J-A21015-25
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA Appellant : : : v. : : : JESSE LOUGHRAN : No. 82 MDA 2025
Appeal from the Order Entered January 7, 2025 In the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County Criminal Division at No(s): CP-54-CR-0000582-2024
BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J.E., LANE, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY PANELLA, P.J.E.: FILED: OCTOBER 24, 2025
The Commonwealth appeals from the trial court’s pretrial order denying
the Commonwealth’s motion in limine seeking to exclude defense expert
witness testimony. To the extent the trial court’s order permitted public
disclosure at trial of the victim’s mental health diagnosis, the order was an
appealable collateral order and is vacated. We lack jurisdiction to review the
remainder of the trial court’s order. Therefore, we vacate in part, quash in
part, and remand for further proceedings.
Loughran was charged with aggravated assault (18 Pa.C.S.A. §
2702(a)(1)), aggravated assault—victim less than six years of age and
defendant 18 or older (18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2702(a)(8)), strangulation (18
Pa.C.S.A. § 2718(a)(1)), terroristic threats—terrorize another (18 Pa.C.S.A. §
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court. J-A21015-25
2706(a)(1)), simple assault—bodily injury under 12 years old (18 Pa.C.S.A. §
2701(b)(2)), simple assault (18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2701(a)(1)), and two counts of
harassment (18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2709(a)(1)). The Commonwealth alleged an
incident of domestic violence took place on April 16, 2024, where Loughran
physically abused his ex-girlfriend, Cheyenne Murphy, and her four-year-old
daughter, C.T.1 As testified to by Cheyenne Murphy at the preliminary hearing,
the Commonwealth alleges the following facts occurred.
On the afternoon of April 16, 2024, Murphy returned with C.T. to the
residence she shared with Loughran. Loughran began berating Murphy and
C.T. over the state of the house. His aggression and physical violence
continued to escalate. He shoved C.T. into the bathroom and ordered her to
clean crayon markings from the tub. He went to the kitchen, where Murphy
was making dinner, and unsuccessfully attempted to press her face into a hot
skillet. Under Loughran’s direction, Murphy joined C.T. in the bathroom to
clean the tub. Upon Murphy exiting the bathroom, Loughran shoved Murphy
into the shower and picked C.T. up and threw her into the tub. Then Loughran
grabbed C.T. by the hair, which caused a bald spot, and dragged her to the
kitchen. As Murphy tried to protect her daughter, Loughran repeatedly struck
her in the face and head with a closed fist and kicked her back and stomach.
1 In its brief the Commonwealth repeatedly refers to C.T. by her first name.
Although the Commonwealth does not use C.T.’s last name, we caution the Commonwealth on disclosing identifying information of a minor.
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Murphy went towards the front door with C.T. and Loughran slammed
Murphy’s head against the door and deadbolted it. Then Loughran put Murphy
into a choke hold to the point she could not breathe and her vision blackened.
Murphy broke free and while she was holding C.T., Loughran pushed them
down the basement stairs. The basement has a door to the garage. Loughran
made a series of threatening statements to Murphy such as “[n]o one is safe
if you leave”, that he would slit her throat, that he would “take [her] to [his]
mom’s house so [he] can kill [his mom’s] boyfriend and [Murphy] too.”
Regarding C.T., Loughran threatened to chop her head off with an axe and to
“carve” her in front of her mother. Eventually, Murphy and C.T. managed to
leave the house.
On the same day, Murphy and C.T. received emergency medical
treatment. Murphy had bruising on her face and bruising and a large scrape
on her leg that made it difficult for her to walk in the ensuing days. C.T. had
a bump on her lower back that required a follow-up appointment. That same
day, Loughran was charged with the previously mentioned offenses and the
charges were held for court at his later preliminary hearing.
The matter currently before us on appeal relates to the proposed
testimony of Loughran’s expert witness, Dr. W. Anthony Gerard.2 Dr. Gerard
is an emergency physician who has extensive experience with evaluating
2 Loughran also filed a habeas corpus motion that the trial court denied.
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assault and strangulation injuries. Based on his review of the medical records,
Dr. Gerard’s report recounted Murphy’s and C.T.’s emergency medical
treatment. At the beginning of his report, Dr. Gerard stated that his “focus
was on the medical issues involved in this case to see if the medical evidence
supports the testimony and statements in this case.” Dr. Gerard Report,
10/21/24, at 1.
The “Past Medical History” section of Murphy’s medical records
contained previous medical and mental health diagnoses, which included an
undated notation that Murphy previously was diagnosed with Oppositional
Defiant Disorder (“ODD”). Dr. Gerard opined on Murphy’s ODD diagnosis.
Her [past] diagnosis of [ODD] may be relevant to this case. I often treat adults who have this diagnosis, and they tend to be prone to disruptive behaviors, but I am not a psychiatrist. This disorder leads to a persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, argumentative or defiant behavior, and vindictiveness toward others. This diagnosis suggests that Ms. Murphy was prone to altercations.
Id. at 2.3
He further opined “to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the
medical evidence is inconsistent with the allegations of serious bodily injury
and strangulation.” Id. at 3. The report contained a section that went into
further detail regarding the medical definition of strangulation and why that
was not present with Murphy. See id. at 4-5. Regarding C.T., he recognized
3 This portion of the report contained a hyperlink to a book entry on ODD that
Dr. Gerard did not author.
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that she had a bald spot on her scalp but “that might be normal for her[,]”
i.e., not the result of trauma. Id. at 4. Further, the report had a brief section
on confirmation bias. Dr. Gerard stated:
The medical records on this case show confirmation bias which is very common on emergency department records. . . . Medically speaking, physicians commit this logical error when a patient gives a history that is later undermined by the medical facts found on the exam and testing. When this happens, the preliminary diagnosis, or claims made by the patient, unduly effect the final diagnosis, in spite of contradictory evidence.
Id. at 5.
Ultimately, Dr. Gerard concluded that the documented medical evidence
for both Murphy and C.T. did not match Murphy’s version of events or
demonstrate that she was “strangled, punched in the face, or thrown down
the stairs.” Id. at 5-6.
The Commonwealth filed a motion in limine seeking to preclude Dr.
Gerard’s potential testimony based on his report. The Commonwealth sought
to limit Dr. Gerard’s testimony regarding confirmation bias, Murphy’s ODD
diagnosis, and his opinion that the medical evidence did not match Murphy’s
version of events. See Com.’s Mot., 12/27/24, at ¶ 20-53. The Commonwealth
objected to this potential testimony on various grounds, including the
testimony being speculative, irrelevant, impermissible character evidence;
outside the scope of Dr. Gerard’s expertise; lack of foundation; inadmissible
hearsay; and invading the province of the jury. See id.
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At oral argument on January 7, 2025, the trial court denied the
Commonwealth’s motion in limine. See N.T., 1/7/25, at 13, 23. Responding
to the Commonwealth’s question of whether Dr. Gerard would be permitted
to “opine what [Murphy’s ODD diagnosis] means about her character and
personality at trial[,]” the trial court responded “[i]f that is part of his expert
report.” Id. at 21-22.
After argument, the trial court issued a written order denying the
Commonwealth’s motion.4 The order stated, in pertinent part:
[I]t is hereby ordered and decreed that the Commonwealth’s motion is denied. [a]
Upon laying of a proper foundation and expert qualifications of Dr. Gerard, [Loughran] shall be allowed to call Dr. Gerard as an expert witness to testify as to his expert opinions within his report that are held to a reasonable degree of medical certainty. Subject to cross examination, Dr. Gerard shall be allowed to testify regarding his expert opinion on confirmation bias[b] and regarding the medical evidence in the victim’s medical records that support his expert opinion so long as a proper foundation is laid.
[a]We find that Commonwealth v. Walters, 323 A.3d 151 (Pa. 2024) does not preclude the testimony of Dr. Gerard. Walters dealt with an expert who provided an opinion based upon witness accounts and not physical findings. Id. at 157. We find that Dr. Gerard’s report is based upon his review of medical records, photographs and the medical evidence as opposed to a witness’s testimony. This is therefore proper and not in violation of Pa.R.E. 701.
4 The following day, January 8, 2025, the Commonwealth and Loughran entered a “Joint Stipulation to Amend Record” to submit Dr. Gerard’s expert report into the record after it was not offered to the trial court at the hearing the previous day.
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[b]We find that Dr. Gerard’s potential testimony regarding confirmation bias is not speculative but moreover the probative value offered by the report outweighs any prejudice.
Order, 1/7/25, at 1-2.
On January 16, 2025, the Commonwealth filed its notice of appeal in
which it “certifie[d]” that the trial court’s order denying its motion in limine
“will terminate or substantially handicap the prosecution.” Notice of Appeal,
1/16/25. The Commonwealth filed a concise statement of errors complained
of on appeal and the trial court filed an opinion in support of its ruling.5 See
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)-(b).
On appeal, the Commonwealth raises the following issues related to the
trial court denying its motion in limine.
1. Did the pre-trial court (Hale, J.) err in its January 7, 2025 order by permitting [Loughran’s] proposed expert witness—who is neither a psychiatrist nor a psychologist—to testify about a strangulation victim’s purported [ODD] where the only evidence of such a disorder was a single unsigned, undated, and unsupported notation in a comprehensive medical record; moreover where no evidence was presented at the hearing to establish that this single notation in a medical record is the type of evidence typically relied upon by experts in the field to form opinions about a strangulation victim’s traits of character related to [ODD]; and further, where the proposed expert failed to state his opinion with a reasonable degree of certainty in his expert report? See generally Pa. R. Evid. 403; art. 7; 802.
2. Did the pre-trial court (Hale, J.) err in its January 7, 2025 order by permitting [Loughran’s] proposed expert witness to render ____________________________________________
5 The Honorable Christina E. Hale presided over the pretrial proceedings. After
the Commonwealth filed its notice of appeal, the case was reassigned, and the Honorable Christopher W. Hobbs authored the 1925(a) opinion.
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speculative opinions at trial about how a purported diagnosis of [ODD] would have caused the victim to exhibit specific traits of character during her strangulation and subsequent reporting to the police, which traits of character were proffered to be “persistent patterns of anger, irritability, mood, argumentative [character], or defiant behavior and vindictiveness towards others”; where such opinion testimony constitutes impermissible character evidence about the victim’s traits of character, unsupported by reputation, specific instances of conduct, or any other permissible basis, and resting solely on speculative opinion? See generally Pa. R. Evid. 404 & 405.
3. Did the pre-trial court (Hale, J.) err in its January 7, 2025 order by permitting [Louhgran’s] proposed expert witness to testify to the ultimate legal question of whether an aggravated assault occurred, rather than limiting testimony to medical opinions within the expert’s domain of competence—such as whether strangulation occurred? The pre-trial court denied the Commonwealth’s motion to exclude such legal conclusions, allowing improper testimony that exceeded the scope of expert medical opinion. See generally Pa. R. Evid. 403; art. 7.
Appellant’s Brief, at 2-3 (suggested answers and unnecessary emphasis
omitted) (sixth alteration in original).
In its Opinion of Court Pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925, the trial court stated
the following in support of its conclusion to deny the Commonwealth’s motion
in limine:
The crux of the Appellant’s argument in support of its Motion in Limine and on appeal is that Dr. Gerard should be precluded from rendering a medical opinion that touches upon character evidence concerning one of the alleged victims, Cheyenne Murphy’s, diagnosis of Oppositional Defiance Disorder. (N.T. 1/7/25, at pp. 5-6). Appellant’s basis for this argument is the proposition that Ms. Murphy’s behavior stemming from her ODD diagnosis is character evidence. The court specifically rejected this argument determining that the expert would be testifying regarding Ms. Murphy's medical diagnosis as opposed to her character. The court properly determined that Dr. Gerard’s testimony about his qualifications as well as expert opinion would
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be subject to cross-examination, limited to testimony about the victim’s medical diagnosis rather than character evidence, and for the trier of fact to accept or reject. (Id. at 6-13). Dr. Gerard’s medical opinion may certainly aid the trier of fact in determining whether the alleged injuries prove Appellant assaulted or strangled Ms. Murphy. With respect to Appellant’s argument that there is a miniscule amount of evidence regarding Ms. Murphy’s ODD diagnosis in the record, the court properly determined that this is an area subject to cross examination by the Appellant.
Trial Court Opinion, 2/18/25, at 4 (emphasis added; footnote omitted).
Before addressing the issues raised by the Commonwealth, we must
address Loughran’s claim that we lack appellate jurisdiction. “Jurisdiction is
purely a question of law; the appellate standard of review is de novo, and the
scope of review plenary.” Commonwealth v. Cross, 317 A.3d 655, 657 (Pa.
Super. 2024) (citation omitted). “[A]n appeal may only be taken from: 1) a
final order or one certified by the trial court as final; 2) an interlocutory order
as of right; 3) an interlocutory order by permission; or 4) a collateral order.”
Commonwealth v. Parker, 173 A.3d 294, 296 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation
omitted).
In its notice of appeal and brief, the Commonwealth certified that we
have jurisdiction under Rule 311(d) as an interlocutory order as of right. See
Notice of Appeal, 1/16/25; Appellant’s Brief, at 1. 6 However, we agree with
Loughran that we do not have jurisdiction under Rule 311(d).
6We note that the Commonwealth asserts that we have jurisdiction under Rule 311(d) but offers no argument in its brief on the matter of jurisdiction. See generally Appellant’s Brief.
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Under Rule 311(d), “the Commonwealth may take an appeal as of right
from an order that does not end the entire case where the Commonwealth
certifies in the notice of appeal that the order will terminate or substantially
handicap the prosecution.” Pa.R.A.P. 311(d). “[T]he classic case of an
interlocutory order appealable by the Commonwealth as of right [] is one
granting a defense motion to suppress evidence.” Commonwealth v.
McKnight, 305 A.3d 582, 586 (Pa. Super. 2023), appeal denied, 327 A.3d
184 (Pa. 2024) (citation omitted). However, “other kinds of orders that d[o]
not implicate the loss of evidence[,]” but would still terminate or substantially
handicap the prosecution are appealable under Rule 311(d). Commonwealth
v. Pownall, 278 A.3d 885, 900 (Pa. 2022) (recognizing cases where the
compelled disclosure order of subject of grand jury investigation and order
quashing some though not all charges were appealable as of right); see also
Commonwealth v. Luckey, 333 A.3d 480, 486 (Pa. Super. 2025) (per
curiam), appeal denied, No. 115 EAL 2025, 2025 WL 2601260 (Pa. Sept. 9,
2025) (holding that a pretrial discovery order granting the defense’s request
to obtain the assault victim/sole witness’s new residential address and to
conduct an in-person interview in her home was appealable under Rule 311(d)
because it had “the practical effect of excluding evidence necessary to the
Commonwealth’s prosecution of its case[,]” where the victim indicated that
she would not cooperate if forced to reveal her address to the defense).
Importantly, “the Commonwealth’s right to interlocutory appeals does not
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extend to appealing the admission of defense evidence.” Commonwealth v.
Cosnek, 836 A.2d 871, 876 (Pa. 2003).7
As our Supreme Court has stated, “in every case in which we have
permitted a Commonwealth appeal as of right, the order appealed from had a
tangible or practical effect on the Commonwealth’s actual ability to prosecute
its case.” Pownall, 278 A.3d at 901-02 (Pa. 2022) (footnote omitted). Pretrial
orders whose effect is speculative and hypothetical—based on evidence not
yet adduced at trial—are not appealable under Rule 311(d). See id. Further,
absent an order that terminates or substantially handicaps the prosecution,
our Supreme Court has rejected the notion that the Commonwealth’s good
faith certification is itself sufficient for an appeal as of right under Rule 311(d).
See id. 278 A.3d at 900 n.14.
The order in the instant case is not appealable under Rule 311(d). The
order declined to preclude defense expert testimony at the pretrial stage
without first hearing the trial testimony. An order declining to preclude the
introduction of defense evidence is not appealable under Rule 311(d) because
7 Our Supreme Court explained the importance of this rule.
Were this Court to allow the Commonwealth to appeal rulings admitting defense evidence as of right, the accused would be forced to balance his right to a trial without delay with his fundamental right to present evidence. The chilling effect of such a choice would give the Commonwealth an unwarranted and unfettered influence over the defense case[.]
Cosnek, 836 A.2d at 876.
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it does not terminate or substantially handicap the prosecution. See Cosnek,
836 A.2d at 876; see also Commonwealth v. Minich, 4 A.3d 1063, 1067
(Pa. Super. 2010) (“Because the order at issue here denies a motion in limine
filed by the Commonwealth to preclude the introduction of defense evidence,
section 311(d) does not confer us with jurisdiction over the Commonwealth’s
appeal.”). Additionally, the order is clear that the admission of the expert
testimony is predicated on the testimony that is adduced at trial. As such, the
effect of the order is speculative and hypothetical. See Pownall, 278 A.3d at
901-02. Further, because the order does not terminate or substantially
handicap the prosecution, the Commonwealth’s good faith certification is
alone insufficient to grant us jurisdiction. See id. at 900 n.14. Thus, contrary
to the Commonwealth’s assertion, we do not have jurisdiction under Rule
311(d).
We address other possible grounds for appealability.8 Nothing in the
record indicates that the order is a final order or that the trial court certified
the order as an interlocutory order by permission. See Pa.R.A.P. 341(b)(c);
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 702(b).
8 The Commonwealth only asserts that the order was appealable under Rule
311(d), and Loughran only argues that we do not have jurisdiction under Rule 311(d). However, we address the other grounds for appealability since it implicates our appellate jurisdiction and thus, may be raised by this Court sua sponte. Commonwealth v. Myers, 325 A.3d 790, 793 (Pa. Super. 2024).
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A collateral order is defined as an order that “(1) is separable from and
collateral to the main cause of action; (2) involves a right that is too important
to be denied review; and (3) presents a question, which is such that if review
is postponed until final judgment in the case, the claim will be irreparably
lost.” Minich, 4 A.3d at 1067 (citing Pa.R.A.P. 313(b)) (additional citation
omitted). “[T]his court construes the collateral order doctrine narrowly to
avoid piecemeal determinations and protracted litigation.” Commonwealth
v. Jerdon, 229 A.3d 278, 284 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation omitted). Further,
“the collateral order rule’s three-pronged test must be applied independently
to each distinct legal issue over which an appellate court is asked to assert
jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 313.” Rae v. Pa. Funeral Directors Ass’n, 977
A.2d 1121, 1130 (Pa. 2009).
We discern two legal issues raised by the Commonwealth’s challenge to
the trial court’s order: the public disclosure of Murphy’s ODD diagnosis and
expert testimony on the ultimate legal issue. The first and third prong of a
collateral order are clearly met for both issues—reviewing the trial court’s
pretrial order does not require consideration of Loughran’s guilt or innocence
and if Loughran is acquitted the Commonwealth’s ability to appeal the trial
court’s pretrial order will be lost. See Minich, 4 A.3d at 1067-68. We must
consider whether the issues raised by the Commonwealth also involve rights
that are too important to be denied review.
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For the importance prong, “it is not sufficient that the issue be important
to the particular parties. Rather, it must involve rights deeply rooted in public
policy going beyond the particular litigation at hand.” Commonwealth v.
Dennis, 859 A.2d 1270, 1278 (Pa. 2004) (brackets and citation omitted).
Additionally, “an issue is important if the interests that would potentially go
unprotected without immediate appellate review of that issue are significant
relative to the efficiency interests sought to be advanced by adherence to the
final judgment rule.” Commonwealth v. Watson, 952 A.2d 541, 552 (Pa.
2008) (citation omitted).
Pennsylvania courts have consistently held that trial court orders
overruling claims of privilege and requiring disclosure of a victim’s medical or
mental health records are immediately appealable. Toland v. Pennsylvania
Bd. of Prob. & Parole, No. 11 EAP 2024, 2025 WL 2825637, at *10 (Pa. filed
Oct. 6, 2025) (“[O]rders overruling claims of privilege and requiring disclosure
are immediately appealable” under the collateral order doctrine);
Commonwealth v. Segarra, 228 A.3d 943, 949 (Pa. Super. 2020) (same)
(citation omitted). These cases satisfied the importance prong because “claims
of privilege implicate rights rooted in public policy, and impact individuals
other than those involved in the litigation.” Commonwealth v. Harris, 32
A.3d 243, 248 (Pa. 2011) (citation omitted).
The instant case does not involve a trial court overruling a claim of
privilege and requiring the disclosure of privileged information. The
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Commonwealth never challenged the trial court order on that basis.
Furthermore, it is questionable whether the notation of Murphy’s prior ODD
diagnosis in her medical file is privileged information. See Commonwealth
v. T.J.W., 114 A.3d 1098, 1105 (Pa. Super. 2015) (“files containing
diagnoses, opinions, evaluations, and treatment plans [. . . ] are not
confidential communications from the client covered under [the psychiatrist-
patient privilege].”) (citation omitted).
However, the public disclosure of Murphy’s ODD diagnosis implicates
another right deeply rooted in public policy, the constitutional right to privacy.
“The right to informational privacy is guaranteed by Article 1, Section 1 of the
Pennsylvania Constitution[.]” Pennsylvania State Educ. Ass’n v.
Commonwealth Dep’t of Community & Econ. Dev., 148 A.3d 142, 158
(Pa. 2016). The right to privacy includes avoiding disclosure of personal
information or personal matters. See Dougherty v. Heller, 138 A.3d 611,
629 (Pa. 2016). “The object of such a right is, in part, to protect an individual
from revealing matters which could impugn his character and subject him to
ridicule or persecution.” Stenger v. Lehigh Valley Hosp. Ctr., 609 A.2d 796,
800 (Pa. 1992).
Avoiding public disclosure at trial of Murphy’s ODD diagnosis implicates
her right to privacy. Such a right is too important to be denied review. Thus,
to the extent the trial court’s order permits such disclosure at trial, the trial
court order is an appealable collateral order, which we have jurisdiction to
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review. However, the other issue raised by the Commonwealth merely
implicates the scope of expert testimony. This does not satisfy the importance
prong and thus, we lack jurisdiction over that claim. See Gormley v. Edgar,
995 A.2d 1197, 1201 n.3 (Pa. Super. 2010) (reviewing the issues involving
claims of privilege for a collateral order but declining to review the trial court’s
relevancy determination and application of the discovery rules).
Proceeding to the merits of the ODD issue, the Commonwealth’s
challenge to the trial court’s pretrial ruling implicates the admissibility of
evidence. “The admissibility or exclusion of evidence are subject to the abuse-
of-discretion standard of review.” Commonwealth v. Ellis, 313 A.3d 458,
462 (Pa. Super. 2024) (citation omitted). “An abuse of discretion is not merely
an error of judgment, but is rather the overriding or misapplication of the law,
or the exercise of judgment that is manifestly unreasonable, or the result of
bias, prejudice, ill-will or partiality, as shown by the evidence of record.”
Commonwealth v. Thompson, 106 A.3d 742, 754 (Pa. Super. 2014)
(citation omitted). “Furthermore, if in reaching a conclusion the trial court
overrides or misapplies the law, discretion is then abused and it is the duty of
the appellate court to correct the error.” Commonwealth v. Wallace, 244
A.3d 1261, 1269 (Pa. Super. 2021), affirmed, 289 A.3d 894 (Pa. 2023)
(citation and brackets omitted).
The Commonwealth asserts two grounds by which the trial court erred
in denying the motion in limine. First, the Commonwealth argues that Dr.
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Gerard’s potential testimony about Murphy’s ODD diagnosis lacks a proper
foundation and was not expressed in his expert report with the requisite
certainty. See Appellant’s Brief, at 15-24. Second, Dr. Gerard’s use of his
speculative opinion on her ODD diagnosis to link Murphy to character traits of
“angry or irritable mood, argumentative or defiant behavior, and
vindictiveness toward others,” is inadmissible character evidence because it
improperly suggests that Murphy acted in conformity with those traits. See
id. at 25-32.
Both Loughran and the trial court generally assert the same positions.
First, Dr. Gerard is qualified and will only be permitted to testify at trial upon
laying of a proper foundation and within a reasonable degree of medical
certainty. See Appellee’s Brief, at 20-24; Trial Court Opinion, 2/18/25, at 3-
4. Second, Dr. Gerard would be testifying about Murphy’s ODD diagnosis and
manifestation of her symptoms, not about her character. See Appellee’s Brief,
at 25-27; Trial Court Opinion, 2/18/25, at 4-5; N.T., 1/7/25, at 7-9, 21-22.
Notably, neither Loughran nor the trial court offer a reason for why Dr.
Gerard’s testimony that Murphy was previously diagnosed with ODD is
relevant or probative.
Regarding the admissibility of expert testimony, “the expert must base
the substance of her opinion on a reasonable degree of certainty instead of
mere speculation.” Commonwealth v. Gonzalez, 109 A.3d 711, 727 (Pa.
Super. 2015) (citation omitted). “While an expert need not use ‘magic words,’
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the foundation of her opinion must still be sturdy.” Commonwealth v.
Yocolano, 169 A.3d 47, 61 (Pa. Super. 2017).
Pa.R.E. 703 provides:
The facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to the expert at or before the hearing. If of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject, the facts or data need not be admissible in evidence.
Under this rule,
expert testimony is incompetent if it lacks an adequate basis in fact. While an expert’s opinion need not be based on absolute certainty, an opinion based on mere possibilities is not competent evidence. This means that expert testimony cannot be based solely upon conjecture or surmise. Rather, an expert’s assumptions must be based upon such facts as the jury would be warranted in finding from the evidence.
Id. at 726-27 (citation omitted).
Here, in his report, Dr. Gerard stated that Murphy’s ODD diagnosis “may
be relevant to this case” and “suggests that Ms. Murphy was prone to
altercations.” Dr. Gerard Report, 10/21/24, at 2. Such statements are not
expressed with the requisite degree of certainty to qualify as competent expert
testimony. See Gonzalez, 109 A.3d at 727 (affirming exclusion of expert
testimony that rape victim’s mental health conditions may have affected her
perception and recollection because it lacked the requisite degree of
certainty). Therefore, we agree with the Commonwealth that Dr. Gerard’s
opinion in his report was not made with the requisite degree of certainty.
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Next, we agree with the Commonwealth that such testimony would be
inadmissible character evidence. Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence 404(a) and
608 concern the admissibility of evidence of a victim’s character trait. Under
Rule 608, with certain exceptions, a witness’s credibility may be attacked or
supported by reputation evidence of truthfulness or untruthfulness. Pa.R.E.
608(a).
Under Rule 404(a), evidence of a person’s character trait is generally
inadmissible to prove that on a particular occasion the person acted in
conformance with the character or trait. Pa.R.E. 404(a)(1). However, “subject
to limitations imposed by statute a defendant may offer evidence of an alleged
victim’s pertinent trait[.]” Pa.R.E. 404(a)(2)(B). Such “pertinent” traits may
be proven by reputation evidence or specific instances of conduct but may not
be proven by opinion testimony. See Pa.R.E. 405(a)-(b)(2). A “pertinent” trait
“is limited to a character trait of the victim that is relevant to the crime or
defense at issue in the case.” Minich, 4 A.3d at 1072. “Thus, under Rule 404,
evidence of the victim’s ‘pertinent trait’ is limited in scope and must be
relevant to the offense.” Commonwealth v. Weeden, 253 A.3d 329, 338
(Pa. Super. 2021), affirmed, 304 A.3d 333 (Pa. 2023). Importantly, opinion
testimony is inadmissible to establish a character trait. See Pa.R.E. 405(a);
608(a); see also Commonwealth v. Butler, 621 A.2d 630, 632 (Pa. Super.
1993) (en banc) (explaining that “one individual’s opinion as to the victim’s
capacity for deceit[]” is inadmissible).
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Loughran and the trial court’s distinction that Dr. Gerard’s proffered
testimony merely concerns the manifestation of Murphy’s ODD symptoms
rather than her character is illusory. In this case, the purported symptoms of
“angry or irritable mood, argumentative or defiant behavior, and
vindictiveness toward others” qualify as character traits. Indeed, based on our
review of the record, we are uncertain what Loughran’s purpose is for
admitting Dr. Gerard’s expert opinion about Murphy’s ODD symptoms since
the parties did not discuss either its relevance or its purpose. Regardless of
Loughran’s intended purpose for Dr. Gerard’s testimony about Murphy’s ODD
diagnosis and how her symptoms manifest, such character traits cannot be
proven by opinion evidence. See Pa.R.E. 405(a); 608(a). By failing to preclude
this testimony prior to trial the trial court misapplied the law and thus abused
its discretion. Therefore, we must vacate the trial court’s order to the extent
it denied the Commonwealth’s motion in limine to preclude Dr. Gerard’s
testimony about Murphy’s ODD diagnosis.
In sum, the portion of the trial court’s order that denied the
Commonwealth’s motion in limine seeking to preclude Dr. Gerard from
testifying about Murphy’s ODD diagnosis was an appealable collateral order.
In this regard, the trial court abused its discretion by not granting the
Commonwealth’s motion to preclude Dr. Gerard’s testimony about Murphy’s
ODD diagnosis. We lack jurisdiction to consider any other aspects of the trial
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court’s order. Therefore, we vacate the trial court's order in part, quash the
Commonwealth’s appeal in part, and remand for further proceedings.
Order vacated in part. Appeal quashed in part. Case remanded.
Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Benjamin D. Kohler, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 10/24/2025
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