In re the Involuntary Treatment of: A.J. ( 2016 )

FILED
AUGUST 4, 2016
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division Ill
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
In the Matter of the Involuntary Treatment )
of ) No. 33112-1-111
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AJ.t )
)
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) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
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SIDDOWAY, J. -The trial court involuntarily committed A.J. to 180 days of
mental health treatment. A.J. appeals, arguing that (I) though his commitment has ended,
this case is not moot, (2) insufficient evidence supported the jury's verdict that he was
"gravely disabled", and (3) trial counsel provided ineffective assistance when he did not
object to a misleading jury instruction on the State's proper burden of proof. Finding no
error, we affirm.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On June 29, 2014, A.J. was detained for involuntary mental health treatment at
Sacred Heart Medical Center. A.J. was detained because he had stopped taking his
t For purposes of this opinion, the appellant's initials are used in place of his
name.
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antipsychotic medications and had decompensated, becoming "agitated, confrontational,
religiously preoccupied, grandiose, paranoid, and delusional." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 33.
About two weeks later, the Spokane County Superior Court committed A.J. to
Eastern State Hospital for 90 days for involuntary mental health treatment. Near the end
of the 90 days, Dr. Patricia Gunderson and Dr. Laura Seymour petitioned the court for an
order allowing up to 180 additional days of involuntary treatment for A.J. The doctors
alleged A.J. required continued hospitalization because he was gravely disabled as a
result ofhis mental disorder. A.J. requested a jury and the three-day trial was held in
early January 2014. During the trial, the State presented testimony from three witnesses
to support the involuntary commitment.
Dr. Gunderson, a psychologist at Eastern State Hospital in Washington, testified
first. Dr. Gunderson evaluated A.J. on October 1, 2014. Because A.J. refused to speak
with Dr. Gunderson, she testified that the basis of her evaluation was A.J.'s "ward chart,"
which consisted of "all the documentation from his current admission, the assessments
when he first arrived, all the progress notes up to that time, treatment orders, [and] any
legal documents in the chart." Report of Proceedings (RP) at 46. Though at the time of
the evaluation Dr. Gunderson had not reviewed any past records or interviewed the staff
at Eastern State Hospital, she had done both by the time of trial.
Dr. Gunderson testified to her conclusion that A.J. is schizophrenic. She stated
A.J.'s schizophrenia manifests in paranoid and grandiose delusions, such as believing that
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the government is after him, that his hospitalization is the result of a plot against him, and
that he once worked as an undercover operative for the FBI. She also testified that A.J.
has religious delusions and believes God and the devil speak to him and tell him to do
things. Dr. Gunderson stated A.J. has hallucinations and hears voices when he is not on
his medication. Finally, Dr. Gunderson testified that A.J. has a lack of insight into his
schizophrenia, and does not believe he has a mental illness or that he needs medications.
At times he also has poor hygiene.
Dr. Gunderson stated that due to A.J.'s paranoia, she thought it would be difficult
for him to find housing if he were released. She also said that, based on A.J.'s history of
not taking his medication (even while in the hospital), she did not believe he would take
his medication if he were discharged. Consequently, Dr. Gunderson stated she believed
A.J. was gravely disabled and that, if released, he would be in danger of serious physical
harm because of his inability to provide for his essential needs of health and safety.
Dr. Seymour, another psychologist at Eastern State Hospital, was the State's next
witness. Dr. Seymour was A.J.'s treating psychiatrist beginning in late August 2014, and
testified to meeting with him usually more than once a month. She stated this was A.J.' s
fourth hospitalization at Eastern State Hospital, and that he had been hospitalized at other
hospitals as well. Dr. Seymour evaluated A.J. the week before trial. She testified that the
basis of this evaluation was A.J.'s medical chart, part of his past records, discussions with
A.J.' s treatment team, and her own observations of him.
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Dr. Seymour testified that A.J. suffers from chronic paranoid schizophrenia,
antisocial personality traits, and use of cannabis and methamphetamines. She testified to
the same symptoms as Dr. Gunderson: paranoia that the police are after him, an inability
to trust anybody, religious delusions, hallucinations, lack of insight into his mental illness
and need for medication, refusal to take his medication, and poor hygiene.
Additionally, Dr. Seymour testified that without medication A.J. 's thought process
is, disorganized and he does not understand what is going on around him and often
misinterprets situations, believing that people are "out to get him." RP at 71. She said
the antisocial personality trait she saw most was his irritability, which she believed was
exacerbated by his substance use. She described an instance in the past year in which
A.J. was trying to obtain shelter at a homeless shelter. When he was refused admittance,
A.J. picked up a large two-by-four and wielded it at the staff. When the police arrived,
A.J. put down the two-by-four and picked up a sharp object and began threatening the
police with it. The police tased him, but A.J. then lunged at them and the police shot him
"many times." RP at 82.
Though A.J.'s symptoms are not all resolved when he is on medication, Dr.
Seymour testified that when he is taking medication, the symptoms are much more
controlled. She said within the last year A.J. had achieved a baseline-an individual's
level of functioning under the maximum amount of treatment-under which he suffered
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only mild paranoia and delusions that did not interfere with his ability to obtain food and
shelter.
Based on all of this information, Dr. Seymour testified that if A.J. were
discharged, she did not believe he would take his medication, and that without
medication he would have difficulty maintaining a routine and would be more susceptible
to using substances as a result. She also stated she believed his safety was at risk because
of his paranoia, as demonstrated by the altercation with the police. Finally, she said she
did not believe he would be capable of paying bills, obtaining housing, accessing his
social security, working with people to obtain housing or manage his finances, or
maintaining proper hygiene. Dr. Seymour opined that A.J. was gravely disabled, and that
if released, he would be unable to provide for his essential needs of health and safety.
Michelle Wendt, a psychiatric social worker at Eastern State Hospital, was the
State's third and final witness. At the time of trial, Ms. Wendt was A.l's social worker
and part of his treatment team, and had been since August 28, 2014. Ms. Wendt testified
to seeing A.J. daily in the hall, and meeting with him on a weekly basis.
Ms. Wendt testified that her discharge plan for A.J. was to place him in group
housing to ensure his daily needs of shelter, food, medications, and medical treatment
were met-needs she did not believe him capable of fulfilling on his own. Ms. Wendt
attempted to access group housing for A.J., but because A.J. has not consented to an
interview with the housing provider, she has been unable to obtain that housing. Ms.
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Wendt stated A.J. expressed his intention to live with friends, but would not disclose any
information about the friends, and consequently, she was unable to verify that such a
placement would provide adequate mental health follow-up treatment for him. She also
discussed his difficulty interacting with others, which she felt would be a problem if he
were released. Based on this evidence, Ms. Wendt opined that A.J. would be unable to
meet his health and safety needs if he were discharged.
At the close of the hearing, the court instructed the jury on the State's burden of
proof using a jury instruction almost identical to a Washington Pattern Jury Instruction.
The jury found A.J. gravely disabled and the court entered an order involuntarily
committing A.J. for up to 180 days at Eastern State Hospital. A.J. timely appeals.
ANALYSIS
A.J. appeals, arguing that (I) this appeal is not moot despite the fact that his
involuntary commitment has ended, (2) insufficient evidence supported the jury's finding
that he was gravely disabled, and (3) trial counsel provided ineffective assistance when
he did not object to a misleading jury instruction about the State's standard of proof.
Each argument is addressed in turn.
1. This appeal is not moot
A.J. argues that although his period of involuntary commitment has ended, this
appeal is not moot. An appeal is moot if the court can no longer provide effective relief.
Orwick v. City ofSeattle, 103 Wash. 2d 249, 253, 692 P.2d 793 (1984). "An individual's
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release from detention does not render an appeal moot where collateral consequences
flow from the determination authorizing such detention." In re Det. of MK., 168 Wn.
App. 621, 626, 279 PJd 897 (2012) (citing Born v. Thompson, 154 Wash. 2d 749, 762-64,
117 PJd 1098 (2005); Monohan v. Burdman, 84 Wash. 2d 922, 925, 530 P.2d 334 (1975)).
Because under chapter 71.05 RCW "the trial court is directed to consider, in part, a
history of recent prior civil commitments ... each order of commitment entered up to
three years before the current commitment hearing becomes a part of the evidence against
a person seeking denial of a petition for commitment." MK., 168 Wash. App. at 626
(footnote omitted) (citing RCW 71.05.012, .212, and .245). Accordingly, because each
commitment order has collateral consequences in subsequent petitions and hearings, the
issue is not moot. Id.; accord In re Det. of HN., 188 Wash. App. 744, 749-50, 355 PJd
294 (2015), review denied, 185 Wash. 2d 1005 (2016).
2. Substantial evidence supports the jury's finding that A.J. was gravely disabled
A.J. argues the State did not present sufficient evidence to support the jury's
finding that he was gravely disabled. "[I]nvoluntary commitment for mental disorders is
a significant deprivation of liberty which the State cannot accomplish without due
process oflaw." In re Det. ofLaBelle, 107 Wash. 2d 196, 201, 728 P.2d 138 (1986) (citing
Dunner v. McLaughlin, 100 Wash. 2d 832, 838, 676 P.2d 444 (1984); In re Harris, 98
Wash. 2d 276, 654 P.2d 109 (1982)). In fact, the United States Supreme Court has
characterized involuntary commitment as "a massive curtailment of liberty." Humphrey
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v. Cady, 405 U.S. 504, 509, 92 S. Ct. 1048, 31 L. Ed. 2d 394 (1972). Though "the State
has a legitimate interest under its police and parens patriae powers in protecting the
community from the dangerously mentally ill and in providing care to those who are
unable to care for themselves, ... mental illness alone is not a constitutionally adequate
basis for involuntary commitment." LaBelle, 107 Wash. 2d at 201. Accordingly, "a State
cannot constitutionally confine without more a nondangerous individual who is capable
of surviving safely in freedom by himself or with the help of willing and responsible
family members or friends." 0 'Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S. 563, 576, 95 S. Ct. 2486,
45 L. Ed. 2d 396 (1975).
"Generally, under the [voluntary commitment] statute, RCW 71.05, persons may
be involuntarily committed for treatment of mental disorders if, as a result of such
disorders, they either ( 1) pose a substantial risk of harm to themselves, others, or the
property of others, or (2) are gravely disabled." LaBelle, 107 Wash. 2d at 201-02 (citing
RCW 71.05.020(1)(3), .150, .240, .280, .320). In this case, A.J. was involuntarily
committed under the gravely disabled standard. Under RCW 71.05.020(17),
"Gravely disabled" means a condition in which a person, as a result of a
mental disorder: (a) Is in danger of serious physical harm resulting from a
failure to provide for his or her essential human needs of health or safety; or
(b) manifests severe deterioration in routine functioning evidenced by
repeated and escalating loss of cognitive or volitional control over his or
her actions and is not receiving such care as is essential for his or her health
or safety.
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An individual may be involuntarily committed ifhe is found gravely disabled under
either alternative (a) or (b). LaBelle, 107 Wash. 2d at 202.
To satisfy the alternative (a) and show the individual "[i]s in danger of serious
physical harm resulting from a failure to provide for his or her essential human needs of
health or safety," RCW 7I.05.020(17)(a), "the State must present recent, tangible
evidence of failure or inability to provide for such essential human needs as food,
clothing, shelter, and medical treatment which presents a high probability of serious
physical harm within the near future unless adequate treatment is afforded." LaBelle, 107
Wash. 2d at 204-05. "[T]he failure or inability to provide for these essential needs must be
shown to arise as a result of mental disorder and not because of other factors." Id.
Where a 180-day commitment is at issue, the burden of proof is clear, cogent, and
convincing evidence, "which means the ultimate fact in issue must be shown by evidence
to be 'highly probable."' RCW 71.05.310; LaBelle, 107 Wash. 2d at 209.
The State provided sufficient evidence to show A.J. was gravely disabled under
alternative (a). Dr. Gunderson testified that due to A.J.'s paranoia and resultant inability
to interact with others, it would be difficult for him to find housing. She also stated A.J.
has hallucinations when he does not take his medication, and that she did not believe he
would take it if he were discharged. This opinion was based on Dr. Gunderson's recent
(October 2014) evaluation of A.J.'s ward chart from his then-current admission.
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Ii Dr. Seymour testified this was A.J.'s fourth hospitalization and that A.J. was
I disorganized and often did not understand what was going on around him, something that
I
fed into his misinterpretation of situations as plots against him. Dr. Seymour pointed to
I
an example from within the past year (the police tasing and shooting him) of the actual
physical harm that occurred as a result of A.J.' s paranoia. She also testified that, if
released, A.J. would likely not take his medication, and would therefore have difficulty
maintaining a routine, would be at increased risk for substance abuse, and would be
unable to pay bills, obtain housing, access social security, or maintain proper hygiene.
Finally, Ms. Wendt testified that, based on her direct weekly interactions with A.J.
beginning in August 2014, she did not believe him capable of providing for his daily
needs of shelter, food, medication, or medical treatment. The conclusion each of these
witnesses came to was that, if released, A.J. would be in danger of serious physical harm
because of his inability to provide for his basic needs of health and safety. This is
sufficient evidence of A.J.' s recent inability to provide for his essential needs of health
and safety to establish-under a clear, cogent, and convincing standard of proof-that
A.J. was gravely disabled under the alternative (a).
However, A.J. contends the expert testimony from the State's three witnesses
cannot provide the basis for any findings of fact because the witnesses based their
opinions on inadmissible evidence. A.J. cites Prentice Packing & Storage Co. v. United
Pacific Insurance Co., 5 Wash. 2d 144, 164, 106 P.2d 314 (1940) in support ofthis
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contention. But Prentice establishes no such rule. There, the court stated verdicts must
"rest upon testimony, and not upon conjecture and speculation." Id. at 164; accord
Davidson v. Municipality of Metro. Seattle, 43 Wash. App. 569, 575-78, 719 P.2d 569
(1986) (finding expert's opinion lacked factual basis where the expert assumed a variety
of facts for which no evidence existed in the record). This does not mean the evidence
underlying the expert's opinion must be admitted at trial in order for the opinion to form
the basis of the court's findings. See Grp. Health Coop. of Puget Sound, Inc. v. Dep 't of
Revenue, 106 Wash. 2d 391, 397-401, 722 P.2d 787 (1986) (finding expert's testimony was
properly admitted where it was not based solely on conjecture and speculation, and where
opposition had ample opportunity to cross-examine him and present its own expert
testimony). If specialized knowledge will help the jury to determine a fact in issue, an
expert may testify to his or her opinion so long as he or she bases that opinion on facts or
data that are of the type reasonably relied on by experts in that field. ER 702, 703. Those
facts or data do not need to be admissible in evidence. ER 703; see LaBelle, 107 Wash. 2d
at 209-11 (finding substantial evidence for an involuntary commitment order where the
only evidence was expert testimony from one doctor); In re Det. of Marshall, 122 Wn.
App. 132, 90 P.3d 1081 (2004), ajf'd, 156 Wash. 2d 150, 125 P.3d 111 (2005).
In this case, each witness testified to A.J.' s mental state, which required
specialized knowledge and experience. Both Dr. Gunderson and Dr. Seymour testified
the records they relied on in forming their opinions were the type reasonably relied on by
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experts in their particular field. Furthermore, Ms. Wendt, who had direct weekly contact
with A.J., testified her opinion was based on her own personal observation of A.J. The
testimony complied with ER 702 and 703 and was sufficient to allow the jury to find A.J.
gravely disabled.
3. A.J. 's trial counsel did not provide ineffective assistance
A.J. argues his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance when he allowed the
court to provide the jury with an instruction that essentially misstated the State's burden
of proof.
The challenged jury instruction-which is almost identical to WPI 360.06 1-
defined the clear, cogent, and convincing standard of proof:
Instruction No. 4: Eastern State Hospital is the petitioner, and has the
burden of proving each element of its case by clear, cogent and convincing
evidence. Clear, cogent and convincing evidence exists when the element
has been shown by the evidence to be highly probable.
Proof by clear, cogent and convincing evidence requires a greater
showing than is required under the preponderance of the evidence standard
that is used in many other civil cases. Preponderance of the evidence exists
when an element has been shown to be more probably true than not true.
On the other hand, proof by clear, cogent and convincing evidence
does not require as great a showing as is required under the reasonable
doubt standard used in criminal cases. Reasonable doubt means such a
1
6A WASHINGTON PRACTICE: WASHINGTON PATTERN JURY INSTRUCTIONS:
CIVIL 360.06 (6th ed. 2012) (WPI). There are two minor differences between the
instruction given and the pattern instruction. Those differences are both in the last
sentence of the third paragraph: "Reasonable doubt means such a doubt as exists in the
mind of a reasonable person after fully, fairly, and carefully considering all the evidence
or lack of evidence." WPI 360.06 (emphasis added).
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doubt as would exist in the mind of a reasonable person after fully, fairly
and carefully considering all of the evidence or lack of evidence.
Preponderance of the evidence and beyond a reasonable doubt are
defined here solely to aid you in understanding the meaning of clear, cogent
and convincing evidence.
RP at 155.
Specifically, A.J. argues that by using the criminal reasonable doubt standard for
comparison without stating it requires the jury to find an element "beyond" a reasonable
doubt, the instruction misled the jury into thinking that under the reasonable doubt
standard, a jury could convict a criminal defendant even if it had a reasonable doubt. A.J.
argues that because this lowered the criminal reasonable doubt standard offered as a
comparison, it also lowered what the jury perceived the clear, cogent, and convincing
standard to be-effectively lowering the State's burden of proof. 2
2A.J. proposes the following instruction:
Eastern State Hospital is the petitioner, and has the burden of
proving each element of its case by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence.
Clear, cogent, and convincing evidence exists when the element has been
shown by the evidence to be highly probable.
Proof by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence requires a greater
showing than is required under the preponderance of the evidence standard
that is used in many other civil cases. Preponderance of the evidence exists
when an element has been shown to be more probably true than not true.
On the other hand, proof by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence
does not require as great a showing as is required under the "beyond a
reasonable doubt" standard used in criminal cases. In a criminal case, the
State has the burden ofproving each element of a crime beyond a
reasonable doubt. Reasonable doubt means such a doubt as exists in the
mind of a reasonable person after fully, fairly and carefully considering all
of the evidence or lack of evidence.
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To demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel a defendant must prove that
counsel's representation was deficient, and that such deficient representation prejudiced
the defendant. State v. McFarland, 127 Wash. 2d 322, 334-35, 899 P.2d 1251 (1995)
(citing State v. Thomas, 109 Wash. 2d 222, 225-26, 743 P.2d 816 (1987)). The claim fails if
the defendant fails to satisfy either prong. Thomas, 109 Wash. 2d at 226. There is a strong
presumption that counsel performed effectively. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,
689, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). A claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel is a mixed question of law and fact and is reviewed de novo. State v. Suther by,
165 Wash. 2d 870, 883, 204 P.3d 916 (2009).
A.J. cannot establish that counsel's representation was deficient. It is not deficient
representation to fail to object when the court gives the jury a pattern jury instruction.
See State v. Studd, 137 Wn.2d 533,551,973 P.2d 1049 (1999) (finding counsel was not
ineffective for proposing a then-unquestioned pattern jury instruction). However, though
we find counsel provided effective representation, A.J.'s suggestion that the instruction
could be improved is well taken. The Washington Pattern Instructions Committee should
consider revising the instruction to make clear that under the reasonable doubt standard
Preponderance of the evidence and beyond a reasonable doubt are
defined here solely to aid you in understanding the meaning of clear,
cogent, and convincing evidence.
Br. of Appellant at 27-28 (suggested alterations italicized).
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the jury must find the essential facts beyond a reasonable doubt.
We affirm.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
WE CONCUR:
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