This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

D1 was a world champion boxer. D1's championship belts ultimately came into the hands of D, a Miami businessman. D attempted to sell the belts to undercover FBI agents. D claimed that the belts had not been stolen. The government confiscated the belts and filed an interpleader action in federal district court to determine whether D or D1 is the rightful owner of the belts. Baez's principal contention on appeal is that the district court should not have admitted testimony about a purported apology from Bolivar Iglesias. Over D's objection, the district court permitted a number of witnesses, including D1 and some of his family members, to testify that Iglesias, D1's brother, apologized in their presence for stealing the belts. D objected on hearsay grounds. The court allowed it on an existing state of mind or emotion exception. D1 got the verdict and D appealed.

The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.

Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.