PEOPLE OF MI V ELIZABETH ERIN BARCLAY
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
UNPUBLISHED
June 5, 2008
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v
No. 278041
Kent Circuit Court
LC No. 06-002845-FH
ELIZABETH ERIN BARCLAY,
Defendant-Appellant.
Before: Davis, P.J., and Murray and Beckering, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Defendant was charged with insurance fraud, MCL 500.4511(1), and making a false
report of a felony, MCL 750.411a(1)(b). The trial court dismissed those charges without
prejudice. Defendant now appeals as of right, asserting that because the dismissal was without
prejudice, the filing of new charges will violate her constitutional right to a speedy trial. We
affirm. This appeal is being decided without oral argument pursuant to MCR 7.214(E).
Defendant did not raise this issue before the trial court. “As a general rule, issues that are
not raised before a trial court cannot be raised on appeal absent compelling or extraordinary
circumstances.” People v Grant, 445 Mich 535, 546; 520 NW2d 123 (1994). Unpreserved
issues are reviewed for plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights. People v Carines,
460 Mich 750, 763; 597 NW2d 130 (1999).
Defendant has not demonstrated a plain error affecting her substantial rights in this
matter. At most, she has shown the development of a potential constitutional claim in a future
case. Criminal defendants are guaranteed the right to a speedy trial. US Const, Am VI; Const
1963, art 1, § 20; MCL 768.1; MCR 6.004(A). The determination whether a defendant has been
denied the right to a speedy trial requires the balancing of the following four factors: “(1) the
length of delay, (2) the reason for delay, (3) the defendant’s assertion of the right, and (4) the
prejudice to the defendant.” People v Williams, 475 Mich 245, 261-262; 716 NW2d 208 (2006).
Defendant argues that the without prejudice dismissal in the present case may lead to a violation
of her right to a speedy trial in the “new” case. However, any speedy trial claim based on the
filing of new charges is an issue that should be raised, if at all, in the new case, where the factors
can be appropriately and fully addressed. Because the without prejudice dismissal did not
preclude defendant from raising such a claim in the event charges were refiled, there was no
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plain error affecting defendant’s substantial rights.
Affirmed.
/s/ Alton T. Davis
/s/ Christopher M. Murray
/s/ Jane M. Beckering
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