S.T. v. 1515 Broad Street, LLC (081916) (Essex County & Statewide) ( 2020 )

SYLLABUS
This syllabus is not part of the Court’s opinion. It has been prepared by the Office of the
Clerk for the convenience of the reader. It has been neither reviewed nor approved by the
Court. In the interest of brevity, portions of an opinion may not have been summarized.
S.T. v. 1515 Broad Street, LLC (A-87-18) (081916)
Argued November 6, 2019 -- Decided March 9, 2020
ALBIN, J., writing for the Court.
Only when, through proper legal procedures, a court determines that a litigant
lacks the mental capacity to govern her affairs may the litigant be deprived of the right to
decide the destiny of her lawsuit. In this appeal, the Court considers whether the trial
court adhered to those procedures when it empowered a guardian ad litem to make
“any and all decisions regarding the ultimate disposition of this case, whether by trial or
settlement,” on behalf of plaintiff S.T. without ever conducting a guardianship hearing.
On March 11, 2008, S.T. was a forty-four-year-old chemical engineer fluent in
four languages. She came to this country as a teenage refugee from Vietnam and later
served in the United States Army. She held a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering
and master’s degrees in both chemical engineering and environmental sciences. On the
evening of March 11, S.T. was working as a chemical engineer at ABB Lummis Global,
located at 1515 Broad Street in Bloomfield, N.J. While exiting the building, S.T. was
struck in the head by a metal plate that fell from above the building’s doorway. The next
day, she went to the hospital, was diagnosed with a concussion, and was given
intravenous medications for the pain. That was the first of more than 500 visits S.T.
made to healthcare providers to address a constellation of conditions related to her claim
that she suffered a traumatic brain injury.
One year after the accident, the Social Security Administration declared S.T.
permanently disabled and awarded her permanent disability benefits. A clinical
psychologist diagnosed S.T. as suffering from cognitive, anxiety, and depressive
disorders and opined that S.T.’s cognitive impairment is “expected to be a chronic and
permanent condition.” A forensic psychiatrist diagnosed S.T. as suffering from such
conditions as post-concussion syndrome, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic migraine
disorder, intracranial hypertension, and left trigeminal neuralgia and found those conditions
to be “causally related to the accident and . . . permanent in nature.” A 2013 psychological
report indicated that S.T.’s “[m]easures of verbal comprehension . . . suggest[ed] a superior
level of receptive language functions” and that her “measures of nonverbal domains
including memory, spatial processing and nonverbal abstract reasoning” were above average.
On the other hand, her speed in processing complex information remained impaired.
1
In February 2010, S.T. filed a civil complaint alleging that she suffered serious
injuries resulting from the negligence of the building owner and other purported
responsible parties. In July 2013, defendants filed an offer of judgment in the amount of
$475,000 to settle the case. S.T. rejected the offer against the advice of her attorney.
Because the attorney believed that S.T. suffered from a diminished mental
capacity and that her rejection of defendants’ offer was not in her best interests, he
applied to the trial court for the appointment of a guardian ad litem and arranged for the
forensic psychologist to examine S.T. again. The doctor opined that S.T. “shows a
diminished capacity to fully consider the risks of her decisionmaking in regard to how to
proceed with the case.” S.T. later asserted that she was not advised of the purpose of the
examination.
The court appointed attorney Frederick Miceli as a guardian ad litem and then
ceded to him the authority to determine whether S.T. had the mental capacity to make an
informed decision on whether to accept or reject a settlement offer. Miceli reviewed the
“extensive case materials,” including the discovery and medical records, and interviewed
S.T. twice in person and once over the telephone. He finally expressed his opinion that a
guardian ad litem should be entrusted with the authority to decide for S.T. whether the
case should be resolved by trial or settlement. Without conducting a guardianship
hearing, the court entered an order empowering Miceli to make “all decisions regarding
the ultimate disposition of this case, whether by trial or settlement in accordance with the
powers of a Guardian Ad Litem as set forth in the Rules of Court.”
Without S.T.’s consent, an agreement was reached among the parties to settle the
lawsuit for the sum of $625,000. The court conducted a “friendly hearing” to assess the
reasonableness and fairness of the settlement and to determine whether to approve it.
Based on the recommendation of the guardian ad litem and S.T.’s personal-injury
attorney, the court accepted a settlement of the lawsuit against S.T.’s forceful objections.
The Appellate Division affirmed the judgment of the trial court and the procedures
that led to the approval of the settlement. 455 N.J. Super. 538, 548-49 (App. Div. 2018).
The Court granted S.T.’s petition for certification. 238 N.J. 437 (2019).
HELD: Before depriving S.T. of the right to control the direction of her case and
appointing a guardian to make legal decisions on her behalf, the court was required to
conduct a hearing to determine whether she lacked “sufficient capacity to govern
[herself] and manage [her] affairs” “by reason of mental illness or intellectual disability.”
See N.J.S.A. 3B:1-2; N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24; R. 4:86-4. At such a hearing, S.T. had the right
to independent counsel. See R. 4:86-4(a)(7). In the absence of a guardianship hearing
and a judicial finding by clear and convincing evidence that S.T. lacked the requisite
mental capacity to decide how to proceed with her lawsuit, the court had no authority to
accept a settlement against S.T.’s wishes.
2
1. Generally, a lawyer agrees to pursue the goals of a client to the extent the law permits,
even when the lawyer believes that the client’s desires are unwise. RPC 1.14(b) presents
an exception to that rule; it permits a lawyer who “reasonably believes that the client has
diminished capacity, is at risk of substantial . . . financial . . . harm unless action is taken
and cannot adequately act in the client’s own interest” to “take reasonably necessary
protective action, including . . . , in appropriate cases, seeking the appointment of a
guardian ad litem.” The Court does not question that S.T.’s attorney acted in good faith
when he requested the appointment of a guardian ad litem. S.T.’s counsel, however,
erred in not copying his client on the motion for the appointment of a guardian ad litem.
The Court agrees with the Appellate Division that when “counsel for an alleged mentally
incapacitated person makes a motion to appoint a [guardian ad litem],” the motion must
be served on that person. See 455 N.J. Super. at 560 n.3. (pp. 23-25)
2. The Court also finds that the trial court, after reviewing S.T.’s counsel’s certification
along with the attached expert medical reports, properly exercised its discretion in
appointing a guardian ad litem. The court’s order, however, should have cited the basis
of the court’s authority and made clear the role to be played by the guardian ad litem.
The Court explains that the interplay between Rule 4:26-2 and Rule 4:86 is critical to an
understanding of how this case should have proceeded. (p. 25)
3. Paragraph (b) of Rule 4:26-2 sets forth the initial procedure that follows when a
person is alleged to be mentally incapacitated. Under Rule 4:26-2(a), a guardian for a
“mentally incapacitated person” is authorized to prosecute a legal action on her behalf.
In contrast, the role of a guardian ad litem for an “alleged mentally incapacitated person”
under Rule 4:26-2(b) is more limited: to act as an independent investigator and inform
the court on the subject of the client’s mental capacity. The Court acknowledges that this
rule is not a model of clarity and notes that the interpretive mistakes made by both the
trial court and Appellate Division might have been avoided if the language of the rule
was more precise. The Court requests that the Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee
review Rule 4:26-2 in light of this opinion. (pp. 25-28)
4. After completing its inquiry under Rule 4:26-2(b), the guardian ad litem submits a
report to the court containing the results of the investigation and recommends whether a
formal hearing should proceed under Rule 4:86. The guardian ad litem’s
recommendations are not binding on the court; ultimately the court must make its own
independent factfindings. The court should not cede its responsibility and authority as
the decisionmaker to the guardian ad litem. Nothing in New Jersey’s court rules, statutes,
or case law suggests that a guardian ad litem appointed to investigate a client’s alleged
mental incapacity has the power to make legal decisions for the client before a judicial
determination on her mental capacity. In this case, Miceli recommended to the court that
he be given the authority to decide whether S.T.’s case should be resolved by trial or
settlement. Without affording S.T. notice or a hearing and without making a judicial
determination that S.T. was a mentally incapacitated person, the court ceded to Miceli the
3
power to make “all decisions regarding the ultimate disposition of this case, whether by
trial or settlement.” By abdicating the Judiciary’s nondelegable oversight and factfinding
function, the trial court did not proceed in the constitutional manner prescribed by both
Rule 4:86-1 to -8 and N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24 to -35 for the appointment of a guardian of an
alleged mentally incapacitated person. (pp. 28-31)
5. An action for guardianship of an alleged incapacitated individual and the proceedings
required for a judgment of incapacity are governed by court rule and statute. R. 4:86-1 to
-8; N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24 to -35. Rigorous procedural safeguards protect the subject of a
guardianship hearing because a finding of incapacity results in an individual’s loss of the
right of self-determination. The procedural steps required by New Jersey court rules or
statutes were not followed in this case: a guardianship complaint with notice to S.T.,
accompanied by the affidavits of qualified medical professionals, was never filed; a
hearing with the taking of testimony, with S.T. represented by independent counsel, was
never conducted; factfindings by the trial court based on clear and convincing evidence
were never made; and S.T. was never adjudicated by the court as a mentally incapacitated
person. The trial court ceded its judicial function, outsourcing to the guardian ad litem
the role of final arbiter of S.T.’s capacity. The issue is not whether there was clear and
convincing evidence of S.T.’s incapacity in the record, as the Appellate Division found.
See 455 N.J. Super. at 560, 563-64. The issue is that the trial court failed to conduct the
hearing -- either a jury or bench trial -- with the due process safeguards required by our
court rules and statutes. (pp. 31-33)
6. Rule 4:44-3 provides that “[a]ll proceedings to enter a judgment to consummate a
settlement in matters involving . . . mentally incapacitated persons shall be heard by the
court without a jury” and that “[t]he court shall determine whether the settlement is fair
and reasonable.” Such a proceeding is called a “friendly hearing.” But there was no
judicial finding that S.T. was mentally incapacitated in accordance with our court rules
and statutes. Without such a finding, the trial court had no authority to conduct a friendly
hearing under Rule 4:44-3 or to deny S.T. the right to determine for herself whether to
accept a settlement in her case. (pp. 34-35)
7. The Court notes that an additional issue was raised by one defendant: whether the
complaint filed against that defendant is barred by the statute of limitations. The Court
explains why it declines to pass judgment on or remand that issue. (p. 36)
The judgment of the Appellate Division is REVERSED, the settlement
approved by the trial court is VACATED, and the matter is REMANDED.
CHIEF JUSTICE RABNER and JUSTICES LaVECCHIA, FERNANDEZ-VINA,
and SOLOMON join in JUSTICE ALBIN’s opinion. JUSTICES PATTERSON and
TIMPONE did not participate.
4
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
A-87 September Term 2018
081916
S.T.,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
1515 Broad Street, LLC,
The Walsh Company, LLC,
and County Glass & Metal
Installers, Inc.,
Defendants-Respondents,
and
County Glass & Metal Installers, Inc.,
Third-Party Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
Virginia Glass Products,
Third-Party Defendant,
and
IDESCO Corp.,
Third-Party Defendant-Respondent.
1
On certification to the Superior Court,
Appellate Division, whose opinion is reported at
455 N.J. Super. 538 (App. Div. 2018).
Argued Decided
November 6, 2019 March 9, 2020
Charles Dawkins, Jr. argued the cause for appellant
(Law Office of Charles Dawkins, Jr., attorneys;
Charles Dawkins, Jr., of counsel and on the briefs).
Peter A. Gaudioso argued the cause for respondent
County Glass & Metal Installers, Inc. (McElroy,
Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, attorneys; Peter A.
Gaudioso, of counsel and on the briefs, and Cassandra
J. Neugold, on the briefs).
Gerard H. Hanson argued the cause for respondent
Idesco Corp. (Hill Wallack, attorneys; Gerard H.
Hanson, of counsel and on the briefs, and Victoria J.
Airgood, on the briefs).
Matthew S. Mahoney argued the cause for respondent
1515 Broad Street, LLC (Law Offices of Linda S.
Baumann, attorneys; Matthew S. Mahoney, on the
briefs).
JUSTICE ALBIN delivered the opinion of the Court.
An individual’s right to determine how best to pursue her personal and
financial affairs -- and the fate of her lawsuit -- is so fundamental that it is
embedded in our State Constitution and our laws. See In re M.R., 135 N.J.
155, 166-67 (1994). That right is recognized in our Rules of Professional
2
Conduct, which command lawyers to “abide by a client’s decisions concerning
the scope and objectives of representation” and “abide by a client’s decision
whether to settle” or proceed with a lawsuit. See RPC 1.2(a). Lawyers and
judges may conclude that a client’s decision to turn down a settlement offer is
mistaken or even foolish, but in a system of justice that respects the right of
every individual to control her personal destiny, the client’s decision must be
honored.
Only when, through proper legal procedures, a court determines that a
litigant lacks the mental capacity to govern her affairs may the litigant be
deprived of the right to decide the destiny of her lawsuit. Those essential
principles are at the heart of the case before us.
Plaintiff S.T. allegedly suffered a serious injury when, as she exited the
building where she worked, an object from above the building’s door fell and
struck her on the head. The injuries, she asserts, have severely impaired all
aspects of her life, including her career. She filed a personal-injury lawsuit
against the building owner and other purported responsible parties. S.T.
rejected defendants’ offer of judgment against the advice of her attorney.
Because the attorney believed that S.T. suffered from a diminished mental
capacity and that her rejection of defendants’ offer was not in her best
3
interests, he applied to the trial court for the appointment of a guardian ad
litem.
The court appointed a guardian ad litem and then ceded to the guardian
ad litem the authority to determine whether S.T. had the mental capacity to
make an informed decision on whether to accept or reject a settlement offer.
Based on the recommendation of the guardian ad litem and S.T.’s personal-
injury attorney, the court accepted a settlement of the lawsuit against S.T.’s
forceful objections.
The Appellate Division affirmed the judgment of the trial court and the
procedures that led to the approval of the settlement. S.T. v. 1515 Broad St.,
LLC, 455 N.J. Super. 538, 548-49 (App. Div. 2018).
We now reverse. The trial court erroneously granted the guardian ad
litem the power to make “any and all decisions regarding the ultimate
disposition of this case, whether by trial or settlement” without ever
conducting a guardianship hearing.
Before depriving S.T. of the right to control the direction of her case and
appointing a guardian to make legal decisions on her behalf, the court was
required to conduct a hearing to determine whether she lacked “sufficient
capacity to govern [herself] and manage [her] affairs” “by reason of mental
illness or intellectual disability.” See N.J.S.A. 3B:1-2; N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24; R.
4
4:86-4. At such a hearing, S.T. had the right to independent counsel. See R.
4:86-4(a)(7). In the absence of a guardianship hearing and a judicial finding
by clear and convincing evidence that S.T. lacked the requisite mental capacity
to decide how to proceed with her lawsuit, the court had no authority to accept
a settlement against S.T.’s wishes.
We therefore vacate the settlement and remand the case to the trial court
for further proceedings.
I.
A.
The record is derived from the discovery in S.T.’s personal-injury
lawsuit, the pleadings and medical reports filed with the motion for the
appointment of a guardian ad litem, and the proceedings related to the
settlement of the personal-injury case.
On March 11, 2008, S.T. was a forty-four-year-old chemical engineer
fluent in four languages. She came to this country as a teenage refugee from
Vietnam and later served in the United States Army. She held a bachelor’s
degree in chemical engineering and master’s degrees in both chemical
engineering and environmental sciences.
On the evening of March 11, S.T. was working as a chemical engineer at
ABB Lummis Global, located at 1515 Broad Street in Bloomfield, N.J. While
5
exiting the building, S.T. was struck in the head by a metal plate that fell from
above the building’s doorway. Immediately after the impact, a security guard
and maintenance worker offered to call an ambulance, but S.T. declined help.
As S.T. drove home, she experienced double vision and “a severe left-sided
headache with swelling of the left jaw, as well as pain behind the left eye and
within the left ear.” The next day, she went to the hospital, was diagnosed
with a concussion, and was given intravenous medications for the pain. That
was the first of more than 500 visits S.T. made to healthcare providers to
address a constellation of conditions related to her claim that she suffered a
traumatic brain injury.
One year after the accident, the Social Security Administration declared
S.T. permanently disabled and awarded her permanent disability benefits.
Since the accident, S.T. has received ongoing speech and cognitive therapy at
the Veterans Administration Hospital.
Beginning in November 2010, S.T. was treated by Dr. Paula Reid, a
clinical psychologist. In November 2010, Dr. Reid performed a
neuropsychological evaluation and found that S.T. had experienced a
“significant reduction in the predicted intellectual performance on verbal
comprehension and processing speed.” Dr. Reid noted that S.T.’s “processing
speed difficulties impaired her performance on many of the tasks which were
6
time dependent [and] specifically those related to complex” language material.
S.T. also exhibited “a significant amount of depressive and anxious
symptomology.” Dr. Reid diagnosed S.T. as suffering from cognitive, anxiety,
and depressive disorders. Dr. Reid opined that S.T.’s cognitive impairment is
“expected to be a chronic and permanent condition.”
Between June 2011 and August 2012, Dr. Peter Crain, a board-certified
forensic psychiatrist, examined S.T. and reviewed her medical records.1 He
diagnosed S.T. as suffering from such conditions as post-concussion
syndrome, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic migraine disorder,
intracranial hypertension, and left trigeminal neuralgia.2 Dr. Crain found those
conditions to be “causally related to the accident and . . . permanent in nature.”
A 2013 psychological report from the Veterans Administration Hospital
indicated that S.T. scored varied results on cognitive, intelligence, and
psychological assessment tests. On the one hand, the report indicated that
S.T.’s “[m]easures of verbal comprehension . . . suggest[ed] a superior level of
1
Dr. Crain was retained as an expert witness by S.T.’s counsel.
2
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects the trigeminal
nerve, which is located in the cranium. This disorder typically results in
episodes of severe, sudden, shock-like pain in one side of the face that lasts for
seconds to a few minutes. See Stedman’s Medical Dictionary 1307 (28th ed.
2006); Bonica’s Management of Pain 956, 1508 (Scott Fishman et al. eds., 4th
ed. 2010).
7
receptive language functions” and that her “measures of nonverbal domains
including memory, spatial processing and nonverbal abstract reasoning” were
above average. On the other hand, her speed in processing complex
information remained impaired. The report recommended -- as had Dr. Reid
-- that S.T. receive extended time to complete projects, and that she be
permitted “to record all verbally presented job related assignments” and be
provided with “frequent breaks to reduce fatigue and headaches.”
S.T. also took numerous medications on a daily basis which were
prescribed to treat anxiety, depression, chronic headaches and migraines, facial
pain, and symptoms resulting from her cognitive impairment.
B.
In February 2010, S.T. filed a civil complaint alleging that she suffered
serious injuries resulting from the negligence of defendants 1515 Broad Street,
LLC (1515 Broad Street); the Walsh Company, LLC (Walsh); County Glass &
Metal Installers, Inc. (County Glass); and other fictitious defendants
responsible for the building’s construction, repair, or maintenance. On May
26, 2010, County Glass filed a third-party complaint against Virginia Glass
Products Corp. (Virginia Glass) and Idesco Corp. (Idesco). In an amended
complaint filed two years and six months after her injury, S.T. brought a
negligence claim against Idesco and product-liability claims against Virginia
8
Glass.3 S.T. essentially contended that defendants played various roles in the
negligent manufacture, installation, and maintenance of the doorway header
that led to the accident and her injuries.
Idesco and Virginia Glass both moved for summary judgment arguing
that S.T.’s claims were barred by the two-year statute of limitations. The trial
court denied Idesco’s motion, finding that S.T. satisfied the fictitious-practice
rule, R. 4:26-4, and therefore her claim was not barred by the two-year statute
of limitations. The court, however, dismissed all claims against Virginia Glass
because S.T.’s amended complaint asserted new causes of action that did not
relate back to the original complaint and therefore were beyond the statute of
limitations.
The parties engaged in more than two years of discovery. The disputed
issues focused on the identity of the object that struck S.T.’s head, the parties
responsible for S.T.’s injuries, and the nature and extent of any causal
relationship between S.T.’s medical conditions and the accident. The defense
claimed that S.T.’s purported injuries were not caused by the accident at 1515
3
1515 Broad Street owned the building where the injury occurred. 1515
Broad Street contracted with Walsh to perform building renovations. Walsh
then contracted with County Glass to furnish and install the door through
which S.T. passed when the object fell and struck her head. County Glass, in
turn, purchased the door, along with its glazing and frames, from the door’s
manufacturer and distributor, Virginia Glass. S.T.’s employer, ABB Lummis,
retained Idesco to install the magnetic locking system on that door.
9
Broad Street. The defense submitted a biomechanical analysis and engineering
reports suggesting that the object that struck S.T.’s head was a light cladding
surface layer -- not a metal plate, as claimed by S.T. The defense also asserted
that there was no objective evidence, such as a magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scan, to show that S.T. suffered an
organic brain injury.
In July 2013, defendants filed an offer of judgment in the amount of
$475,000 to settle the case. See R. 4:58-1, -3.4 S.T. rejected the offer against
the advice of her attorney.
In advance of the scheduled trial date, on September 10, 2013, S.T.’s
attorney filed a motion with the Law Division pursuant to Rule 4:26-2(b) and
RPC 1.14(b),5 seeking the appointment of a guardian ad litem to represent S.T.
for the limited purpose of determining whether to accept defendants’ offer of
4
Under the offer of judgment rule, if S.T. received a money judgment of
“80% of the offer or less,” she would have to pay defendants the costs of suit,
“all reasonable litigation expenses incurred following non-acceptance,” and
prejudgment interest. R. 4:58-2 to -3.
5
Rule 4:26-2(b)(4) provides that “[t]he court may appoint a guardian ad litem
for [an] . . . alleged mentally incapacitated person on its own motion.”
RPC 1.14(b) authorizes a lawyer to seek the appointment of a guardian ad
litem when he “reasonably believes that the client has diminished capacity,
[and] is at risk of substantial” financial harm unless action is taken to protect
the client’s interest.
10
judgment. In his attached certification, counsel averred that he “reasonably
believe[d]” that S.T. exhibited a “diminished capacity” that put her at “risk of
substantial financial harm as well as psychological/physical harm.” Counsel
disclaimed that he was suggesting that S.T. was “incompetent” or in need of a
full-time guardian to manage her affairs. He asserted only that S.T. suffered
from a “diminished capacity to understand the issues relating to her case.” He
expressed his serious concern about S.T.’s “physical and emotional ability to
participate in the prosecution of her case and . . . attend a lengthy trial” as well
as her “capacity to make adequately considered decisions regarding her case.”
Counsel appended to the motion reports from Dr. Crain, Dr. Reid, and the
Veterans Administration Hospital. Notably, “there is no evidence [S.T.’s]
counsel copied her on the motion” for the appointment of a guardian ad litem.
See S.T., 455 N.J. Super. at 559-60 n.3.
After counsel applied for the appointment of a guardian ad litem, he
arranged for Dr. Crain to examine S.T. for the purpose of determining whether
S.T. exhibited a “diminished capacity” to understand the issues related to her
case. Dr. Crain expressed his opinion -- in a two-sentence report submitted to
the court -- that S.T. “shows a diminished capacity to fully consider the risks
of her decisionmaking in regard to how to proceed with the case.” S.T. later
asserted that she was not advised of the purpose of the examination.
11
Before deciding the motion, the court conducted an in-camera
conference. On September 27, 2013, the court found “good cause” for the
appointment of attorney Frederick Miceli to serve as a guardian ad litem for
S.T. and adjourned the November trial date. Nothing in the record indicates
that S.T. was aware of the conference or of the implications of the appointment
of a guardian ad litem.
C.
Miceli reviewed the “extensive case materials,” including the discovery
and medical records, and interviewed S.T. twice in person and once over the
telephone. In a March 17, 2014 report submitted to the court, Miceli
concluded that S.T. either did not have “the requisite understanding and ability
. . . to make a rational decision regarding her case” or had an “intransigent
unwillingness to confront the realities” if the case proceeded to trial. Miceli
noted that when he explained to S.T. the risk of rejecting the offer of
judgment, she simply responded that “she had nothing to lose because her life
had been taken away from her.” According to Miceli, S.T. could not accept
that her New York treating physician, Dr. Reid, refused to testify at trial and
that the court had barred the testimony of another expert. 6 Miceli finally
6
In a supplemental report from Miceli and letter from Dr. Reid’s attorney, it
became clear that Dr. Reid would not “voluntarily” testify at trial, as an expert
or fact witness. That did not foreclose, however, the ability of S.T.’s counsel
12
expressed his opinion that, pursuant to Rule 4:26-2(b)(4), a guardian ad litem
should be entrusted with the authority to decide for S.T. whether the case
should be resolved by trial or settlement.
On April 22, 2014, without conducting a guardianship hearing, the court
entered an order, pursuant to Rule 4:26-2(b)(4), empowering Miceli to make
“all decisions regarding the ultimate disposition of this case, whether by trial
or settlement in accordance with the powers of a Guardian Ad Litem as set
forth in the Rules of Court.”
On May 6, 2014, without S.T.’s consent, an agreement was reached
among the parties to settle the lawsuit for the sum of $625,000. After
deducting attorney’s fees and costs, the guardian ad litem’s fees, and the
medical liens from that amount, S.T. would receive $254,322.65. In a June 17,
2014 supplemental letter to the court, Miceli expressed again his belief that
S.T.’s judgment was impaired by diminished capacity. In his opinion, in light
of “the issues regarding liability, causation, and the nature and extent of the
damages,” “the settlement [was] fair and reasonable and in [S.T.’s] best
interests.”
to depose Dr. Reid as a fact witness in New York and present her deposition
testimony at trial. See R. 4:11-5; R. 4:16-1(c).
13
On July 1, 2014, the court conducted a “friendly hearing” to assess the
reasonableness and fairness of the settlement and to determine whether to
approve it. See R. 4:44-3 (stating that a court shall hear “[a]ll proceedings to
enter a judgment to consummate a settlement in matters involving . . . mentally
incapacitated persons”).7 At the hearing, S.T.’s attorney stated that “[w]e are
not in any way saying that [S.T.] is incompetent to handle her affairs, but just
[that she has] a limited diminished capacity with regard” to deciding whether
to settle her case. Counsel estimated that if the case did not settle, a trial
would run at least four weeks.
Miceli, the guardian ad litem, also addressed the court. Relying on Dr.
Crain’s report and his own investigation, Miceli expressed his absolute
confidence that S.T. suffered from “diminished capacity” and that the guardian
ad litem, with the advice of S.T.’s counsel, should render the decision whether
to settle the case. Miceli appraised the risks of proving liability and damages,
including the challenge of proving causation, given that none of S.T.’s MRIs
or CT brain scans “showed an organic injury.” Noting the potential that a jury
could return an unfavorable verdict, Miceli viewed the settlement as “fair and
7
“Friendly hearing” is a term of art used in our jurisprudence to describe the
hearing at which the court reviews a proposed settlement for minors or
mentally incapacitated persons pursuant to Rule 4:44-3.
14
reasonable” and “in [S.T.’s] best interests,” and he “urge[d] the [c]ourt to
approve the settlement.”
Also present at the hearing were counsel for defendants, who sought
approval of the settlement.
S.T. testified that she wanted to go to trial, noting that she had already
advanced $30,000 to cover expenses. Although she expressed satisfaction with
the representation provided by her attorney, she considered the settlement offer
an inadequate recompense for her injuries. S.T. explained that she understood
the risks of proceeding to trial -- but that she and her family had accepted risks
in life when they made their perilous flight from Vietnam by boat. She stated
that she did not want to accept “30 cents to a dollar” -- a settlement that did
not cover the amount she owed to medical providers and to others who helped
support her during her disability. She compared the “forced settlement” to a
lifetime jail sentence, saying, “it’s just not fair.”
The court approved the settlement agreement. Under the agreement,
S.T. was to be paid $625,000 -- $550,000 from defendants County Glass and
Walsh and $75,000 from defendant Idesco. The $625,000 was allocated as
follows: $254,322.65 in damages to S.T.; $190,998.75 in legal fees and
unreimbursed expenses to S.T.’s counsel; $22,720.50 in fees to Miceli; and
$156,958.10 in payment of medical and workers compensation liens.
15
The court explained its reasons for approving the settlement. The court
observed that Miceli was a knowledgeable and experienced attorney and
advised S.T. “to trust his judgment” because “it’s in your best interests.” The
court discoursed on the unpredictability of juries -- a jury might return no
monetary award or a lesser or greater award than the settlement. The court
recognized that S.T. was “a very intelligent woman,” stating, “anybody who
listens to you talk . . . can hear you have . . . a very good grasp of your
situation. You obviously know the medicine involved, and the medical terms. ”
The court, however, added that “sometimes a little knowledge is dangerous.
I’m not sure you know enough. Because the mere fact that you want to reject a
$625,000 offer is troubling.” Although the court acknowledged that S.T.
would reject the settlement offer and “take [her] chances in front of a jury,” it
nevertheless believed that S.T. did not understand the complexities and
difficulties of the case and was guided by her emotions. After the court made
its ruling, S.T. responded, “you’re making a wrong decision.”
S.T. appealed from the trial court’s appointment of the guardian ad litem
and approval of the settlement. Idesco filed a protective cross-appeal, arguing
that if the Appellate Division vacated the settlement, it should reverse the trial
court’s denial of its motion for summary judgment on statute-of-limitations
grounds.
16
II.
The Appellate Division affirmed the trial court’s appointment of the
guardian ad litem, its authorization of the guardian ad litem to decide whether
to settle the case, and its approval of the settlement over S.T.’s protest. S.T.,
455 N.J. Super. at 548-49. The Appellate Division summarized two key legal
principles that guided its decision. First, under Rule 4:26-2(b)(4), “a trial
court may appoint a [guardian ad litem] if there is good cause to believe that a
party lacks the mental capacity” to make decisions needed in the litigation. Id.
at 548. The guardian ad litem’s charge is to investigate the party’s mental
capacity and then “to provide the court with any information necessary to
protect the person’s best interests.” Id. at 557-58. Second, if based on the
information adduced from the guardian ad litem’s investigation, the court finds
by clear and convincing evidence that the party is mentally incapable of
making important decisions, such as whether to try or settle the case, the court
then may empower the guardian ad litem to make those decisions. Id. at 548,
558-59.
The Appellate Division determined that (1) there was “good cause” to
appoint Miceli as a guardian ad litem based on the certification of S.T.’s
counsel, id. at 561-62; (2) the guardian ad litem’s “investigation provided clear
and convincing evidence that [S.T.] was mentally incapable of deciding
17
whether to try or settle the case,” id. at 562-64; (3) “the trial court properly
found that [S.T.] lacked the mental capacity to decide whether to try or settle
the case,” id. at 548-49, 564; and (4) the court appropriately authorized the
guardian ad litem to make that decision for S.T., id. at 564-66. Last, the
Appellate Division found “ample evidence to support the trial court’s decision
to approve the settlement” based on the appellate court’s review of the record,
including S.T.’s testimony at the friendly hearing. Id. at 567.
Because Idesco asked the Appellate Division to render a decision on its
protective cross-appeal only if the settlement was vacated, that issue became
moot and was not addressed. Id. at 569.
We granted S.T.’s petition for certification. 238 N.J. 437 (2019).
III.
A.
S.T. initially challenges the propriety of the trial court’s appointment of
the guardian ad litem for “good cause” under Rule 4:26-2. S.T. primarily
argues that she was deprived of her right to manage her affairs -- to decide for
herself whether to settle or proceed to trial -- without the due process
guarantees of a guardianship hearing under Rule 4:86 at which her mental
capacity would have been determined. S.T. contends that the trial court should
not have conducted a friendly hearing to decide the reasonableness of the
18
settlement agreement advanced by the guardian ad litem without first
determining at a Rule 4:86 hearing whether she was mentally incapacitated.
She asserts that, in the absence of a finding of mental incapacity, the court
should not have approved the settlement over her objections, and therefore the
settlement should be vacated.
B.
Defendants 1515 Broad Street, County Glass, Walsh, and Idesco present
similar arguments.8 Defendants argue that the trial court properly invoked
Rule 4:26-2 and found “good cause” for the “appointment of a guardian ad
litem to investigate whether S.T. lacked the capacity to prosecute her claim.”
They also contend that under Rule 4:26-2, the court had the power to authorize
the guardian ad litem “to make litigation-related decisions” without conducting
a guardianship hearing to determine S.T.’s mental capacity pursuant to Rule
4:86. According to defendants, the role of a Rule 4:86 hearing is to assess
whether a person is “generally incompetent to manage her person or property.”
“Even if a hearing should have occurred,” defendants posit that S.T. has
not asserted that she can show that “vesting a guardian ad litem with litigation-
related decision-making authority” was not justified by clear and convincing
8
1515 Broad Street and County Glass submitted identical briefs. Walsh
expressly relies on the opposition brief filed by 1515 Broad Street. Idesco
filed a separate brief.
19
evidence. Next, defendants submit that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in approving the settlement. In their view, the court saved S.T. from
“a significant risk of financial ruin.” They maintain that we should not
presume that an independent counsel retained by or appointed for S.T. “would
have advised her to reject the settlement.” And last, defendants suggest that a
remand for a competency hearing would likely be a futile effort because of
“the mountain of evidence of [S.T.’s] incompetency for the purpose of making
litigation-related decisions.”
If this Court vacates the settlement, Idesco urges the Court to exercise its
original jurisdiction and dismiss S.T.’s claim against it on statute-of-
limitations grounds or, alternatively, to remand the issue to the Appellate
Division.
IV.
This appeal raises four distinct issues: (1) whether S.T.’s attorney
fulfilled his professional responsibility under RPC 1.14(b) by requesting the
appointment of a guardian ad litem based on his reasonable belief that S.T.
suffered from a “diminished capacity” in making litigation decisions;
(2) whether the court properly appointed a guardian ad litem under Rule 4:26-2
to investigate whether S.T. had the mental capacity to decide whether to settle
her case or proceed to trial in light of the $475,000 offer of judgment;
20
(3) whether the court appropriately delegated to the guardian ad litem the
authority to determine S.T.’s mental capacity to make key legal decisions and
then appropriately gave the guardian ad litem the power to settle the case,
without holding a guardianship hearing or rendering a judgment on S.T.’s
mental capacity pursuant to Rule 4:86; and (4) whether the court erred in
approving the settlement over S.T.’s vocal opposition.
The issues before us are generally legal in nature -- the construing of
court rules, statutes, and constitutional precepts -- and therefore our standard
of review is de novo. See Willingboro Mall, Ltd. v. 240/242 Franklin Ave.,
L.L.C., 215 N.J. 242, 253 (2013). We must judge for ourselves the meaning of
the law that is in dispute, as well as the soundness of the legal reasoning and
decisions of both the trial court and Appellate Division. See ibid.
We begin with some basic principles of law.
A.
N.J.S.A. 2A:15-1 guarantees that “[e]very person who has reached the
age of majority . . . and has the mental capacity may prosecute or defend any
action in any court.” The Rules of Professional Conduct, moreover, require
lawyers to “abide by a client’s decisions concerning the scope and objectives
of representation” and whether to accept or reject a settlement offer. RPC
1.2(a). Those provisions are just a few sources that reflect a “clear public
21
policy . . . to respect the right of self-determination of all people.” See M.R.,
135 N.J. at 166.
“[C]ompetent people ordinarily can choose what they want,” even when
their choices are unwise or contrary to their best interests. Id. at 167; see also
Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 834 (1975) (finding that a person’s
decision to represent himself in a criminal case, even though ill-advised, “must
be honored out of ‘that respect for the individual which is the lifeblood of the
law’” (quoting Illinois v. Allen, 397 U.S. 337, 350-51 (1970) (Brennan, J.,
concurring))). The right of individuals to determine their unique destiny
through the decisions they make -- to govern and manage their own affairs -- is
an implicit guarantee of the New Jersey Constitution, which provides that
“[a]ll persons are by nature free and independent, and have certain natural and
unalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and
liberty, of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and of pursuing and
obtaining safety and happiness.” N.J. Const. art. I, ¶ 1; see M.R., 135 N.J. at
166.
A client’s interest in her lawsuit -- and the monetary damages that may
come from a favorable jury award or settlement -- unquestionably is a property
right. Logan v. Zimmerman Brush Co., 455 U.S. 422, 428 (1982) (“[A] cause
of action is a species of property protected by the Fourteenth Amendment’s
22
Due Process Clause.”). No person can be deprived of her right to govern and
manage her own affairs -- or her right to control the fate of her lawsuit -- based
on mental incapacity without rigorous adherence to the procedural protections
set forth in our rules of court, statutes, and case law. See R. 4:86-1 to -8;
N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24 to -35; In re S.W., 158 N.J. Super. 22, 24-26 (App. Div.
1978).
The trial court stripped S.T. of her right to control her lawsuit on her
own terms and empowered the guardian ad litem to settle the case -- with the
court’s ultimate approval -- against her express wishes. We conclude that the
court did not follow the requisite procedures in denying S.T. the right to accept
or reject a settlement offer. Specifically, the court improperly vested the
guardian ad litem with the singular authority to settle the case without holding
a hearing to determine whether S.T. suffered from a mental incapacity that
rendered her unable to make that legal decision for herself. See R. 4:86-1
to -8; N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24 to -35.
B.
1.
Generally, “[i]n accepting a case, the lawyer agrees to pursue the goals
of the client to the extent the law permits, even when the lawyer believes that
the client’s desires are unwise or ill-considered.” Ziegelheim v. Apollo, 128
23
N.J. 250, 261 (1992); see also RPC 1.2. RPC 1.14(b) represents an exception
to that rule. That rule provides:
When the lawyer reasonably believes that the client has
diminished capacity, is at risk of substantial physical,
financial or other harm unless action is taken and
cannot adequately act in the client’s own interest, the
lawyer may take reasonably necessary protective
action, including consulting with individuals or entities
that have the ability to take action to protect the client
and, in appropriate cases, seeking the appointment of a
guardian ad litem, conservator, or guardian.
[RPC 1.14(b).]
We do not question that S.T.’s attorney acted in good faith when,
pursuant to RPC 1.14(b), he requested the appointment of a guardian ad litem
based on his reasonable belief that S.T. suffered from a “diminished capacity”
to make the critical legal decision whether to settle the case. The attorney
reasonably believed, based on his understanding of S.T.’s medical records and
his conversations with his client, that her cognitive and mental impairments
affected her ability to view objectively the strengths and weaknesses of her
case. He feared that her refusal to accede to his advice and settle the case
might lead to financial ruin. Guided by RPC 1.14(b), he took “reasonably
necessary protective action . . . [by] seeking the appointment of a guardian ad
litem” under Rule 4:26-2(b).
24
S.T.’s counsel, however, erred in not copying his client on the motion
for the appointment of a guardian ad litem. S.T. had the right to know about
such a consequential motion filed by her lawyer. We agree with the Appellate
Division that when “counsel for an alleged mentally incapacitated person
makes a motion to appoint a [guardian ad litem],” the motion must be served
on that person. See S.T., 455 N.J. Super. at 560 n.3.
2.
We also find that the trial court, after reviewing S.T.’s counsel’s
certification along with the attached expert medical reports, properly exercised
its discretion in appointing a guardian ad litem. The court’s order, however,
should have cited the basis of the court’s authority, Rule 4:26-2, and made
clear the role to be played by the guardian ad litem. The court’s instructions
should have directed the guardian ad litem to conduct an investigation to
determine S.T.’s mental capacity and then to make a recommendation to the
court whether her best interests required the filing of an action for a limited or
general guardianship of S.T. in accordance with Rule 4:86.
The interplay between Rule 4:26-2 and Rule 4:86 is critical to an
understanding of how this case should have proceeded.
Rule 4:26-2(a) provides that a “mentally incapacitated person shall be
represented in an action by the guardian of either the person or the property .”
25
When a “mentally incapacitated person” is not represented by a guardian,
paragraph (a) authorizes the court to appoint “a guardian ad litem . . . in
accordance with paragraph (b) of this rule.” Ibid. A judicial determination of
mental incapacity, however, must precede the appointment of a guardian. See
R. 4:86-1 to -8; N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24 to -35. Paragraph (b) of Rule 4:26-2 sets
forth the initial procedure that follows when a person is alleged to be mentally
incapacitated.
Rule 4:26-2(b) provides that “[t]he court may appoint a guardian ad
litem for . . . [an] alleged mentally incapacitated person on its own motion,” R.
4:26-2(b)(4) (emphasis added), or the motion of others, R. 4:26-2(b)(2) and
(3). The word “alleged” before “mentally incapacitated” is not surplus
language but is central to understanding the guardian ad litem’s function at this
stage.9
9
Rule 4:26-2, in relevant part, states:
(a) Representation by Guardian. Except as otherwise
provided by law or Rule 4:26-3 (virtual representation),
a minor or mentally incapacitated person shall be
represented in an action by the guardian of either the
person or the property, appointed in this State, or if no
such guardian has been appointed or a conflict of
interest exists between guardian and ward or for other
good cause, by a guardian ad litem appointed by the
court in accordance with paragraph (b) of this rule.
(b) Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem.
26
Under Rule 4:26-2(a), a guardian for a “mentally incapacitated person”
is authorized to prosecute a legal action on her behalf. In contrast, the role of
a guardian ad litem for an “alleged mentally incapacitated person” under Rule
4:26-2(b) is more limited, as made clear by commentary to the court rule:
The use of the qualifier “alleged” to the use of the term
“mentally incapacitated person” in subparagraphs
(b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4) is to make clear that in
contradistinction to the appointment of a guardian (see
R. 4:86), which requires an adjudication of mental
incapacitation, a guardian ad litem’s appointment is
dependent only upon the allegation of mental
incapacitation. The guardian ad litem’s responsibility
is to advise the court as to whether a formal competency
hearing may be necessary and if so, to represent the
alleged mentally incapacitated person at that hearing.
[Pressler & Verniero, Current N.J. Court Rules, cmt. 3
on R. 4:26-2 (2020) (emphasis added).]
....
(4) Appointment on Court’s Motion. The court
may appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor or
alleged mentally incapacitated person on its own
motion.
We acknowledge that this rule is not a model of clarity. The interpretive
mistakes made by both the trial court and Appellate Division might have been
avoided if the language of the rule was more precise. We request that the
Supreme Court Civil Practice Committee review Rule 4:26-2 in light of this
opinion.
27
Thus, when a guardian ad litem is appointed pursuant to Rule 4:26-2(b)
to represent an individual who is “alleged” to be mentally incapacitated, the
guardian ad litem’s function is to inquire into the individual’s alleged mental
incapacity. The role of a guardian ad litem is to act as an independent
investigator and inform the court on the subject of the client’s mental capacity.
See M.R., 135 N.J. at 173-74 (quoting Pressler & Verniero, official cmt. on R.
5:8A and R. 5:8B). In that sense, the guardian ad litem serves “as ‘the eyes of
the court’ to further the [client’s] ‘best interests.’” In re Mason, 305 N.J.
Super. 120, 127 (Ch. Div. 1997). After completing its inquiry, the guardian ad
litem submits a report to the court containing the results of the investigation
and recommends whether a formal hearing should proceed under Rule 4:86.
See M.R., 135 N.J. at 173; Pressler & Verniero, cmt. 3 on R. 4:26-2. The
guardian ad litem’s recommendations are not binding on the court; ultimately
the court must make its own independent factfindings. See Milne v.
Goldenberg, 428 N.J. Super. 184, 202 (App. Div. 2012). The court should not
“cede [its] responsibility and authority” as the decisionmaker to the guardian
ad litem. See ibid. (quoting P.T. v. M.S., 325 N.J. Super. 193, 216 (App. Div.
1999)).
Nothing in our court rules, statutes, or case law suggests that a guardian
ad litem appointed to investigate a client’s alleged mental incapacity has the
28
power to make legal decisions for the client before a judicial determination on
her mental capacity. For example, in In re S.W., a hospital wanted to move its
patient, S.W., to a nursing home. 158 N.J. Super. at 24. S.W., however,
resisted the move and refused to sign Medicaid forms necessary for the
disbursement of money to the nursing home and for her placement there. Ibid.
Without making any claim that S.W. was mentally incompetent, the hospital
sought the appointment of a guardian ad litem who would have authority to
sign the required documents on S.W.’s behalf. Ibid. Despite any adjudication
or proof of S.W.’s incompetency, the court “determined, without elaboration,
that [S.W.’s] ‘interests’ required her to have [a guardian ad litem], and an
order was entered naming” a guardian ad litem to sign the Medicaid papers.
Id. at 24-25.10
The Appellate Division reversed, holding that the “judicial designation
of a person to sign documents on behalf of an adult deprives the latter . . . of
the management and control of his personal affairs” and “cannot be done
without the institution of an action in accordance with Rule 4:83 [(the
predecessor to Rule 4:86)].” Id. at 26. The purpose of such an action is to
10
Our jurisprudence, at times, uses the terms guardian and guardian ad litem
interchangeably. That dual usage of those terms does not alter the procedural
requirements that must be observed before a person can be deprived of her
right to manage her affairs on the ground of incapacity.
29
allow a court to adjudicate at a hearing whether, based on medical proof, “the
alleged incompetent is unfit and unable to govern himself or herself and to
manage his or her affairs” and therefore in need of the appointment of a
guardian of the person or property. Ibid. The Appellate Division emphasized
that any restraint that would deprive “an allegedly incompetent person of his
liberty or . . . of the control of his property and the management of his personal
affairs” must be imposed “in a constitutional manner in a proceeding instituted
for that purpose.” Ibid. (quoting Borough of East Paterson v. Karkus, 136 N.J.
Eq. 286, 288 (Ch. 1945)). The Appellate Division found in S.W. that the trial
court did not proceed in the constitutional manner prescribed by Rule 4:83. Id.
at 26.
In this case, the guardian ad litem appointed by the court -- Miceli
-- conducted an investigation into S.T.’s mental capacity, reviewed the medical
reports and counsel’s certification, interviewed S.T. on several occasions,
evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of the causes of actions against
defendants and the value of S.T.’s potential damages, and reported to the court.
The guardian ad litem recommended to the court that he be given the authority
to decide whether S.T.’s case should be resolved by trial or settlement.
Without affording S.T. notice or a hearing and without making a judicial
determination that S.T. was a mentally incapacitated person, the court ceded to
30
Miceli the power to make “all decisions regarding the ultimate disposition of
this case, whether by trial or settlement.” By abdicating the Judiciary’s
nondelegable oversight and factfinding function, the trial court did not proceed
in the constitutional manner prescribed by both Rule 4:86-1 to -8 and N.J.S.A.
3B:12-24 to -35 for the appointment of a guardian of an alleged mentally
incapacitated person.
3.
An action for guardianship of an alleged incapacitated individual and the
proceedings required for a judgment of incapacity are governed by court rule
and statute. R. 4:86-1 to -8; N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24 to -35. Rigorous procedural
safeguards protect the subject of a guardianship hearing because a finding of
incapacity results in an individual’s loss of the right of self-determination.
An “[i]ncapacitated individual” is a person “who is impaired by reason
of mental illness or intellectual disability to the extent that the individual lacks
sufficient capacity to govern himself and manage his affairs.” N.J.S.A. 3B:1-
2. An action for the appointment of a guardian must comply with Rule 4:86-2.
A guardianship complaint, among other things, must include two affidavits
from properly qualified medical professionals, stating their opinions about “the
extent to which the alleged incapacitated person is unfit and unable to govern
himself or herself and to manage his or her affairs,” R. 4:86-2(b)(2)(F), and
31
“the extent to which the alleged incapacitated person retains sufficient capacity
to retain the right to manage specific areas, such as . . . legal . . . decisions,” R.
4:86-2(b)(2)(G).
“If the court is satisfied with the sufficiency of the complaint and
supporting affidavits and that further proceedings” are necessary, the court
must (1) set a date for the hearing, R. 4:86-4(a)(1); (2) give the alleged
incapacitated person “at least 20 days’ notice” of the hearing, R. 4:86-4(a)(2);
and (3) advise the person that if she opposes the action, “she may appear either
in person or by attorney, and may demand a trial by jury,” R. 4:86-4(a)(5).
“[T]he trial of the issue of incapacity may be had without a jury . . . unless a
trial by jury is demanded by the alleged incapacitated person or someone on
his behalf.” N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24. “[I]f the alleged incapacitated person is not
represented by counsel,” the court must appoint counsel. R. 4:86-4(a)(7).
Unless the alleged incapacitated person requests a jury trial, the court
must take “testimony in open court” and “determine the issue of incapacity.”
R. 4:86-6(a). A finding of incapacity must be made by clear and convincing
evidence. See M.R., 135 N.J. at 169, 171 (“[T]he burden of proving specific
incapacity [is] by clear and convincing evidence.”).
Upon making a finding of incapacity, the court may appoint a general
guardian or a limited guardian, depending on whether the individual “lacks the
32
capacity to do some, but not all, of the tasks necessary to care for himself.”
N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24.1(a) to (b). “A judgment of limited guardianship may
specify the limitations upon the authority of the guardian or alternatively the
areas of decision making retained by the person.” N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24.1(b).
After determining whether a general or limited guardian is appropriate, the
court must then appoint an individual to serve as the guardian. R. 4:86-6(c).
None of the procedural steps required by our court rules or statutes were
followed in this case: a guardianship complaint with notice to S.T.,
accompanied by the affidavits of qualified medical professionals, was never
filed; a hearing with the taking of testimony, with S.T. represented by
independent counsel, was never conducted; factfindings by the trial court
based on clear and convincing evidence were never made; and S.T. was never
adjudicated by the court as a mentally incapacitated person. The trial court
ceded its judicial function, outsourcing to the guardian ad litem the role of
final arbiter of S.T.’s capacity.
The issue is not whether there was clear and convincing evidence of
S.T.’s incapacity in the record, as the Appellate Division found. See S.T., 455
N.J. Super. at 560, 563-64. The issue is that the trial court failed to conduct
the hearing -- either a jury or bench trial -- with the due process safeguards
required by our court rules and statutes.
33
4.
Rule 4:44-3 provides that “[a]ll proceedings to enter a judgment to
consummate a settlement in matters involving . . . mentally incapacitated
persons shall be heard by the court without a jury” and that “[t]he court shall
determine whether the settlement is fair and reasonable.” But there was no
judicial finding that S.T. was mentally incapacitated in accordance with our
court rules and statutes. Without such a finding, the trial court had no
authority to conduct a friendly hearing under Rule 4:44-3 or to deny S.T. the
right to determine for herself whether to accept a settlement in her case.
We therefore conclude that the trial court erred in conducting a friendly
hearing and then approving the settlement against S.T.’s express will.
In the view of counsel, the guardian ad litem, and the trial court, a
rejection of the settlement would have been an act of foolishness and against
S.T.’s own best interests. But without a judicial finding of incapacity, in
accordance with our court rules and statutes, S.T. had the right to make that
choice and reject the settlement. Ultimately, she will live with the
consequences of her freely made decision.
We offer this observation. S.T.’s attorney recommended that a guardian
ad litem be appointed for her when she rejected a $475,000 offer of judgment.
According to S.T.’s attorney, S.T.’s rejection of the original offer was some
34
evidence of her purported incapacity. Several months later, however, after the
appointment of a guardian ad litem, defendants agreed to a $625,000
settlement. Had S.T. not rejected the original offer, an additional $150,000
would not have been placed on the table.
A settlement is a compromise between the parties, a form of insurance in
which the parties protect themselves against verdicts at polar ends of the
spectrum. In many cases, there will be a wide range of reasonable outcomes,
and “reasonable people may differ on what is fair compensation in any
particular case.” See Cuevas v. Wentworth Grp., 226 N.J. 480, 500 (2016)
(quoting Johnson v. Scaccetti, 192 N.J. 256, 280 (2007)). Presumably,
defendants agreed to the settlement in furtherance of their own self-interests,
not out of benevolence.
We do not pass on the merits of S.T.’s case -- its strengths, weaknesses,
or potential value. Nor do we offer any opinion on the wisdom of the choices
S.T. wishes to make. We conclude only that the judicial system did not
function in the constitutional manner prescribed by our court rules and statutes
in ceding to the guardian ad litem the authority to determine S.T.’s capacity
and to settle her case.
Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the Appellate Division and
vacate the settlement.
35
V.
Finally, Idesco has urged this Court, in the event we vacate the
settlement, to exercise our original jurisdiction and consider its cross-appeal
brought before the Appellate Division in which it challenged the trial court’s
denial of its motion for summary judgment. The issue raised is whether the
complaint filed against Idesco is barred by the statute of limitations. Idesco
did not cross-petition for review of that issue, and that issue has not been
briefed or argued by both parties. We decline to pass judgment on it.
In light of our decision to vacate the settlement, Idesco’s issue is
interlocutory in nature. The Appellate Division denied Idesco’s earlier motion
for leave to appeal. We therefore will not remand this singular issue to the
Appellate Division and delay a disposition of the entirety of the proceedings
before the trial court.
VI.
For the reasons explained, we reverse the judgment of the Appellate
Division, vacate the settlement approved by the trial court, and remand for
proceedings consistent with this opinion. The path forward is left to the
parties, their counsel, and the court. We only caution that if a guardianship
action is pursued, it must be in accordance with our court rules and statutes.
36
CHIEF JUSTICE RABNER and JUSTICES LaVECCHIA, FERNANDEZ-
VINA, and SOLOMON join in JUSTICE ALBIN’s opinion. JUSTICES
PATTERSON and TIMPONE did not participate.
37