State of Delaware v. Brenda S. Harper

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE
KENT COUNTY COURTHOUSE
38 THE GREEN
DOVER, DELAWARE 19901
PHONE: (302) 735-3910
CHARLES W. WELCH, |||
JUDGE
September 7, 2016
Lisa Borin Ogden, Esq. J ames Liguori, Esq.
Deputy Attomey General Liguori & Morris
Department of Justice 46 The Green
102 West Water Street Dover, DE 19901
Dover, DE 19901
RE: State of Delaware v. Brenda S. Harper
Case No.: 1507020969
Decision After Restitution Hearing
Dear Ms. Ogden and Mr. Liguori:
The defendant for the above-referenced matter, Brenda S. Harper, has entered a probation
before judgment for Disorderly Conduct. As a condition of the probation before judgment, the
defendant must pay restitution as ordered by the Court. The State has requested that the
defendant be ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,081.57 to the Victims’ Compensation
Assistance Program (hereina&er “VCAP”) for medical expenses paid by VCAP on behalf of the
victim, Bonnie Allen.l The defendant contests the amount of restitution requested by the State
and requested a hearing. This correspondence constitutes the Court’s decision after the
restitution hearing.
When seeking restitution, the State bears the burden of proving the amount of loss by a
preponderance of the evidence. Benton v. State, 711 A.Zd 792 (Del. 1998). After a careful
1 Pursuant to ll Del. C. § 9014(0), VCAP is entitled to seek restitution for the reimbursement of medical expenses it
has paid.
consideration of the evidence provided at the restitution hearing for this matter, the Court finds
that the State has proven that VCAP has reimbursed Ms. Allen for losses incurred as a result of
the defendant’s criminal conduct. However, the issue of restitution does not end there.
The defendant is only responsible to pay restitution for losses caused by her criminal
conduct. State v. Hojj‘inan, 2003 WL 21221811, at *2 (Del. Super. May l9, 2003). In the instant
matter, the State offered into evidence documentation for medical expenses incurred by Ms.
Allen on the date of the incident and medical expenses for treatment of Ms. Allen’s heart attack
that occurred a few days after the incident. VCAP reimbursed Ms. Allen for all of these medical
expenses. After reviewing the evidence, however, the Court finds that the State has not proven
that Ms. Allen’s heart attack resulted from the defendant’s disorderly conduct. All that was
established by the State at the restitution hearing was that Ms. Allen received medical treatment
for a heart attack, No medical documentation, other than medical bills and the proximity of time
to the incident, was provided to show a causal link or relationship between Ms. Allen’s heart
attack and the defendant’s conduct.
The State relies on a medical narrative report from the night of the incident which shows
that Ms. Allen was treated and discharged for anxiety and a knee contusion due to an “altercation
with family member,” i.e. the defendant Such evidence is sufficient to show that the defendant
is responsible for the damages incurred by Ms. Allen on the night of her criminal conduct.
However, the medical narrative report pertains only to Ms. Allen’s anxiety and knee contusion.
It does not support the State’s contention that Ms. Allen’s heart attack, which occurred several
days later, was a result of the defendant’s disorderly conduct. A defendant may not be ordered to
make restitution for a victim’s loss where there is no factual basis on record showing that the
defendant’s criminal conduct is responsible Medical bills for injuries occurring a few days after
the date of the incident are insufficient, alone, to show that such injuries were a result of a
defendant’s criminal conduct.
Given its findings, the Court holds that the only damages for which the defendant is liable
to pay restitution to VCAP are those which were caused by the defendant’s criminal conduct,
which are all medical expenses incurred for the treatment of Ms. Allen’s anxiety and knee
contusion. The Court needs to ascertain the amount of damages owed by the defendant
Therefore, the State has 30 days from the date of this letter to provide a list of expenses incurred
by Ms. Allen for her initial hospital visit and for the treatment of her anxiety and knee contusion.
IT IS SO ORDERED this f day of September, 2016.
Sincerely,
wu/l»/l/M\
Charles W. Welch, III
CWW: mek
pc: J eff Rigby, Esq., Deputy Attorney General
Gregory Morris, Esq.