See
Harrison at ¶ 91; State v. Foster, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95209, 2011-Ohio-2781,
¶ 69 (concluding that “even if Foster’s counsel should have requested the jury
instruction, any error did not prejudice Foster’s case since there was overwhelming
evidence to convict him”). In other words, based on our conclusion in our
sufficiency-of-the-evidence analysis, since the State presented sufficient evidence
that Goins recklessly failed to provide Brian treatment or care which resulted in
Brian’s serious physical harm, Goins cannot demonstrate that he was prejudiced by
his trial counsel’s failure to request the instruction. See State v. Hudson, 5th Dist.
Delaware No. 02 CAA 12065, 2003-Ohio-7049, ¶ 54 (concluding that Hudson could
not demonstrate that he was prejudiced by an incorrect jury instruction when there
was sufficient evidence presented to prove his guilt). Consequently, Goins cannot
demonstrate that the outcome of his trial was “‘affected by the lack of instruction.’”
Harrison at ¶ 91, quoting State v. Ross, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98763, 2013-Ohio-
3130, ¶ 39. Therefore, we conclude that Goins failed to establish that his trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to request the Ohio Jury Instruction relating to
cause.
{¶40} Goins’s second assignment of error is overruled.
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{¶41} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
MILLER and WILLAMOWSKI, J.J., concur.
/jlr
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