State Of Washington, Resp/cross App v. Michael Emeric Mockovak, App/cross Resp

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
DIVISION ONE
Respondent/Cross-Appellant,
No. 68020-0-1
v.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
MICHAEL EMERIC MOCKOVAK,
Appellant/Cross-Respondent. FILED: July 1,2013
Dwyer, J. — This case involves two challenges to an order of restitution.
Following Dr. Michael Mockovak's convictions of attempted murder in the first
degree and solicitation to commit murder in the first degree, the State sought
$220,439.95 in restitution on behalf of Mockovak's intended victim, Dr. Joseph
King. The trial court granted restitution with respect to certain medical expenses
of King and his wife—totaling $1,543.34—but denied the State's remaining
requests. Mockovak appeals from the trial court's restitution order, contending
that it abused its discretion by ordering restitution for medical expenses that, he
asserts, did not result from Mockovak's crimes. The State cross appeals,
asserting that the trial court applied an unduly narrow legal standard in limiting
restitution to King's medical expenses. We affirm the trial court in all respects.
No. 68020-0-1/2
Mockovak is the former co-owner of Clearly Lasik, Inc., a refractive eye
surgery business operating surgical centers in both the United States and
Canada. In 2009, over the course of several months, Mockovak plotted with
Daniel Kultin, the information technologies director at the company, to arrange
the murder of Mockovak's business partner, King, and to thereafter collect on a
$4 million insurance policy. Unbeknownst to Mockovak, however, Kultin was
working as an informant for the FBI. Kultin wore a concealed recording device
during several of his conversations with Mockovak in which the two men
discussed the plan to murder King. Ultimately, Mockovak gave Kultin a $10,000
payment for the murder along with a photograph of King and his family, with the
intention that the money and photograph would be forwarded to the hired killers.
Soon thereafter, Mockovak was arrested.
Following a jury trial, Mockovak was convicted of attempted murder in the
first degree, solicitation to commit murder in the first degree, attempted theft in
the first degree, and conspiracy to commit theft in the first degree.1 The trial
court sentenced Mockovak to a term of imprisonment within the standard range.
A restitution hearing was thereafter scheduled for September 22, 2011.
The trial judge limited the issues to be presented at the hearing to legal issues
regarding the limits of restitution.
The State requested restitution in the amount of $220,439.95. This
1We affirmed Mockovak's convictions in a decision filed May 20, 2013. State v.
Mockovak. No. 66924-9-I, 2013 WL 2181435 (Wash. Ct. App. May 20, 2013). The details of the
investigation leading to Mockovak's arrest and convictions are more fully set forth therein.
-2-
No. 68020-0-1/3
request was based on losses in four categories: (1) medical expenses; (2) travel
expenses; (3) business expenses; and (4) legal expenses. The medical
expenses, incurred by King and his wife, were "related to the stress imposed
upon them by [Mockovak's] crime." The State requested restitution based upon
a $10 payment for anxiety medication for King's wife and $1,533.34 for
cardiology treatments for King.
The travel expenses were incurred by King, the State asserted, when he
cut short his vacation in Australia upon learning of the plot against his life. The
State requested that King be reimbursed $1,876 for a rental van payment.
The business expenses were incurred by two corporations, Clearly Lasik
and King Lasik, Inc.2 The State requested restitution in the amount of $26,615
based upon Clearly Lasik's hiring of a public relations firm, Sound Counsel Crisis
Communications, in the aftermath of Mockovak's arrest. The State requested
restitution of $8,460.49 based upon King Lasik's hiring of a replacement surgeon
during the period that King attended Mockovak's criminal trial.
In addition, the State sought restitution for a number of legal expenses.
These expenses related to the hiring by King of "attorneys to assist with witness
preparation and other aspects of [Mockovak's] criminal trial," and the hiring of law
firms by King and his businesses to "pursue civil claims for damage caused by
[Mockovak's] crimes." In the first civil suit, the King family sought damages for
"emotional distress, fear, embarrassment, humiliation, loss of consortium,
damage to familial relationships, the loss of enjoyment of life, and financial harm"
2 King incorporated King Lasik two weeks after Mockovak's arrest.
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No. 68020-0-1/4
arising from Mockovak's actions. In the second civil suit, Clearly Lasik3 asserted
causes of action for breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference with a
business expectancy. The corporation additionally sought an injunction
prohibiting Mockovak from entering any Clearly Lasik office or communicating
with any Clearly Lasik "employee, supplier, creditor, customer, or financial
institution." Finally, the State sought restitution based upon a $5,000 payment
from King to Mockovak's ex-wife for legal fees relating to child custody and
visitation proceedings involving Mockovak. The State requested legal expense
restitution in the total amount of $181,945.12.
Following oral argument, the trial court denied restitution with regard to the
majority of the claimed expenses. The court explained that these expenses were
not "directly related" to Mockovak's crimes and that, accordingly, the expenses
were not properly compensable as restitution.
The trial court then explained that it believed King's medical expenses to
be potentially compensable.4 At Mockovak's request, an evidentiary hearing was
initially set for November 4, 2011 to determine whether King's medical expenses
were a direct result of Mockovak's crimes. However, after King's medical records
were furnished to the court, Mockovak indicated that the issue of restitution could
be decided without oral argument. Accordingly, the evidentiary hearing was
stricken.
3This lawsuit was also brought by King and Mockovak Eye Center, Inc., P.S., a closely-
held business also co-owned by King and Mockovak.
4 Mockovak did not contest the State's restitution request pertaining to the $10
prescription for King's wife.
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No. 68020-0-1/5
On November 7, 2011, the trial court issued an order setting restitution at
$1,543.34. King was designated as the recipient.
Mockovak appeals from the trial court's restitution order. The State cross
appeals.
II
Mockovak contends that the trial court erred by awarding restitution-
based upon the medical expenses of King and his wife—in the amount of
$1,543.34 payable to King. We disagree.
The trial court's authority to order restitution is derived entirely from
statute. State v.Smith. 119 Wash. 2d 385, 389, 831 P.2d 1082 (1992). Courts
have broad discretion when determining the amount of restitution. State v.
Kinneman, 155Wn.2d 272, 282, 119 P.3d 350 (2005) (citing State v. Hughes.
154Wn.2d 118, 153, 110P.3d 192(2005)). The trial court abuses its discretion
where the restitution order is manifestly unreasonable, exercised on untenable
grounds, or for untenable reasons. State v. Enstone, 137 Wash. 2d 675, 679-80,
974 P.2d 828 (1999). The court's application of an incorrect legal analysis or
other error of law can constitute an abuse of discretion. State v. Tobin. 161
Wash. 2d 517, 523, 166 P.3d 1167 (2007).
Restitution is required where "the offender is convicted of an offense
which results in injury to any person ordamage to or loss of property."5 RCW
5Atrial court may decline to order restitution where"extraordinary circumstances exist
which make restitution inappropriate in the court's judgment and the court sets forth such
circumstances in the record." RCW 9.94A.753(5). No such extraordinary circumstances were
found to exist by the trial court in this case.
-5-
No. 68020-0-1/6
9.94A.753(5). The award must be "based on easily ascertainable damages for
injury to or loss of property, actual expenses incurred for treatment for injury to
persons, and lost wages resulting from injury." RCW 9.94A.753(3). Restitution
may not be awarded for "damages for mental anguish, pain and suffering, or
other intangible losses." RCW 9.94A.753(3). However, a restitution award may
include the "costs of counseling reasonably related to the offense." RCW
9.94A.753(3).
Restitution is allowed only for losses that are causally connected to the
crimes charged unless the defendant expressly agrees to pay restitution for
crimes for which he was not convicted. State v. Griffith. 164 Wash. 2d 960, 965-66,
195 P.3d 506 (2008). "Losses are causally connected if, but for the charged
crime, the victim would not have incurred the loss." Griffith. 164 Wash. 2d at 966
(citing Tobin. 161 Wash. 2d at 524). The trial court cannot impose restitution based
on a defendant's "'general scheme'" or acts "'connected with'" the crime charged,
when those acts are not part of the charge. State v. Woods. 90 Wash. App. 904,
907-08, 953 P.2d 834 (1998) (quoting State v. Miszak, 69 Wash. App. 426, 428,
848P.2d 1329 (1993)): accord Kinneman. 155 Wash. 2d at 286.
Here, the trial court explained that restitution is proper where the "victim of
an attempted, or inchoate murder" experiences stress that requires that person to
"see a psychiatrist or counselor, or go to a cardiologist." The court noted,
however, that in order to be compensable, such stress must result directly from
the crime: "[A]s to these consequences that are caused by being in trial on a
criminal case and how those impact the victim, I think the [Court of Appeals] is
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No. 68020-0-1/7
going to say, 'We are sorry, but that is the cost of our justice system. You don't
get repaid for it.'"
An evidentiary hearing was set for November 4, 2011 to determine the
reasons for King's cardiology treatment. The court requested that King's doctor
provide a letter to the court specifying whether the treatment at issue was directly
related to King having been the victim of a threatened murder.
King's medical records were thereafter furnished to the court. The treating
physician reported that King's chest pain occurred with stress. The doctor
stated:
His stress is related to professional issues. His business partner
hired a hit man to kill him in an attempt to collect life insurance.
There is now a criminal investigation going on and most of the
professional work at his clinic has now been dumped on him. As
well, he has to deal with the partner who is still part of the practice.
In the final assessment and plan, the doctor again noted: "[King] initially
presented with occasional chest tightness secondary to extreme stress in his life.
Apparently his business partner hired a hit man to kill him." Finally, in a letter to
the court, the doctor stated that King's symptoms "were a direct result of stress
suffered from criminal proceedings associated with his practice."
Following the trial court's receipt of these materials, Mockovak indicated
that the issue of restitution could be decided without oral argument. Accordingly,
the hearing set for November 4, 2011 was stricken. The trial court thereafter
ordered restitution of $1,543.34 on November 7, 2011. King was designated as
the recipient.
Mockovak asserts that the restitution award was improper because King's
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No. 68020-0-1/8
medical treatment became necessary, not because King was the victim of an
attempted murder, but as a result of Mockovak's criminal trial. Restitution in such
circumstances is prohibited, Mockovak asserts, because it penalizes a defendant
for exercising his or her constitutional right to a trial by jury. A crime victim will
often suffer greater stress where the defendant elects to go to trial and, if higher
restitution awards were permitted against such defendants, it would
impermissibly chill the defendant's exercise of this constitutional right. As
Mockovak correctly points out, "[t]he imposition of a penalty for the exercise of a
defendant's legal rights violates due process." State v. Sandefer. 79 Wash. App.
178, 181, 900 P.2d 1132(1995).
However, we need not address this constitutional question in order to
resolve this issue. Imposition of restitution for injury incurred solely as the result
of a criminal trial is not permissible because such an injury is not the result of the
defendant's crime. A criminal trial does not occur in instances where a defendant
simply pleads guilty to the charged offense. Instead, the trial occurs only where
the defendant chooses to exercise his or her right to a jury trial. Such a decision,
while "connected with" the crime charged, is not an act constituting a part of the
charge. See Woods, 90 Wash. App. at 907-08. Accordingly, restitution cannot be
imposed for injuries arising from this act. Kinneman. 155 Wash. 2d at 286.
Because the defendant's criminal trial does not directly result from the
defendant's crimes, injuries that arise solely as a result of the trial are not
compensable as restitution. See State v. Goodrich. 47 Wash. App. 114, 115,733
P.2d 1000 (1987) (reversing imposition of restitution for victim's lost wages where
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No. 68020-0-1/9
losses resulted from victim's trial attendance and not from injury).
Keeping these principles in mind, the award of restitution in this case was
not improper. The trial court agreed with Mockovak that no restitution should be
granted if King's need for treatment arose as a result of the stresses associated
with Mockovak's trial. The court noted that restitution is improper where a
person's need for therapy results from "tak[ing] the stand and being cross-
examined by the defense." In such circumstances, the trial court explained, the
costs of the counseling would not be compensable. Thus, in granting restitution
for King's medical expenses, the court necessarily concluded that King's need for
medical treatment did not arise as a result of the trial.
Nor did the trial court err by so concluding. King's doctor stated that King
experienced chest pain "occurring] with stress." This stress related to
"professional issues," which, the doctor explained, included Mockovak's hiring of
"a hit man to kill [King] in an attempt to collect life insurance." In the doctor's final
assessment and plan, she again noted that Mockovak's symptoms occurred with
stress related to an incident in which King's "business partner hired a hit man to
kill him." Such evidence was sufficient for the trial court to determine that King's
need for medical treatment was the direct result of Mockovak's criminal acts.
Nevertheless, Mockovak contends that a letter from King's doctor, stating
that King's stress resulted from "criminal proceedings associated with his
practice," indicates that King's chest pain resulted solely from "Mockovak's trial
and pretrial proceedings." However, it is unlikely that the doctor intended to give
the term "criminal proceedings" a precise legal definition. Instead, this statement
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No. 68020-0-1/10
may reasonably be interpreted to indicate that King's stress was the result of
Mockovak's criminal activity, and the trial court attached this meaning to the
words. If Mockovak wanted the doctor to more precisely parse out this
statement, the evidentiary hearing—which Mockovak asked to be stricken—
would have provided such an occasion. Based upon the evidence actually
presented, however, the trial court properly determined that King's need for
medical treatment flowed directly from the crime itself.
From the actual evidence presented and the reasonable inferences
therefrom, the trial court concluded that it was King's discovery of his longtime
business partner's plot to murder him that resulted in his medical expenses.6
Sufficient evidence supports this determination. The trial court did not err by
6 Mockovak also contends that the amount of restitution was improper because a portion
ofKing's medical expenses was paid by Mockovak's insurance company. In preparation for the
evidentiary hearing on restitution, King explained thatwith respect to his $1,533.34 medical bill,
$69570 had been paid by Premera Blue Cross and $837.64 had been paid by King. Mockovak
asserts that the restitution statute limits reimbursement to the "actual expenses incurred" by the
victim.
There is, however, no requirement that the restitution ordered be equivalent to the injury,
damage, or loss. Kinneman. 155 Wash. 2d at 282-83. "The trial court has great power and
discretion in issuing restitution." Hughes, 154 Wash. 2d at 153. Here, there was ample reason for
the trial court to name King as the sole recipient of the restitution award. As King's insurer,
Premera would have had either a contractual or an equitable right to subrogation. See Mahler v.
Szucs, 135 Wash. 2d 398, 411, 957 P.2d 632, 966 P.2d 305 (1998). The trial court unquestionably
was aware of this. An insurer's entitlement to subrogation payments, however, arises only"after
the insured is fully compensated for his loss." Thirinaer v. Am. Motors Ins. Co.. 91 Wash. 2d 215,
219, 588 P.2d 191 (1978). Thus, until King received the full amount of his out-of-pocket
expenses—$837.64—Premera would not be entitled to recover its loss.
By contrast, where multiple victims are designated to be the recipients ofa restitution
award, payments are distributed on a pro rata basis to the listed victims. See, e.g.. State v.
Shultz, 138 Wash. 2d 638, 641, 980 P.2d 1265(1999). Thus, ifMockovak was unable to pay the
entirety ofthe restitution award, any order naming King's insurance company as a recipient ofthe
award would result in a windfall to the company. Until King received $837.64, representing his
out-of-pocket expenses, no right of reimbursement would exist in favor of Premera. Nonetheless,
if the court had listed the company as a victim, Premera might have received payment even if
King was not fully compensated for his loss. Given this possibility, the trial court properly listed
King as the sole recipient of the award. The court wisely left the preciseallocation of the
restitution award to the relationship—contractual or equitable—between King and his insurer.
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No. 68020-0-1/11
ordering restitution in the amount of $1,543.34 based upon the medical expenses
of King and his wife.
Mockovak next asserts that the State's cross appeal of the trial court's
restitution order is untimely and that the cross appeal must be dismissed. We
disagree.
Where restitution is ordered following a criminal judgment, the order
becomes part of the offender's sentence. State v. Dorenbos. 113 Wash. App. 494,
497, 60 P.3d 1213 (2002). A party may, of course, appeal from a final order
entered after judgment. RAP 2.2(a)(13). However, only a "final order" is subject
to such an appeal.
Here, the trial court issued two orders relating to restitution. In the first
order, dated September 22, 2011, the trial court resolved several of the State's
requests for restitution as a matter of law. The order did not, however, fully
resolve the issue of restitution. Instead, following the entry of this order, the trial
court scheduled an evidentiary hearing to determine the availability of restitution
based upon the State's remaining requests. After Mockovak requested that this
hearing be stricken, the trial court entered a second order entitled "order setting
restitution" on November 7, 2011. In this order, the court set the final amount of
restitution at $1,543.34.
Mockovak contends that, because the State's notice of appeal was not
filed within 30 days of the trial court's first order, the State's notice of appeal
seeking review of the issues decided in that order is untimely. However, the trial
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No. 68020-0-1/12
court's first order was not a "final order after judgment" from which an appeal
could be taken. Following entry of the September 22, 2011 order, the trial court
remained free to exercise its discretion in setting the final amount of the
restitution award. Thus, the trial court's restitution order did not become final
until November 7, 2011, the date on which the matter of restitution was fully
resolved by the trial court.
Mockovak appealed from the trial court's final order of restitution on
December 5, 2011. After Mockovak filed his notice of appeal, the State was
allotted "14 days after service of the notice" to file its own notice of appeal. RAP
5.2(f). The State filed this notice on December 15, 2011. Accordingly, the
State's notice of appeal was timely.
IV
In its cross appeal, the State first contends that the trial court erred by
determining that certain business expenses—incurred by Clearly Lasik and King
Lasik during the period of Mockovak's criminal trial—were not the direct result of
Mockovak's crimes and, thus, were not compensable as restitution. We
disagree.
As our Supreme Court has explained, "funds expended by a victim as a
direct result of the crime (whether or not the victim is an 'immediate' victim of the
offense) can be a loss of property on which restitution is based." Kinneman. 155
Wash. 2d at 287. Here, the claimed business expenses relate to two expenditures.
First, the State requested restitution of $8,460.49 based upon King Lasik's hiring
of a replacement surgeon to perform surgeries during "King's required
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No. 68020-0-1/13
attendance at trial." Second, the State requested restitution of $26,615 based
upon Clearly Lasik's hiring of "a public relations firm to ameliorate the harmful
effects of [Mockovak's] conduct and the very public trial on the business." The
trial court correctly determined that neither expense was a proper basis for
restitution.
In the materials before the trial court, King admitted that King Lasik hired
the replacement surgeon because of King's attendance at Mockovak's criminal
trial. Such an expense, the State contends, would not have been incurred had
Mockovak not committed his crimes and, thus, this expense was improperly
excluded by the trial court in the award of restitution. However, as discussed
above, Mockovak's criminal trial was not a direct result of Mockovak's crimes
and, accordingly, any funds expended as the result of that trial are not
compensable. See Goodrich. 47 Wash. App. at 115. The trial court did not err by
determining that the cost ofthe replacement surgeon was not a proper basis for
restitution.
Nor did the trial court err by determining that Clearly Lasik's expense in
hiring the public relations firm was not compensable. The State asserts that this
payment directly related to Mockovak's crimes:
Certainly the reputation of Clearly Lasik suffered because
one of its primary surgeons plotted and paid to have the other
primary surgeon killed. Some patients or potential patients would
be concerned about whether the clinics were a safe place to be.
Other patients would be concerned about whether a business that
employed Mockovak was making wise personnel decisions, and
that other employees might be unstable or at least unreliable. It is
also possible that other merchants would choose not to do
business with an operation that appeared to be on such an
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No. 68020-0-1/14
unstable footing. . . . The expenses incurred were between January
7, 2011, and February 10, 2011, when the crimes and the business
were receiving maximum negative publicity, during the criminal trial.
Thus, the State argues, because "[i]t is likely that the public relations firm
was hired to respond to these potential harmful consequences of Mockovak's
crimes," this expense was compensable as restitution.
The trial court correctly rejected this argument for several reasons. First,
insofar as the reasons for hiring the public relations firm related to Mockovak's
exercise of his trial right, this cost is not compensable as restitution. As the State
notes, the firm was hired during the period of Mockovak's criminal trial, when the
"business [was] receiving maximum negative publicity." Any payments made to
"ameliorate the harmful effects" of that trial were not a proper basis for restitution.
Second, the legislature has determined that restitution in a criminal case is
not available for damages arising from "intangible losses." RCW 9.94A.753(3).
Accordingly, damage to a corporation's reputation is not compensable as
restitution. "Goodwill is property of an intangible nature . . . commonly defined as
the expectation of continued public patronage." In re Marriage of Lukens, 16 Wn.
App. 481, 483, 558 P.2d 279 (1976) (citing In re Marriage of Foster. 42 Cal. App.
3d 577, 117 Cal. Rptr. 49 (1974)). With regard to such intangible losses, the
legislature has limited a victim's recovery to the "costs of counseling reasonably
related to the offense." RCW 9.94A.753(3). The restitution statute does not
authorize compensation for any other expenditure to mitigate an intangible loss.
This limitation represents a legislative determination regarding the proper
scope of restitution in criminal cases. Clearly Lasik's hiring of a public relations
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No. 68020-0-1/15
firm cannot, of course, be reasonably construed as "counseling" related to
Mockovak's offense. Accordingly, for this reason as well, the trial court properly
determined that this expenditure was not compensable as restitution.
Finally, even were restitution not precluded by the aforementioned
principles, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by determining that Clearly
Lasik's hiring of the public relations firm did not constitute a loss of property upon
which restitution could be based. As noted above, only those funds expended by
a victim as a "direct result ofthe crime" are compensable as restitution.7
Kinneman. 155 Wash. 2d at 287. Here, Mockovak was charged and convicted
based upon his conduct in plotting the murder of King. The State offered
evidence that, after scheming for several months, Mockovak gave Kultin $10,000
to hire hit men to kill King while he traveled in Australia. Kultin, however, was
working as an informant for the FBI. No actual hit men were hired, and,
accordingly, Mockovak's actions resulted in none of the negative consequences
7The State points to our SupremeCourt's decision in State v. Hiett, 154Wn.2d 560, 115
P.3d 274 (2005), for the proposition that any funds thatwould not have been expended "but for
an offender's criminal conduct are compensable as restitution. In that case, several juveniles
took a motor vehicle without permission, and the vehicle was subsequently damaged during an
attempt to elude the police. Hiett, 154 Wash. 2d at 562-63. Although two passengers had jumped
from the vehicle prior to the driver's attempt to elude, the court explained that, because damage
to the vehicle would not have occurred "but for" the unlawful taking, the passengers were jointly
and severally liable for the restitution award. Hiett, 154 Wash. 2d at 566.
In so ruling, the court did not announce a radical new approach to the limits of restitution.
Indeed, in that case, the damage to the victim flowed directly from the defendants' crimes.
Reserving the question ofwhether principles of proximate cause should apply in the criminal
context, the court noted that it was hardly "unforeseeable that a person guilty of taking a motor
vehicle would . . . attempt to elude the police, or cause an accident." Hiett, 154 Wash. 2d at 566.
Here, unlike the situation presented in Hiett. Mockovak's criminal acts caused no property
damage. Nor did the expenditures of Clearly Lasik or King Lasik result directly from those crimes.
Instead, King Lasik's need to hire a replacement surgeon arose solely as a result of Mockovak's
trial. Similarly, Clearly Lasik's need to hire the public relations firm resulted from the negative
publicity that surrounded Mockovak's arrest and trial. Given such disparate circumstances, Hiett
has little applicability to the present case.
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No. 68020-0-1/16
that he had intended.
Clearly Lasik incurred no costs as a direct result of Mockovak's criminal
acts. Instead, as the State concedes, Clearly Lasik hired the public relations firm
to address the negative publicity associated with Mockovak's arrest and trial.
This publicity, however, did not result directly from Mockovak's criminal acts and,
accordingly, any payments to ameliorate the effects of that publicity were not
"funds expended ... as a direct result of [Mockovak's] crime." Kinneman, 155
Wash. 2d at 287. For all the reasons set forth above, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion by determining that the companies' expenditures were not
compensable as restitution.
V
The State next asserts that the trial court erred by declining to order
restitution based upon $181,945.12 in legal fees incurred primarily by King and
Clearly Lasik during civil litigation with Mockovak. However, the trial court
properly concluded that such expenses did not directly result from Mockovak's
crimes.
"[T]he criminal justice system is not a substitute for a civil judgment
against a criminal defendant." Statev.Moen. 129 Wash. 2d 535, 542, 919 P.2d 69
(1996). "'[C]ompensation is not the primary purpose of restitution, and the
criminal process should not be used as a means to enforce civil claims.'" Moen,
129 Wash. 2d at 543 (quoting State v. Martinez, 78 Wash. App. 870, 881, 899 P.2d
1302 (1995)). Nevertheless, "[ajttorney fees and costs may constitute damages
on which restitution may be based, depending on the circumstances."
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No. 68020-0-1/17
Kinneman, 155 Wash. 2d at 288. The touchstone of the inquiry is whether the
attorney fees were "'expended by the victim as a direct result of the crime.'"
Tobin. 161 Wash. 2d at 524 (quoting Kinneman, 155 Wash. 2d at 287).
Our courts have determined that attorney fees and costs are compensable
as restitution where they were expended in order to discover a crime or to
recover property that was lost as a result of the crime. Kinneman, 155 Wash. 2d at
288. Thus, "where the defendant was an attorney convicted of stealing from his
clients and the victim had to pay attorney fees to obtain any recovery in the civil
suit, the victim's attorney fees from the civil suit could be calculated as part of
restitution." Tobin. 161 Wash. 2d at 524-25 (citing Kinneman. 155 Wash. 2d at 288).
Similarly, where the defendant was convicted of custodial interference based
upon the taking of a child, fees expended in locating and returning a missing
child could properly be included in a restitution award. State v. Vinvard, 50 Wn.
App. 888, 893-94, 751 P.2d 339 (1988).
On the other hand, where a separate civil action is not sufficiently
connected to the defendant's crime, restitution is not authorized for attorney fees
incurred in that action. Kinneman, 155 Wash. 2d at 288. Thus, where the
defendant's crime was custodial interference, attorney fees incurred by the
defendant's husband in a separate visitation action were not sufficiently causally
related to the crime to justify restitution. Kinneman, 155 Wash. 2d at 288-89
(discussing Vinvard, 50 Wash. App. at 893-94). As we explained, "[although [the
defendant's] rights of visitation would naturally be affected by her actions,
attorney fees and costs incurred in conjunction with these hearings are not
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No. 68020-0-1/18
expenses incurred in locating or returning the child, or causally related to the
actual crime of custodial interference." Vinvard, 50 Wash. App. at 894.
Accordingly, such attorney fees were improperly granted under the restitution
statutes. Vinvard. 50 Wash. App. at 893-94.
Here, the State's restitution request was based upon several sets of legal
expenses. First, the State sought restitution for King's hiring of "attorneys to
assist with witness preparation and other aspects of [Mockovak's] criminal trial."
Second, the State requested reimbursement for fees relating to a civil suit for
damages brought by King and his family against Mockovak. Third, the State
sought restitution based upon Clearly Lasik's expenses in "pursuing] civil claims
for damages caused by [Mockovak's] crimes." Finally, the State sought
reimbursement for a $5,000 payment by King to Mockovak's ex-wife for legal
fees relating to child custody and visitation proceedings.
The trial court properly determined that none of these legal expenses were
recoverable as restitution. With regard to King's legal fees relating to "witness
preparation and other aspects of [Mockovak's] criminal trial," such expenses do
not constitute a proper basis for restitution. As discussed above, because a
defendant's criminal trial does not directly result from the defendant's crimes,
expenditures that arise solely as the result of that trial are not compensable as
restitution. The trial court did not err by declining to order restitution based upon
legal fees incurred as a result of Mockovak's criminal trial.
The attorney fees relating to the King family's civil suit against Mockovak
were also properly rejected. This lawsuit was an action for damages for "family
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emotional distress, fear, embarrassment, humiliation, loss of consortium, damage
to familial relationships, the loss of the enjoyment of life, and financial harm."
However, as noted above, the restitution statute specifically excludes
reimbursement for "mental anguish, pain and suffering, or other intangible
losses." RCW 9.94A.753(3). Because the King family's lawsuit was an action for
damages based upon such injuries, the trial court properly determined that
restitution for expenses incurred as a result of initiating that lawsuit was
unavailable.
Moreover, the King family's civil suit was dismissed by the trial court
pursuant to CR 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim.8 In enacting the restitution
statute, the legislature did not intend for a person, having expended funds in a
meritless civil lawsuit, to thereafter recover those expenses by way of a criminal
proceeding. "[T]he criminal justice system is not a substitute for a civil judgment
against a criminal defendant." Moen. 129 Wash. 2d at 542. The trial court did not
err by denying restitution to recover these litigation expenses.
Similarly, the trial court correctlydetermined that Clearly Lasik's legal
expenses—incurred prosecuting the company's lawsuit for damages based upon
Mockovak's alleged breach of fiduciary duty and tortious interference with a
business expectancy—were not compensable as restitution. That lawsuit was
not initiated in order to discover a crime or to recover property that was lost as a
result of the crime. See Kinneman, 155 Wash. 2d at 288. Rather, the lawsuit was
8We affirmed that decision based upon the untimeliness of King's appeal. King v.
Mockovak. No. 67479-0-I, 2013 WL 619545 (Wash. Ct. App. Feb. 19, 2013).
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initiated to recover damages based upon financial injury to the company.9
Mockovak's crimes, however, did not directly result in such injury. Due to
the efforts of law enforcement, Mockovak's attempt to hire a hit man to kill King
was thwarted. Injury to Clearly Lasik resulted, if at all, not from Mockovak's
criminal conduct but from Mockovak's arrest and subsequent prosecution. As
discussed above, expenditures incurred as the result of a defendant's criminal
trial are not compensable. Nor is damage to a company's reputation a loss that
is subject to recovery pursuant to the restitution statute. The trial court properly
determined that fees incurred in prosecuting this civil action were not sufficiently
causally related to Mockovak's crimes to permit an award of restitution.
Finally, for similar reasons, the trial court properly rejected the State's
remaining restitution request. The $5,000 payment by King to Mockovak's ex-
wife was intended to finance her legal efforts in child custody and visitation
proceedings against Mockovak. However, as our prior decisions make clear,
such proceedings are not sufficiently causally related to Mockovak's crime to
justify an award of restitution. See Vinvard 50 Wash. App. at 893-94 (holding that
attorney fees incurred in conjunction with visitation proceedings are not expenses
9A claim for tortious interference with a business expectancy requires five elements: (1)
the existence of a valid contractual relationship or business expectancy, (2) that defendants had
knowledge of that relationship, (3) an intentional interference inducing or causing a breach or
termination of the relationship or expectancy, (4) that defendants interfered for an improper
purpose or used improper means, and (5) resultant damage. Manna Funding. LLC v. Kittitas
County. Wn. App. . 295 P.3d 1197, 1207 (2013).
The essential elements to pleading a breach of fiduciary duty cause of action under
Washington law are: (1) that a fiduciary relationship existed which gave rise to a dutyof care on
the part of the defendant to the plaintiff; (2) that there was an act or omission by the fiduciary in
breach of the standard of care; (3) that plaintiffsustained damages; and (4) that the damages
were proximately caused by the fiduciary's breach of the standard of care. 29 David K. DeWolf,
Washington Practice: Elements of an Action § 12:1, at 347-48 (2012).
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causally related to the actual crime of custodial interference). These expenses
did not constitute a proper basis for restitution.
Because the legal expenses of King, his family, and Clearly Lasik were not
incurred as the "direct result of [Mockovak's] crime," Kinneman, 155 Wash. 2d at
287, the trial court did not err by denying these requests for restitution.
VI
The State's final contention is that the trial court erred by determining that
King's travel expenses could not be properly included within the restitution
award. We disagree.
King's asserted travel expenses relate to his payment for a rental van in
Australia. The documents submitted to the trial court indicate that King made an
advance payment of$1,876 in order to rent the van. King left Australia shortly
after being informed of Mockovak's arrest and, accordingly, did not make use of
the van for the entire rental period. The State thereafter sought restitution of
$1,876 on King's behalf.
This request was properly denied for two related reasons. First, because
King paid for the rental van before Mockovak committed his crimes, it cannot be
true that King incurred this expense "as a direct result" ofthose crimes.
Kinneman, 155 Wash. 2d at 287. Second, in so far as King's request for restitution
is based upon a loss of enjoyment resulting from the disruption of his vacation,
such losses are not recoverable. Although it is true that King was unable to fully
enjoy the use ofthe rental van, as discussed above, restitution cannot be granted
based upon such intangible losses. RCW 9.94A.753(3).
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The trial court correctly determined that the cost of the rental van was not
the proper subject of its restitution award.
Affirmed.
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We concur:
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