IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 84461-0-I Respondent, DIVISION ONE v. UNPUBLISHED OPINION FAN ZHANG,
Appellant.
HAZELRIGG, A.C.J. — Fan Zhang was found guilty of rape in the second
degree by forcible compulsion following a jury trial. Prior to the initiation of the
criminal case, the victim, J.W., filed a civil suit for damages against Zhang
individually and their shared employer, Futurewei Technologies Inc. Futurewei
and J.W. reached a settlement agreement and further agreed to dismiss the civil
case prior to the start of the criminal trial. Zhang assigns error to a number of
rulings in his criminal case related to the civil settlement agreement and presents
constitutional challenges arising from those rulings. He also asserts that the
prosecutor committed misconduct during closing argument and, in a supplemental
brief, that the trial court violated the appearance of fairness doctrine. While the
trial court erred in its conclusion that the settlement agreement was inadmissible
and in sealing the document without conducting a hearing or applying the factors
under Seattle Times Co. v. Ishikawa, 1 such error was harmless and we affirm.
1 97 Wn.2d 30, 640 P.2d 716 (1982). No. 84461-0-I/2
FACTS
On April 5, 2019, J.W. and Fan Zhang attended an off-site going away party
for a coworker at Futurewei. When they left the party, Zhang drove J.W.’s vehicle,
as she had consumed alcohol during the event. After dropping off another
colleague at their office, they drove to J.W.’s residence before returning to the
office. 2 J.W. alleged that Zhang raped her at her apartment, first dragging her on
top of him while he was sitting on the couch, then carrying her to the bedroom
where he digitally penetrated her. Zhang denied these accusations and later
provided a competing version of events. J.W. did not disclose the incident
immediately, but when she finally told her then boyfriend, he encouraged her to
report it to both Futurewei and law enforcement. 3 However, J.W. retained private
counsel before she made her report to police. After receiving an internal complaint
from J.W., Futurewei hired an attorney to conduct an independent investigation
about her claims. The investigator applied a preponderance of the evidence
standard and concluded that the incident did not occur as reported. The Bellevue
Police Department conducted a separate investigation, but much of its
communication with J.W. was filtered through her counsel in the civil suit for
damages.
The State ultimately filed one count of rape in the second degree by forcible
compulsion against Zhang on August 26, 2020. During motions in limine, Zhang
2 At trial, Zhang and J.W. offered different reasons for the stop at J.W.’s apartment. Zhang
stated that they went to the apartment to retrieve J.W.’s present for the departing coworker. J.W. stated that Zhang told her she “was not in a good condition to work” and that she “should go back home in the car that day and just rest.” 3 J.W. and her partner had married by the time of trial.
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sought admission of the amount J.W. received from the settlement of the civil suit
on the basis that it would demonstrate J.W. had fabricated the allegations in a
gambit to extract money from Zhang. Following in camera review of the
agreement, the judge ruled that “[n]o part of the settlement agreement is relevant
or admissible” and for it to be “resealed” pursuant to GR 15. Trial was conducted
in late June and early July 2022. In the opening statement for the defense, Zhang’s
counsel alleged that J.W. had a financial motive for her testimony. Zhang
continued to seek admission of the settlement agreement throughout trial, but the
judge repeatedly referenced the prior ruling and denied those subsequent
requests. Zhang was convicted as charged on July 12 and, on September 9, 2022,
the judge imposed a low-end indeterminate sentence of 78 months to life in prison.
Zhang timely appealed. He then filed a motion in this court, seeking remand
and an order for the trial court to grant his access to the settlement agreement or,
in the alternative, unseal it. A commissioner of this court denied the motion, noting
that Zhang was free to file a motion to unseal in the trial court. Zhang then filed a
motion to modify the commissioner’s ruling, which was denied by a panel of this
court. Zhang next filed a motion for remand and further proceedings pursuant to
RAP 9.11, specifically requesting assignment to a different trial court judge. That
motion for remand was stayed in this court pending the outcome of a number of
motions Zhang had filed in the trial court in October 2023, including a motion to
unseal the settlement agreement and for discovery that expressly sought
disclosure of the communication between the prosecutor, J.W.’s civil attorney, and
the trial judge regarding obtaining the settlement agreement for in camera review.
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Zhang’s motions in the trial court were denied in part, granted in part, and after
additional briefing, the trial court unsealed the settlement agreement and entered
findings after applying the factors set out in Seattle Times Co. v. Ishikawa, 97
Wn.2d 30, 640 P.2d 716 (1982). Zhang then designated the postconviction
pleadings and orders for the record on appeal and submitted a supplemental
assignment of error after a commissioner of this court lifted the stay.
ANALYSIS
I. Settlement Agreement between J.W. and Futurewei
Most of Zhang’s assignments of error center on the trial court’s various
rulings regarding the settlement agreement between Futurewei and J.W. that
resulted in a stipulated dismissal of the civil suit. J.W. received a substantial
payment from this settlement for “emotional distress damages on account of
alleged bodily injury as well as attorney fees and costs,” contingent only upon J.W.
providing Futurewei an IRS form W-9 and ensuring dismissal of the lawsuit with
prejudice within five business days of receipt of payment. Despite the fact that he
was expressly named as a defendant in the civil suit and is referred to in the written
agreement as a “third party beneficiary” of the settlement, Zhang was not a party
to the negotiations in the civil suit nor did he receive a copy of the final settlement
agreement.
Zhang’s theory of the defense was that J.W. had a financial motivation to
fabricate the allegations against him and, toward that end, his attorneys openly
speculated that payment of the settlement amount was contingent upon J.W.’s
cooperation with the prosecution in the criminal case. Accordingly, the agreement
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was a key piece of evidence for the defense. On appeal, Zhang assigns error
separately to the court’s denial of his motion for the State to produce the settlement
agreement, determination that the agreement was not admissible, and sua sponte
order to seal the settlement agreement without conducting a hearing or analysis of
the Ishikawa factors.
A. State’s Duty To Disclose Evidence in Its Possession or Control
The State has a duty under the criminal rules to disclose certain material to
the defendant. CrR 4.7. This duty is “limited to material and information within the
knowledge, possession, and control” of the prosecutor’s office. CrR 4.7(a)(4). The
duty continues through the duration of trial; if “a party discovers additional material
or information which is subject to disclosure,” the other party must be notified of its
existence. CrR 4.7(h)(2). If such a discovery of disclosable evidence occurs
during trial, the court must be notified as well. Id. We review the denial of a
discovery motion based on CrR 4.7 for abuse of discretion. State v. Vance, 184
Wn. App. 902, 911, 339 P.3d 245 (2014). An abuse of discretion has occurred
when a trial court “makes decisions on untenable grounds or for untenable
reasons.” Id.
Zhang engaged in extensive pretrial litigation which included a motion to
compel other evidence and, later, a written motion for the admission of J.W.’s prior
complaints against other coworkers and the amount she received under the terms
of the settlement agreement. At oral argument before this court, Zhang’s counsel
clarified that the request to produce the agreement underlying this assignment of
error was an oral motion made in the midst of a discussion of the settlement
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agreement in a hearing on those other written motions. 4 The record suggests that
the State was not in possession of the settlement agreement; the prosecutor noted
that J.W. had civil counsel on that matter and the court directed him to “make
inquiry of the attorney” to obtain a copy of the agreement so that it could conduct
an in camera review. A few days later, the defense revisited the issue of the in
camera review and the court expressly directed the prosecutor to obtain a copy of
the agreement for the court stating, “I just need to get a copy of that document, so
that is going to be your responsibility to get that to me as soon as possible.” The
prosecutor responded, “Absolutely, your honor,” but did not indicate whether he
would be obtaining it from J.W.’s civil counsel or if it was already in the State’s
possession. The parties appear to agree that the State ultimately complied with
the court’s order and provided the settlement agreement as the judge issued an
order on in camera review and sealing on July 1, 2022.
As a preliminary matter, the prosecutor complied with CrR 4.7 with regard
to the settlement agreement. More critically, the court never denied a motion for
the State to disclose the agreement because the only statement by the defense in
the transcripts of pretrial proceedings that could be construed as an oral motion
occurred immediately prior to the discussion of in camera review. One of Zhang’s
attorneys was addressing his written motion to admit the amount of the settlement
agreement and, after asking the court for a moment to confer with co-counsel, said,
“So I think we can’t really resolve this issue unless the court rules that we should—
4 Wash. Ct. of Appeals oral arg., State v. Fan Zhang, No. 84461-0-I (Sept. 11, 2024), at 4 min., 28 sec., video recording by TVW, Washington State’s Public Affairs Network, https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2024091199.
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can even get a copy of the settlement agreement.” After discussing how the
agreement could support the defense claim of financial motive to lie, the following
exchange occurred:
THE COURT: Do you want me to review it in camera to see if—
MR. BROWNE [Defense counsel]: Yes.
THE COURT: —it requires that she—
MR. BROWNE: We will abide by whatever ruling you make.
THE COURT: All right.
Cross-talk aside, it is clear that defense counsel’s initial oral request for the court
to rule that the defense could obtain a copy of the settlement agreement was
modified by this later acceptance of the court’s offer of in camera review and
explicit assurance that the defense would “abide by whatever ruling you make.”
On this record, Zhang fails to demonstrate error under CrR 4.7.
B. Erroneous Ruling on Admissibility
Zhang next contends the judge erred in the determination after in camera
review that the settlement agreement was inadmissible. We agree. Trial court
rulings on the admission of evidence are reviewed for abuse of discretion. State
v. Jennings, 199 Wn.2d 53, 59, 502 P.3d 1255 (2022). The trial court has abused
its discretion if it misinterprets the law or if “‘no reasonable person would adopt the
ruling of the trial court.’” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v.
Atsbeha, 142 Wn.2d 904, 914, 16 P.3d 626 (2001)). When determining the
relevance of evidence, a trial judge considers whether the evidence has “any
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tendency to make the existence of any fact of consequence to the determination
of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.”
ER 401. Evidence that is relevant can still be excluded “if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issue,
or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or
needless presentation of cumulative evidence.” ER 403.
Operating alone, ER 403 does not require that the weighing of probative
value against potential prejudice occur on the record. Compare State v. Jackson,
102 Wn.2d 689, 693, 689 P.2d 76 (1984) (noting that the “balancing of probative
value versus prejudice should be done on the record” in the context of ER 403 in
relation to ER 404(b)), with Stave v. Gould, 58 Wn. App. 175, 184, 791 P.2d 569
(1990) (“We are unwilling to extend the balancing requirement to evidentiary
objections and claims of error based on ER 403 alone.”). “The burden of showing
unfair prejudice is on the party seeking to exclude the evidence.” State v. Burkins,
94 Wn. App.677, 692 973 P.2d 15 (1999).
Before viewing the settlement agreement or ruling on its admissibility, the
trial judge questioned Zhang as to why the amount received from the settlement
would be probative of J.W.’s alleged financial motive to lie:
THE COURT: Well, I don’t understand, Mr. Browne, how it goes to her motive when [the settlement] has already happened? I mean, she is not going to get on the stand and lie because she has a potential—you know?
MR. BROWNE: That’s a good question. I think you would write—unless the settlement agreement said that she had to continue with the prosecution, which I believe it does. But we don’t know. It is sealed [in the civil case]. ....
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MR. BROWNE: Ms. Bremner [Defense counsel] just reminded me, a financial bias is still a bias.
The State did not object to the admissibility of the settlement agreement or the
settlement amount, or otherwise articulate any possible prejudice that could result
from the admission of this evidence. As previously recounted, Zhang expressly
assented to the trial court’s proposal to conduct an in camera review of the
settlement agreement. After the court obtained and reviewed the settlement, it
issued a sparse order that simply concluded “no part of the settlement agreement
is relevant or admissible.”
While the trial court was not required to expressly weigh the probative value
of the settlement agreement against the possibility of prejudice on the record, the
sparse order was erroneous for two reasons. First, in the absence of direct
physical evidence of the charged crime, any evidence that could be used to
impeach J.W. would be highly probative. This case hinged on credibility; only J.W.
and Zhang had direct knowledge of what actually happened in her apartment on
the day in question and the jury was tasked with deciding which version of events
was true. The terms of the settlement of J.W.’s suit against Futurewei and Zhang
would have provided the defense with useful material for impeachment; a concrete
number presented to the jury may have been more impactful than vague
aspersions if Zhang sought to emphasize a theory premised on a financial motive
to lie. Second, there was very little risk of prejudice to the State by admission of
the settlement agreement, particularly in light of the court’s ruling that J.W. could
be examined about the facts of the suit and negotiations, and existence of a
settlement. In the context of ER 403, evidence is unfairly prejudicial if it will “arouse
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an emotional response” and lead jurors away from a “rational decision.” State v.
Rice, 48 Wn. App. 7, 13, 737 P.2d 726 (1987). Admission of the settlement
agreement may have led the jury to view J.W. differently, but that is exactly why
the evidence had such high probative value for Zhang. The State did not present
any argument as to why the admission would be unfairly prejudicial, even when it
would have had the burden of doing so. However, that is likely because the court
appears to have ruled on the admissibility of the settlement agreement without
hearing further argument from the parties, so it is unclear from this record if the
State actually opposed its admission.
Thus, because the settlement agreement had great probative value and
carried minimal risk of unfair prejudice, and because we have no discernible
reasoning from the trial court to suggest otherwise, we conclude that the court
misapplied the test for relevance. However, when a trial court abuses its discretion
as to an evidentiary ruling, such error may be harmless. 5
To prevail on a claim of nonconstitutional error, the defendant must
“demonstrate that ‘within reasonable probabilities . . . the outcome of the trial would
have been materially affected’ had the error not occurred.” State v. Barry, 183
Wn.2d 297, 317-18, 352 P.3d 161 (2015) (alteration in original) (internal quotation
marks omitted) (quoting State v. Smith, 106 Wn.2d 772, 780, 725 P.2d 951 (1986)).
On this record, Zhang cannot meet his burden to establish reversible error.
Despite the beliefs of defense counsel during pretrial litigation and the trial itself,
5 Because we have determined that the settlement agreement was admissible, we need
not analyze Zhang’s separate argument that J.W. opened the door to its admission during direct examination.
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now that the agreement is unsealed, it is clear that it does not contain any
provisions particularly beneficial to the defense. It did not require J.W. to testify or
otherwise cooperate with the prosecution in order to receive the settlement
amount. There was no information in the agreement about the amount of J.W.’s
original claim for damages and the final settlement amount was significantly less
than the $900,000 defense counsel told the court they believed J.W. had
demanded. Zhang’s counsel also plainly retreated from their initial contention that
they wanted the jury to hear the amount of money J.W. received, so while the final
settlement amount was contained in the agreement, the defense expressly and
repeatedly advised the court that it did not want that figure admitted. Zhang was
able to develop the theme that J.W. had financial motivations for the allegations
she had made against him. Critically, he identifies no information in the agreement
that would have strengthened his defense, particularly given the plain statements
of counsel about the information they wanted before the jury. Thus, Zhang has not
shown that there was a reasonable probability that the erroneous ruling to exclude
the settlement agreement materially affected the verdict.
C. Sua Sponte Sealing in Violation of Ishikawa
When the court offered to conduct in camera review of the document,
defense counsel interrupted the judge and responded, “Yes. . . . We will abide by
whatever ruling you make.” The State indicated that it wanted “some time to just
make a proper argument before the court before we decide the next steps.”
However, the court did not conduct a hearing on sealing under Ishikawa, but simply
sua sponte ordered the settlement agreement sealed after its review without input
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from the parties and without making the required findings. Zhang assigns error to
the order sealing and argues it violates both his right to the “open administration
of justice” and the plain language of GR 15. He is correct.
This court reviews a trial court’s decision to seal or unseal for abuse of
discretion. State v. Richardson,177 Wn.2d 351, 357, 302 P.3d 156 (2013). If the
trial court has applied the incorrect legal standard or analysis, or fails to apply any
at all, this court “remands to the trial court to apply the correct legal rule.” Id. The
trial court should enter findings on the record that support its ruling on sealing.
Dreiling v. Jain, 151 Wn.2d 900, 907, 93 P.3d 861 (2004). In a criminal case, when
a trial court considers a request to seal or unseal a document, it should apply both
the Ishikawa factors and GR 15(e)(2). Richardson, 177 Wn.2d at 359.
In Ishikawa, our Supreme Court relied heavily on Federated Publications
Inc. v. Kurtz, 94 Wn.2d 51, 615 P.2d 440 (1980), and provided guidance on the
process a trial court must employ when a party has requested a record be
unsealed. First, “[t]he proponent of closure and/or sealing must make some
showing of the need therefor.” Ishikawa, 97 Wn.2d at 37. Second, it is the trial
court’s responsibility to ensure there is an opportunity for objections; “‘[a]nyone
present when the closure [and/or sealing] motion is made must be given an
opportunity to object to the [suggested restriction].’” Id. at 38 (some alterations in
original) (quoting Kurtz, 94 Wn.2d at 62). Third, the trial court and the interested
parties “should carefully analyze whether the requested method for curtailing
access would be both the least restrictive means available and effective in
protecting the interests threatened.” Id. Fourth, the trial court needs to “‘weigh the
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competing interests of the defendant and the public’ and consider the alternate
methods suggested.” Id. (quoting Kurtz, 94 Wn.2d at 64). Fifth, the trial court must
consider if the time period where sealing was prudent has passed; a sealing order
cannot be broader than the purpose it aims to achieve. Id. at 39.
GR 15(e)(2) sets out the procedure for a trial court deciding a motion to
unseal: there must be a showing of compelling circumstances and notice must be
given to the appropriate parties. In a criminal context, notice must be given to all
parties, as well as the victim. GR 15(e)(2), (c)(1).
Here, the issue of sealing was raised and decided sua sponte without
providing interested parties the right to be heard on the matter as required by GR
15 or engaging in an analysis under the Ishikawa factors. Zhang asserts, without
citation to any source, that the trial judge in his criminal case also presided over
J.W.’s civil suit against Futurewei and Zhang, and expresses concern over such
“unusual circumstances.” References in the transcripts of various hearings
suggest that the agreement was filed under seal in the civil case: Zhang’s attorney
directly asserted as much when he requested that it be produced, and later in the
discussion of in camera review, the judge said, “I’m sure [J.W.’s] attorney will know
that an in camera review means strictly confidential and it will be resealed upon
my review.” (Emphasis added.) While this phrasing by the judge, specifically the
reference to resealing, could admittedly suggest knowledge of the civil case that
goes beyond what is present in the record of the criminal case, it could also be
interpreted as her acceptance of defense counsel’s earlier assertion that the
settlement was filed under seal in the civil case and that Zhang could not access
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it without the court’s intervention. Further, Zhang’s contention about the judge
presiding over both the civil and criminal cases appears to go to the request in his
opening brief for remand to the trial court with instructions to either grant him
access to the settlement agreement or unseal it. As it has already been unsealed
by the trial court, we need not consider or further analyze this argument. However,
of greater concern to this court is the fact that the order sealing does not contain
any findings but only a simple conclusory statement that the “document is not
public and will now be sealed pursuant to GR 15 so it is part of the record in the
criminal case.”
The State asserts in briefing that invited error prevents review of this claim
on appeal. At oral argument before this court, the State averred that Zhang’s
assent to the trial court’s ruling amounted to invited error, if not waiver, and claimed
for the first time that the trial court adequately weighed the relevant interests. 6 We
disagree that the court’s interpretation and application of the requirements under
Ishikawa and GR 15 was proper or adequate. As a preliminary matter, during the
postconviction litigation on the settlement agreement the court expressly stated,
“Because the agreement had a confidentiality clause, the court ordered it sealed.”
It is unclear how this reasoning, which is more expansive than that laid out in the
original order sealing, could possibly comport with the requirements of Ishikawa
and GR 15.
One of the essential functions of an Ishikawa hearing is to consider the
interests of all parties, which here, includes not only Zhang and the State, but also
6 Wash. Ct. of Appeals oral arg., supra, at 14 min., 18 sec.
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J.W. and Futurewei as the signatories to the settlement agreement. While Zhang
may invite or waive an error, that can go to only his own interests and the Ishikawa
factors expressly require trial courts to protect the interests of other involved
parties and the public before deciding to seal. The Ishikawa court emphasized the
rights of the public and those of an accused person, noting that
since important constitutional interests would be threatened by restricting public access, a higher threshold will be required before court proceedings will be closed to protect other interests. If closure and/or sealing is sought to further any right or interest besides the defendant’s right to a fair trial, a “serious and imminent threat to some other important interest must be shown.”
97 Wn.2d at 37 (internal citations omitted). The State offers no argument on the
question of how Zhang could waive the rights of others in the context of sealing a
document in the court file, and the record does not suggest that the trial court
considered, much less weighed, the interests of J.W., Futurewei, or the public, or
otherwise applied the second and fourth Ishikawa factors. The record is similarly
silent as to any notification to J.W. or Futurewei as required by GR 15(e)(2) and
(c)(1). There is no indication in the court’s order that it considered less restrictive
means for curtailing access to the settlement agreement under the second
Ishikawa factor or contemplated the duration of the sealing order under the fifth
factor so that it was not broader than necessary. Finally, as the decision to seal
was made sua sponte, it is unclear how the court could have upheld the burden of
proof set out in the first Ishikawa factor. Our Supreme Court was clear in Ishikawa
that “[b]ecause courts are presumptively open, the burden of justification should
rest on the parties seeking to infringe the public’s right.” 97 Wn.2d at 37-38.
Failure to apply the burden of proof set out in controlling case law, because it acted
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independently of any request from interested parties, separately demonstrates that
the trial court misapplied the law. The only conclusion that can be reached on this
record is that the court’s decision to seal the settlement agreement was an abuse
of discretion due to the complete failure to apply Ishikawa or GR 15. 7
However, this clear error by the trial court was harmless as the only
information contained in the agreement itself that was not explored during either
direct or cross-examination of J.W. was the amount of the actual settlement, which
Zhang expressly and repeatedly said he did not want admitted. Again, “[a]
nonconstitutional error such as this one is harmless if it did not, within reasonable
probability, materially affect the verdict.” State v. Walters, 162 Wn. App. 74, 84,
255 P.3d 835 (2011). Thus, because Zhang was able to both explore and argue
J.W.’s potential financial motive to fabricate the allegation and the fact of the civil
settlement, he fails to establish that admission of the actual agreement would have
materially altered the verdict. Zhang’s attorneys plainly centered this theory from
opening statements through cross-examination of J.W. and in closing argument.
Further, as noted supra in Section I.B, Zhang does not identify what information in
the agreement itself was so key to his defense that the outcome of trial would have
been different. Again, while he had speculated that payment of the settlement
amount was contingent on J.W.’s testimony at trial, after unsealing pursuant to the
postconviction litigation in the trial court, it is clear that the agreement contained
no such conditions. The only terms of payment were that J.W. provide an IRS form
7 Critically, the trial court’s order unsealing the settlement agreement that was entered
pursuant to the postconviction litigation includes six pages of findings of fact and conclusions of law including, notably, that J.W. was given “several opportunities to respond” to Zhang’s motion to unseal, among other clear examples of robust application of the Ishikawa factors
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W-9 to Futurewei’s counsel within five business days of signing the agreement and
file the stipulated dismissal with prejudice in the civil case. If anything, this
additional information could have undercut Zhang’s theory about a motive to lie at
trial in order to collect the settlement amount. Zhang has failed to demonstrate
entitlement to relief on this assignment of error. 8
II. Constitutional Claims Premised on Admissibility Ruling
Zhang presents two separate but related claims of violation of his
constitutional rights based on the ruling that the settlement agreement was not
admissible. He specifically avers that it burdened his right to present a defense by
curtailing his ability to develop the defense theory that J.W.’s allegations were
motivated by financial interests and violated his confrontation right because he
could not cross-examine J.W. about the settlement with Futurewei. We disagree
and conclude that Zhang’s defense was neither impermissibly hampered, nor was
he prevented from confronting an adverse witness.
A. Right To Confront an Adverse Witness
The confrontation clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States
Constitution requires that “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy
the right . . . to be confronted with the witnesses against [them].” U.S. CONST.
amend. VI. Crucial to the right to confrontation is “meaningful cross-examination
of an adverse witness.” State v. Chicas Carballo, 17 Wn. App. 2d 337, 346, 486
8 In his opening brief, Zhang also claimed that the court’s ruling on sealing the agreement
separately violated his right to appeal, but he concedes in his reply brief that after the court unsealed it pursuant to the postconviction litigation, that issue is moot. Accordingly, we decline to reach this assignment of error.
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P.2d 142 (2021). We review “general limitations on the scope of cross-
examination for abuse of discretion.” Id. at 345. “‘[T]he more essential the witness
is to the prosecution’s case, the more latitude the defense should be given to
explore fundamental elements such as motive, bias, [or] credibility.’” Id. at 346
(alterations in original) (quoting State v. Darden, 145 Wn.2d 612, 619, 41 P.3d
1189 (2002)).
Here, J.W.’s testimony was essential to the State’s case. She was the only
adverse witness who could offer a first-hand account of the events that occurred
in her Bellevue apartment. Zhang had grounds to argue that J.W.’s allegations
were fabricated and motived by financial interests and her testimony against him
was biased for that reason. However, this assignment of error is simply
unsupported by the record. In fact, the transcripts from the trial court affirmatively
demonstrate that the only limitations on Zhang’s cross-examination of J.W. about
the civil suit and settlement came from his own counsel based on their trial
strategy. For example, just prior to opening statements, outside the presence of
the jury, the court returned to the topic of the civil suit and settlement. The State
made clear that it was not opposed to examination of J.W. on the fact of the civil
suit and settlement, and argued only that the settlement amount had previously
been excluded at the request of defense counsel. After the State clarified its
position, the court expressly ruled, “All right, then that motion is granted.” Counsel
for Zhang sought clarification and the judge responded, “The motion is granted,
Ms. Bremner. The motion you are making” and counsel then thanked the court. To
be clear, the motion had been articulated by defense counsel as follows:
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MS. BREMNER [Defense counsel]: [M]y position is that there are some other things that I think should come in and . . . also under ER 611 I think that the financial motive, and I know you have ruled on this but I wanted to kind of revisit it before we get to the openings and into the evidence . . . what we could get into in terms of her filing a lawsuit, having this investigation, etc.? Under ER 611 on cross-examination, as the court is well aware, we have an absolute right to inquire into bias about a witness.
THE COURT: Um-hum?
MS. BREMNER: And of course, the court can limit the scope.
MS. BREMNER: In this case, this complainant sued asking for $900,000 in this case. .... [T]he fact that she has a financial bias I submit to the court— I know the court said, [“]Well, financial bias is over because she got paid,[”] or settled, or whatever, but the financial bias from the very beginning still remains. The reason she filed a claim was financial, and I think we are entitled to show the jury that, or bias, on cross-examination, that she filed a complaint, legal complaint; she made a claim and she wanted money.
THE COURT: So she made a claim against the company, not Mr. Zhang personally?
MS. BREMNER: Understood, but the fact is it is based only on his conduct. .... My point is really simple, but it really hit me this weekend: That financial bias was from the get-to with her and it is true today. Oh, I have got—no, actually she sued both the company and [Zhang] so he was a defendant in the claim about him. But my point is she had a financial motive to sue and to make a claim and hire and lawyer and everything else.
MS. BREMNER: That doesn’t change—nothing has changed. The fact that she got paid doesn’t matter. That financial motive was there from the inception of her complaint and we should be allowed
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to tell the jury she had a bias in this case; she had a motive to file this case and it was financial. .... How about that big money one? I mean $900,000? Whether you talk about the amount or not, that that gives somebody a financial motive to pursue something is static; it remains the same from back then to right now and— .... MS. BREMNER: Mr. Browne is reminding me, we don’t want the amount of the settlement in, but we definitely want in the fact that she made a claim and it was financial.
THE COURT: Okay.
This was the motion that was before the court when the judge said, “The motion is
granted, Ms. Bremner. The motion you are making.” Zhang had previously been
permitted to discuss the existence of the civil suit and did so in his opening
statement. He had the ability to explore the civil suit as a potential financial
motivation for J.W. making a report to police and participating in the criminal trial,
and the impact of that alleged financial motivation on J.W.’s credibility. However,
the record also establishes that Zhang simply failed to comprehensively explore
the details of the civil suit, settlement negotiations, the amount of J.W.’s initial
demand, or other related topics.
During cross-examination Zhang was permitted to ask J.W. questions about
the lawsuit and could have developed his theory of financial motivations further,
but did not pursue it. The defense began its exploration of this theme at the start
of J.W.’s cross-examination:
[MS. BREMNER]: You sued our client and you sued the company, isn’t that right?
[J.W.]: That’s what eventually happened, but that was not my intention.
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MS. BREMNER: I move to strike that latter part, your honor, as nonresponsive.
[MS. BREMNER:] The only question is whether you sued the company and [Zhang]? Right?
[J.W.]: Yes.
[MS. BREMNER]: Okay, and your lawyer is Becky [Roe], right?
[J.W.]: Correct.
[MS. BREMNER]: Yes? And you made a demand for a certain amount of money, didn’t you?
MR. BRYANT [Prosecutor]: Objection, your honor.
THE COURT: Sustained.
MR. BRYANT: Motions in limine.
MS. BREMNER: Your honor, could we have a sidebar on this?
THE COURT: Yes.
MS. BREMNER: About the amount.
After the conference at sidebar, defense counsel changed topics and began to
inquire about J.W.’s text communications with a friend to whom she disclosed the
assault, asking about specific texts that she wrote:
[MS. BREMNER:] You said, “After all my boss has money, power and can give what I want, material wise.” You wrote that, didn’t you? Yes?
[J.W.:] Yes.
[MS. BREMNER:] Okay, and your boss was [Zhang]?
[J.W.:] Um-hum.
[MS. BREMNER:] Is that right?
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Later, outside the presence of the jury, the earlier sidebar discussions were put on
the record. The court recounted that defense counsel argued J.W. had opened
the door to broader examination on the civil suit by answering that it was not her
intention to sue Zhang or Futurewei. However, the court noted “that section was
stricken at defense’s request, so my ruling was that no, that is not allowed.”
(Emphasis added.) Defense counsel then argued that J.W. had made a demand
for $900,000 in her civil suit, referenced the in camera review of the settlement
agreement, and again asserted this was evidence of bias under ER 611. The court
responded to Zhang’s argument by explaining, “I have ruled on this three times
and my ruling remains the same. It is not coming in.”
When read as a whole, this portion of the trial transcript suggests that the
parties were once again talking about admission of the settlement agreement itself.
However, there is no reference to any demand by J.W., much less one for
$900,000, in the agreement. Nowhere in the transcripts of any pretrial hearing or
evidentiary ruling during trial did the parties discuss preclusion of examination on
the settlement negotiations or J.W.’s demand in the civil suit. A comprehensive
review of the record undermines Zhang’s claim that he was prohibited from
exploring these topics. While the trial judge excluded the amount J.W. ultimately
received under the settlement, this was because Zhang expressly and repeatedly
stated he desired that limitation. Because this restraint on the topics explored
during testimony came directly from Zhang’s own trial strategy, there is no
confrontation violation.
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B. Right To Present a Defense
Zhang separately asserts that the purported limitations on the scope of
cross-examination violated his constitutional right to a fair trial by impairing his
ability to offer testimony in his defense. For the same reasons set out supra in
Section II.A, this challenge also fails. In State v. Ritchie, 24 Wn. App. 2d 618, 629-
31, 520 P.3d 1105 (2022), we traced the history of the right to present a defense
back to the United States Supreme Court’s opinion in Chambers v. Mississippi,
410 U.S. 284, 93 S. Ct. 1038, 35 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1973). Chambers provides that
the due process rights of defendants are, “in essence, the right to a fair opportunity
to defend against the State’s accusations.” 410 U.S. at 294. The Chambers court
rooted these due process rights in the Sixth Amendment. “The rights to confront
and cross-examine witnesses and to call witnesses in one’s own behalf have long
been recognized as essential to due process.” Id. “This court reviews general
limitations on the scope of cross-examination for abuse of discretion.” Chicas
Carballo, 17 Wn. App. 2d at 345. This court engages in a two-part analysis to
determine if an evidentiary ruling by a trial court has infringed on the right of a
criminal defendant to present a defense. State v. Arndt, 194 Wn.2d 784, 797-98,
453 P.3d 696 (2019); see also Jennings, 199 Wn.2d at 58; Ritchie, 24 Wn. App.
2d at 627. The initial decision to admit or exclude the evidence is reviewed for
abuse of discretion, in the context of the relevant evidentiary rule. Jennings, 199
Wn.2d at 58; see also Arndt, 194 Wn.2d at 797-98; Ritchie, 24 Wn. App. 2d at 627.
If the reviewing court determines that the evidentiary ruling was not an abuse of
discretion, that threshold inquiry is then followed by de novo review to determine if
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the defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights have been violated. Jennings, 199 Wn.2d
at 58; see also Arndt, 194 Wn.2d at 797-814; Ritchie, 24 Wn. App. 2d at 627.
The parties litigated the scope of Zhang’s cross-examination of J.W. before
opening statements. Again, at no point in the hearings addressing pretrial motions
or during trial did the judge prevent Zhang from cross-examining J.W. about her
retention of civil counsel, the filing of the lawsuit against him and Futurewei, or the
fact or terms of the settlement. To the contrary, there is evidence adduced on both
direct and cross-examination about each of those topics, with the notable
exception of the precise terms of the settlement agreement. Zhang
comprehensively cross-examined J.W. on the timing of her report to the police in
relation to her retention of civil counsel and the fact that she pursued a claim for
money damages in that suit, heavily suggesting that J.W. filed suit against
Futurewei and Zhang before reporting that she had been raped.
Perhaps more fatal to this assignment of error, the record clearly
establishes that Zhang’s counsel simply did not ask questions which would have
elicited the information he now argues was critical to his theory of the case.
Because there was no evidentiary ruling adverse to Zhang that prevented him from
drawing out the information on every topic except the one he specifically wanted
excluded, we need not engage in the second step of the analysis. “[W]hen the
defendant has an opportunity to present [their] theory of the case, the exclusion of
some aspects of the defendant’s proffered evidence will not amount to a violation
of the defendant’s constitutional rights.” Ritchie, 24 Wn. App. 2d at 635. Thus,
because Zhang was able to pursue his defense theory of financial motivation to
- 24 - No. 84461-0-I/25
lie, despite the prohibitions on some specifics of the settlement agreement that he
expressly sought, he has not established a violation of his right to present a
defense. 9
III. Prosecutorial Misconduct in Closing Argument
Finally, Zhang avers the prosecutor committed misconduct in closing by
arguing facts outside the evidence presented at trial and making a false statement.
A prosecutor, as counsel representing the State, has two main functions: enforce
the law by prosecuting those who transgress it and represent the people “in a
search for justice.” State v. Monday, 171 Wn.2d 667, 676, 257 P.3d 551 (2011).
“Defendants are among the people the prosecutor represents.” Id. Prosecutors
have a duty to ensure that an accused person’s “rights to a constitutionally fair trial
are not violated.” Id. Prosecutorial misconduct is grounds for reversal “‘if the
prosecuting attorney’s conduct was both improper and prejudicial.’” Id. at 675
(quoting State v. Fisher, 165 Wn.2d 727, 747, 202 P.3d 937 (2009)). Improper
conduct is not considered in isolation, but rather in the whole context of the trial.
Id. A prosecutor’s conduct is prejudicial only if there is a “‘substantial likelihood’”
9 In his supplemental assignments of error, Zhang raises another related due process claim
based on a purported violation of the appearance of fairness doctrine. This challenge is rooted in the ex parte communication between the prosecutor and the court during the attempts to obtain the settlement agreement for the in camera review. However, Zhang’s counsel were present both times the logistics of conducting the review were addressed on the record, the second of which occurred in response to Zhang’s inquiry, wherein the trial judge directed the prosecutor to communicate with J.W.’s civil attorney and provide the agreement to the court for review. At no point did Zhang raise any concerns about the ex parte communication that would necessarily arise under the procedures outlined by the court. Accordingly, Zhang must satisfy the requirements of RAP 2.5 in order to obtain appellate review of a matter not preserved by objection in the trial court. Because Zhang does not cite, much less attempt to apply, the standard set out in the RAP, and because we have separately determined that the judge’s rulings on admissibility and sealing were erroneous, we do not analyze this challenge further.
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that the jury’s verdict was affected by the misconduct. Id. (internal quotation marks
and emphasis omitted) (quoting State v. Yates, 161 Wn.2d 714, 744, 168 P.3d 359
(2007)). If the defense does not make a contemporaneous objection to the
conduct of the prosecutor, “the issue becomes whether any curative instructions
would have effectively erased the prejudice.” State v. Belgarde, 110 Wn.2d 504,
507, 755 P.2d 174 (1988). Even in the absence of an objection, an appellate court
can still reverse a conviction if the prosecutorial misconduct is so “flagrant and ill
intentioned” that it could not be cured by instruction from the judge. Id.
Here, Zhang did not object to the statements he now contends were
misconduct. Accordingly, his challenge on appeal is subject to the higher standard
for prejudice. In rebuttal closing argument, the prosecutor said,
If this was all about money, [J.W.] got her settlement. She got it a year or two ago. She said it has nothing to do with this case. Why not just walk away? .... It’s because it happened.
Zhang asserts that the statement that J.W. got her settlement “a year or two ago”
falls outside the evidence presented at trial and that the insinuation that she could
have “just walk[ed] away” was not true.
The State notes that prosecutors are given wide latitude to argue
reasonable inferences from the evidence. State v. Robinson, 189 Wn. App. 877,
893, 359 P.3d 874 (2015). J.W. testified on both direct and cross-examination
about the fact of a settlement in the civil case and Zhang’s theory of the case was
that the settlement included some sort of payment. In fact, in opening statements,
Zhang’s attorney expressly stated, “There is a financial motive in this. [J.W.] sued
- 26 - No. 84461-0-I/27
for money based on this.” The State avers that even if the prosecutor’s statement
that “[J.W.] got her settlement” did not precisely conform with the testimony, it was
a reasonable inference based on the evidence.
As to the second aspect of his prosecutorial misconduct claim, in order to
support his contention that the “walk away” statement was false and misleading,
Zhang devotes a significant portion of his briefing on this issue to discussing the
tools at the State’s disposal to compel a witness’ appearance at trial. However,
even if we assume, without deciding, that the challenged comment was
misconduct, Zhang did not object at trial and has not met his burden on appeal to
prove that these statements, separately or combined, were so “flagrant and ill
intentioned that an instruction could not have cured the resulting prejudice.” State
v. Emery, 174 Wn.2d 741, 760-61, 278 P.3d 653 (2012). Had Zhang presented a
contemporaneous objection to these statements, the court could have directed the
jurors to disregard them or order them stricken. We presume that jurors follow the
instructions of the court. Id. at 766. Zhang simply does not engage with the
applicable legal test to demonstrate how these statements could not have been
cured.
Zhang fails to establish reversable error. Accordingly, we affirm.
WE CONCUR:
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