State v. Adam M. Blackman

2017 WI 77, 898 N.W.2d 774, 377 Wis. 2d 339, 2017 WL 2883765, 2017 Wisc. LEXIS 392
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 7, 2017
Docket2015AP000450-CR
StatusPublished
Cited by46 cases

This text of 2017 WI 77 (State v. Adam M. Blackman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Adam M. Blackman, 2017 WI 77, 898 N.W.2d 774, 377 Wis. 2d 339, 2017 WL 2883765, 2017 Wisc. LEXIS 392 (Wis. 2017).

Opinions

SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON, J.

¶ 1. This is a review of a published decision of the court of appeals reversing a decision of the Circuit Court for Fond du Lac County, Gary R. Sharpe, Judge.1 The circuit court granted Adam M. Blackman's motion to suppress the results of a blood test obtained under Wisconsin's implied consent law, Wis. Stat. § 343.305(3)(ar)2. (2013-14).2 The court of appeals reversed the order of the circuit court.

[344]*344f 2. The issue presented is whether the consequences for refusing to submit to a blood test requested under Wis. Stat. § 343.305(3)(ar)2. were misrepresented to Blackman and, if so, whether that misrepresentation rendered Blackman's consent to the blood draw coerced, that is, not freely and voluntarily given under the Fourth Amendment.3 Furthermore, if the court concludes that Blackman's consent to the blood draw was not voluntary consent under the Fourth Amendment, the issue becomes whether the court should apply the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule and admit the evidence of the blood alcohol concentration from the blood draw.

[345]*345¶ 3. For the reasons set forth, we reverse the decision of the court of appeals, affirm the suppression order of the circuit court, and decline to apply the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule in the instant case.

¶ 4. The Fourth Amendment ordinarily requires a search warrant for a blood draw unless one of the exceptions to the warrant requirement exists. Birchfield v. North Dakota, 136 S. Ct. 2160, 2173 (2016). In the instant case, the only exception to the warrant requirement at issue is whether Blackman's consent to the blood draw was given freely and voluntarily under the Fourth Amendment. When the legality of a war-rantless search is based on the consent of the defendant, that consent must be freely and voluntarily given. State v. Johnson, 2007 WI 32, ¶ 16, 299 Wis. 2d 675, 729 N.W.2d 182 (citing State v. Phillips, 218 Wis. 2d 180, 197, 577 N.W.2d 794 (1998); Bumper v. North Carolina, 391 U.S. 543, 548 (1968)).

¶ 5. Blackman submitted to a blood draw after Deputy Sheriff John Abler stated the consequences of refusing to submit to a test: Blackman (who was not suspected of a drunk-driving offense) was told that his operating privilege would be revoked if he refused to submit to a blood draw. This information was not accurate. A driver who was not suspected of a drunk-driving offense would prevail at a refusal hearing and his operating privilege would not be revoked. See Wis. Stat. § 343.305(9)(a)5.a.

¶ 6. For the reasons set forth, we conclude that the State did not prove by clear and convincing evidence that Blackman's consent to the blood draw was valid, that is, that it was freely and voluntarily given under the Fourth Amendment. Because the exclusion[346]*346ary rule's deterrent effect will be served in instant case by suppressing evidence of Blackman's blood test, we decline to apply the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule. The results of Blackman's blood draw are therefore suppressed.

¶ 7. Accordingly, the cause is remanded to the circuit court to reinstate its order suppressing the evidence and for further proceedings not inconsistent with the decision of this court.

¶ 8. Our decision is organized as follows:

I. We state the facts.
II. We state the standard of review.
III. Our analysis proceeds as follows:
(A) We examine Wis. Stat. § 343.305 to determine whether license revocation is a statutory consequence had Blackman refused to submit to a chemical test under Wis. Stat. § 343.305(3)(ar)2. We conclude that it is not.
(B) We determine whether Blackman's consent to the blood draw was obtained through misrepresentation, rendering his consent coerced, that is, not voluntary and free consent under the Fourth Amendment. We conclude that the consent was obtained through misrepresentation and was coerced.
(C) We determine whether to apply the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule in the instant case. We conclude that the good faith exception does not apply in the instant case.

I—<

¶ 9. For purposes of the motion to suppress evidence of Blackman's blood test, the statement of facts is brief and not in dispute.

[347]*347¶ 10. At about 10 A.M. on the morning of June 22, 2013, Blackman was driving his car in a northeast direction on County Highway WH in the Town of Taycheedah, Fond du Lac County. Blackman made a left turn onto Lakeview Road. As he was turning, his car collided with a bicyclist travelling in a southwest direction on County Highway WH.

1 11. A witness at the scene explained that Blackman's car collided with the bicyclist, causing the bicyclist to "fly up in the air, over the car, and land on the roadway." The bicyclist suffered great bodily harm, including a mandibular fracture, fractures to both forearms, rib fracture, sinus fracture, a C6 vertebrae fracture, liver laceration, lung contusion, and a sub-dural hemorrhaging brain bleed.

¶ 12. Blackman and the witness both stopped to check on the bicyclist.

f 13. Shortly after the collision, Fond du Lac Deputy Sheriff John Abler was dispatched to the scene.

¶ 14. Deputy Sheriff Abler testified at the suppression hearing that he had reason to believe that Blackman may have violated a state or local traffic law by failing to yield to the bicyclist and that the bicyclist sustained great bodily harm.

¶ 15. Deputy Sheriff Abler also testified that before the blood test was administered he did not have reason to believe that Blackman was under the influence of intoxicants. Deputy Sheriff Abler testified in response to questions by the prosecutor about any signs of intoxication as follows:

Q: You noticed no odor of intoxicants coming from him?
A: That's correct.
[348]*348Q: You noticed no slurred speech
A: That is correct.
Q: You noticed no bloodshot eyes?
A: Correct.
Q: You noticed no glassy eyes?
A: Correct.
Q: You noticed no glassy eyes?
A: Correct.
Q: Okay. You noticed no signs with his balance or coordination?
A: I did not notice anything.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2017 WI 77, 898 N.W.2d 774, 377 Wis. 2d 339, 2017 WL 2883765, 2017 Wisc. LEXIS 392, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-adam-m-blackman-wis-2017.