United States v. Tran Trong Cuong

18 F.3d 1132(4th Cir. 1994)

Facts

Tran (D) was on trial for unlawfully prescribing controlled substances to about 30 patients. During trial an expert was called to the stand to analyze D's prescriptions that were written between April 1989 and January 1992; that expert testified that D was outside the norm of practice for a physician and that the drugs given would do no medical good to the patients but would only lead to addiction. Then that expert was asked to relay the opinion of another expert in the case but one who would not be called on to testify at trial. D raised an objection, but the opinion was allowed to be given. D lost and appealed.