People v. Ham-Ying

444 N.W.2d 529, 178 Mich. App. 601
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 24, 1989
DocketDocket 104083
StatusPublished

This text of 444 N.W.2d 529 (People v. Ham-Ying) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Ham-Ying, 444 N.W.2d 529, 178 Mich. App. 601 (Mich. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Defendant, John Russell Hám-Ying, appeals as of right from his bench trial conviction of two counts of delivering a controlled substance, phentermine, contrary to MCL 333.7401(1) and (2) (c); MSA 14.15(7401X1) and (2)(c), and one count of practicing medicine without a license, contrary to MCL 333.16294;. MSA 14.15(16294). Defendant was then convicted of being a subsequent offender, contrary to MCL 333.7413; MSA 14.15(7413). Defendant was sentenced to three to eight years imprisonment on both delivery convictions and two to four years imprisonment for practicing medicine without' a license, with both sentences to run concurrently. We affirm.

On January 19, 1982, defendant was convicted for delivery of a controlled substance for other than legitimate and professionally recognized ther *604 apeutic or scientific purposes, contrary to MCL 333.7401(1); MSA 14.15(7401X1). Defendant was forbidden to hold a controlled substance license during his probation.

After his 1982 conviction, defendant made arrangements for Dr. Leonard Fouche to continue defendant’s practice during his suspension. Dr. Fouche brought with him his Drug Enforcement Administration license which allowed him to prescribe controlled substances. Dr. Fouche informed defendant that he would not carry any amphetamines at all. Instead, Dr. Fouche carried the diet medication phentermine.

On April 25, 1983, Dr. Fouche delegated authority to the office staff and defendant to refill maintenance prescriptions to patients who were still overweight, but with no particular problems and who had been previously prescribed a maintenance dosage by a licensed physician. The written authorization delegating authority was given pursuant to § 16215 of the Public Health Code, MCL 333.16215(1); MSA 14.15(16215)(1). According to the written, as well as oral, delegations of authority, the office staff and defendant regularly dispensed phentermine, a schedule 4 drug, to patients who had been previously prescribed that drug by a licensed physician and who had no side effects or problems with the medication. If a patient complained of any problem at all or something irregular was noted, Dr. Fouche saw that patient. There was no question in Dr. Fouche’s mind that defendant was acting as Dr. Fouche’s agent during the period of suspension and particularly on July 26, 1983, the date on which the crime occurred which led to the instant prosecution.

Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Officer Milford Russell, together with a confidential police informant contacted two of defendant’s *605 longtime patients, James West and James Wells. Arrangements were made with West and Wells so that Officer Russell would provide the money and transportation to defendant’s office if Wells and West would agree to refill their prescription for diet pills and split the pills with Officer Russell and the informant. Neither West nor Wells knew Russell or the informant were associated with the sheriffs department in any way.

On July 26, 1983, both Wells and West entered defendant’s office, where defendant weighed them, checked their heart rate and blood pressure, and asked them how they were doing on the medication. Defendant did not confer with Dr. Fouche before refilling West’s and Wells’ prescriptions for phentermine. After Officer Russell received his share of the pills from both West and Wells, the pills were turned over to police Detective Stephen Marschke who transported the pills to Metro Narcotics. The laboratory reports identified the pills as containing phentermine, a schedule 4 controlled substance.

Before trial in the instant case, the circuit court decided that "the issue of whether a suspended physician could be delegated authority pursuant to state statute to dispense controlled substances was a question of fact for the jury.” People v Ham-Ying, 142 Mich App 831, 834; 371 NW2d 874 (1985). The state was granted an interlocutory appeal, and this Court held that "the issue of delegation is properly a question of law for the court.” Id. The Ham-Ying Court reviewed the applicable statutes and determined that the legislative intent was that "the function of prescribing or dispensing controlled substances could not be delegated to him [defendant] as a matter of law.” Ham-Ying, supra at 836.

This Court has stated:

*606 A question of law decided by an appellate court will not be decided differently on a subsequent appeal in the same case where the facts remain materially the same. The reason for the rule is the need for finality of judgment and the want of jurisdiction in an appellate court to modify its own judgments except on rehearing. Johnson v White, 430 Mich 47; 420 NW2d 87 (1988). Our Supreme Court has also held that this rule applies without regard to the correctness of the prior determination. Gourlay v Ins Co of North America, 189 Mich 384, 386; 155 NW 483 (1915); Damon v DeBar, 94 Mich 594; 54 NW 300 (1893). A party seeking relief from an incorrect appellate decision may either request a rehearing or appeal to the Supreme Court. Damon, supra. [Muilenberg v Upjohn Co, 169 Mich App 636, 640-641; 426 NW2d 767 (1988).]

After this Court handed down its first opinion in this case, People v Ham-Ying, 142 Mich App 831, defendant brought a motion for rehearing that was denied on July 5, 1985. Defendant .then applied for leave to appeal to our Supreme Court, which was denied. People v Ham-Ying, 424 Mich 861 (1985). There has not been a material change in the facts since this Court published its opinion in 1985.

The trial court was bound by this Court’s decision that defendant could not dispense controlled substances. The rule of the law of the case applies in this matter and prevents us from reconsidering whether defendant can legally dispense controlled substances. This Court has previously decided this exact question, and defendant exhausted his appellate possibilities. We hold that the trial court correctly ruled that defendant did violate state law when he. dispensed controlled substances.

Defendant argues that the issue of whether the ability to dispense controlled substances can be delegated to defendant should be determined by an *607 appropriate administrative board of "primary jurisdiction.” The statute cited by defendant, MCL 333.16215(2); MSA 14.15(16215X2), allows an administrative board to "promulgate rules to further prohibit or otherwise restrict delegation of specific acts, tasks, or functions to a . . . unlicensed individual . . . ,” but does not concern the prosecution of individuals who commit criminal acts. The circuit courts of this state have exclusive jurisdiction to try felony drug offenses. People v Curtis, 42 Mich App 652, 655; 202 NW2d 539 (1972), rev’d in part on other grounds 389 Mich 698; 209 NW2d 243 (1973). See also MCL 762.1; MSA 28.844. Defendant’s argument is without merit.

Defendant claims that he was entrapped into committing the instant offense. This Court recently addressed the issue of entrapment and stated:

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Related

United States v. Russell
411 U.S. 423 (Supreme Court, 1973)
People v. Jamieson
423 N.W.2d 655 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. Curtis
209 N.W.2d 243 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1973)
People v. White
308 N.W.2d 128 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1981)
Muilenberg v. Upjohn Co.
426 N.W.2d 767 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1988)
People v. D'Angelo
257 N.W.2d 655 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1977)
People v. Curtis
202 N.W.2d 539 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1972)
Johnson v. White
420 N.W.2d 87 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1988)
People v. Turner
210 N.W.2d 336 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1973)
People v. Ham-Ying
371 N.W.2d 874 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1985)
Damon v. DeBar
54 N.W. 300 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1893)
Gourlay v. Insurance Co. of North America
155 N.W. 483 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1915)

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Bluebook (online)
444 N.W.2d 529, 178 Mich. App. 601, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-ham-ying-michctapp-1989.