United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808 (3rd Cir. 1969). · Go Syfert
United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808 (3rd Cir. 1969). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
27 citation events (3 in the last 25 years) across 7 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Perry v. Commonwealth (ky, 2012-10-25)
Treatment trajectory · 1969 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1969 1997 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 11 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Perry v. Commonwealth
Ky. · 2012 · confidence medium
Contrary to the Majority’s application of the provision in this case, a propensity to lie does not equate to incompetence to testify, as the following sampling of cases plainly illustrates: United States v. Zizzo, 120 F.3d 1338, 1347 (7th Cir.1997) (“[E]ven the most dastardly scoundrels, cheats, and liars are generally competent to testify.”); Staton v. State, 428 N.E.2d 1203, 1205-06 (Ind.1981) (It was not abuse of discretion to find the nine-year-old child witness to be competent to testify, even though her aunt testified that the child was “a born liar.”); United States v. Greenbe…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Government of the Virgin Islands v. Juan Ascencio Roldan
3rd Cir. · 1979 · confidence medium
Since Roldan thereby invited the Government’s damaging cross-examination, he “will not be heard to complain of matters which result from his own conduct,” United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808, 809 (3d Cir. 1969) (per curiam.) 4 C.
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. William Trotter, in No. 75--1709, and Vincent Nuzzo. Appeal of Vincent Nuzzo, in No. 75--1710
3rd Cir. · 1976 · confidence medium
United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808, 809 (3d Cir. 1969); United States v. Casavina, 368 F.2d 987, 988 (3d Cir. 1966), cert. denied, 385 U.S. 1006 , 87 S.Ct. 711 , 17 L.Ed.2d 544 (1967).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Clark
E.D. Pa. · 1975 · confidence medium
With respect to the impeachment question, the law is clear in this Circuit that while the government may seek to impeach a defendant by prior conviction of a felony, or of a misdemeanor amounting to crimen falsi, such evidence is not automatically admissible, but is subject to the discretion of the trial judge, who may exclude it if - its probative value is outweighed by the prejudicial effect , upon the defendant, United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808, 809 (3d Cir. 1969).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Lawrence E. Hodge v. Ernestine Hodge
3rd Cir. · 1975 · confidence medium
United States v. Scott, 460 F.2d 45, 47 (3d Cir. 1972); United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808, 809 (3d Cir. 1969).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Ronnie Lee Murray Appeal of James Robert Dixon
3rd Cir. · 1971 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
See Davis v. United States, 133 U.S.App.D.C. 172 , 409 F.2d 453 (1969); cf. United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808, 809 (3rd Cir. 1969).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Michael Scarpellino (2×)
8th Cir. · 1970 · confidence medium
Ed.2d 433 (1969); United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808, 809 (3d Cir. 1969); United States v. Palumbo, 401 F.2d 270, 274 (2d Cir. 1968), cert. denied, 394 U.S. 947 , 89 S.Ct. 1281 , 22 L.Ed.2d 480 (1969); semble, United States v. Perea, 413 F.2d 65, 68 (10th Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 397 U.S. 945 , 90 S.Ct. 960 , 25 L.Ed.2d 125 (1970); United States v. Hildreth, 387 F.2d 328, 329 (4th Cir. 1967). 2 20 I find nothing inconsistent in Luck and our rule that permits the trial judge broad discretion in controlling the scope and extent of cross-examination in criminal cases.
cited Cited "see" United States v. Addonizio
3rd Cir. · 1972 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808 (3d Cir. 1969).
cited Cited "see" United States v. Addonizio
3rd Cir. · 1971 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808 (3d Cir. 1969).
cited Cited "see" Andy Wounick v. John M. Hysmith
3rd Cir. · 1970 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Sireci, 419 F.2d 808 (3 Cir. 1969); United States v. Palumbo, 401 F.2d 270 (2 Cir. 1968).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Govt of the VI v. Glenford Prince, Jr. (2×)
3rd Cir. · 2012 · signal: see also · confidence medium
The jury must determine his credibility.”); see also United States v. Greenberg, 419 F.2d 808, 809 (3d Cir. 1969) (rejecting a defendant’s argument on appeal that a perjurer should not have been allowed to testify against him); cf. United States v. Zizzo, 120 F.3d 1338, 1347 (7th Cir. 1997) (“[E]ven the most dastardly scoundrels, cheats, and liars are generally competent to testify.”).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
United States
v.
Harry Greenberg, Dominic Mattia, Nick Pannarella, Ernest Paul, Alfred Sireci, and Hirschel Weisbord, AKA Hirschel Washbord, Alfred Sireci
18021_1.
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Dec 30, 1969.
419 F.2d 808
Cited by 1 opinion  |  Published

419 F.2d 808

UNITED STATES of America
v.
Harry GREENBERG, Dominic Mattia, Nick Pannarella, Ernest
Paul, Alfred Sireci, and Hirschel Weisbord, aka
Hirschel Washbord, Alfred Sireci, Appellant.

No. 18021.

United States Court of Appeals Third Circuit.

Argued Dec. 1, 1969.
Decided Dec. 30, 1969.

Alfred J. DiBona, Jr., Philadelphia, for appellant.

Victor Wright, Asst. U.S. Atty., Philadelphia, Pa. (Louis C. Bechtle, U.S. Atty., on the brief), for appellee.

Before GANEY, SEITZ and ALDISERT, Circuit Judges.

OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM.

[*~808]1

Appellant was one of six men indicted for aiding and abetting in the concealment of corporate assets in contemplation of a bankruptcy proceeding. Following a successful motion for a severance, appellant's counsel appeared before the district court on March 13, 1969, and requested that the trial be continued because of counsel's impending appointment to the state bench in Pennsylvania. On counsel's advice that his associate could assume the defense within 'a month to six weeks,' the court continued the case to May 5, 1969.

2

On the day set for trial, the associate appeared and requested a second continuance. After extended argument the motion was denied and the case proceeded to trial and conviction by a jury three days later. Appellant contends that he was denied due process by the refusal of a second continuance. We disagree.

3

The Supreme Court has clearly stated that 'the matter of continuance is traditionally within the discretion of the trial judge,' and that 'a denial of a continuance * * * so arbitrary as to violate due process * * * must be found in the circumstances present in every case.' Ungar v. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 575, 589, 84 S.Ct. 841, 849, 11 L.Ed.2d 921 (1963). We have carefully examined the circumstances present here and have concluded that, having afforded counsel ample opportunity to prepare the defense, the district court acted properly in refusing another delay. As was noted in United States ex rel. Carey v. Rundle, 409 F.2d 1210 (3 Cir. 1969): 'What is demanded here is the exercise of judicial discretion in the exquisite sense.' We detect no abuse of that discretion here.

4

Appellant also asserts error in the introduction of the testimony of the witness Scolnick who was then under state indictment for subornation of perjury. It is appellant's position that Pennsylvania law, 18 P.S. 4322, renders a perjurer incompetent to testify in judicial proceedings and therefore required the exclusion of Scolnick's testimony. The argument, however, ignores the obvious fact that Section 4322 applies only to those convicted of perjury or subornation. The witness Scolnick had been indicted, but not convicted. Moreover, the argument assumes the application of state evidentiary rules to federal proceedings. See United States v. Margolis, 138 F.2d 1002 (3 Cir. 1943).

5

There is equally little merit to the allegation that the trial court erred in limiting the cross-examination of Scolnick. The scope of cross-examination is also within the sound discretion of the district court, United States v. Migliorino, 238 F.2d 7 (3 Cir. 1956), and the record here indicates that the court limited cross-examination only after it had become overly repetitious.

6

The same may be said of the admission of appellant's prior felony conviction. It is well settled that such a conviction is relevant evidence of the defendant's credibility when he takes the stand in his own defense. And where a claim of prejudice is raised against the introduction of such evidence on the grounds that the conviction lacks probative value because of its remoteness, it is the trial judge who must exercise his discretion in deciding the issue. We conclude that no abuse occurred here. United States v. Palumbo, 401 F.2d 270 (2 Cir. 1968); Gordon v. United States, 127 U.S.App.D.C. 343, 383 F.2d 936 (1967).

7

We have also reviewed the question of the appellant's motion for the withdrawal of a juror and have concluded that the testimony which prompted it was directly elicited by the defense. Absent a finding of 'plain error,' which is not evident here, the defense will not be heard to complain of matters which result from its own conduct. United States v. Fioravanti, 412 F.2d 407 (3 Cir. 1969).

[*~809]8

The judgment of conviction will be affirmed.