United States v. Robert Hird

72 F.3d 136 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert HIRD, Defendant-Appellant. No. 95-10010. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted Nov. 14, 1995. Decided Dec. 12, 1995. Before NORRIS, BEEZER and TROTT, Circuit Judges. 1 MEMORANDUM * 2 Robert Hird appeals his conviction for introducing unapproved medical devices into interstate commerce, mail and wire fraud, and making false statements to a federal agency. Hird alleges that the district court abused its discretion by allowing the jury to hear testimony about: (1) the DeSouza memorandum; (2) eight of his prior misdemeanor convictions; (3) his 1987 bankruptcy petition; and (4) whether he had been fired by a previous employer. In addition, Hird argues that the government attempted to shift the burden of proof in its closing argument. We reject all of Hird's arguments and affirm the judgment. 3 The DeSouza memorandum was within the…