In re J.L.S.

2022 Ohio 3539
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided October 4, 2022·No. 21AP-693·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

In re: :

No. 21AP-693

J.L.S., Jr., : (Prob. No. MI-034445)

[Appellant]. : (REGULAR CALENDAR)

D E C I S I O N

Rendered on October 4, 2022

On brief: Steven McGann, for appellant. Argued: Steven McGann.

On brief: J. Michael Evans, for appellee. Argued: J.

Michael Evans.

APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division

KLATT, J.

{¶ 1} Appellant, J.L.S., Jr., appeals from a judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division, declaring him a mentally ill person subject to court- ordered hospitalization for a period not to exceed 90 days. For the following reasons, we affirm.

{¶ 2} On October 29, 2021, licensed Social Worker Kara Rufener submitted an affidavit of mental illness to the probate court. In the affidavit, Rufener averred that appellant was a mentally ill person subject to court order under the criteria set forth in R.C.

5122.01(B)(2), (3), and (4). The facts supporting Rufener's assertion were set forth in the narrative portion of her affidavit as follows:

On 10/28/2021, Netcare received a call from Columbus Police Department (CPD) Right Response Unit responder. Caller advised CPD has been to [appellant's] residence several times this week due to concerns of [appellant's] aggressive, threatening behavior, and deteriorating mental health. One call to CPD was made by a church member reporting [appellant] approached the pulpit and was "acting erratically"

at a church service on 10/24/2021. When [appellant] was asked to step down, [appellant] began to "make threats."

Another anonymous caller contacted CPD reporting [appellant] made threats on Facebook towards several church members and has since deleted these posts. Caller assisted in responding with CPD and observed [appellant] to be speaking rapidly, expressing grandiose thoughts, and being unable to stay on topic. [Appellant] expressed paranoid thoughts to caller concerning his mother and sister keeping him from money he believes he has inherited from his father's passing.

[Appellant] has been making threats toward his mother and sister because of this. [Appellant] has trouble sleeping. CPD did not transport [appellant] as caller states "he did not meet pink slip criteria for transport."

On 10/29/2021, pre-screener attempted to meet [appellant]

at his residence (where he lives with the mother). A man fitting [appellant's] description answered the door and stated [appellant] was not home. The man refused to take pre-

screener's contact information and shut the door. [Pre-

screener] attempted a call to [appellant's] phone and left a voice-mail. No return call has been received. Pre-screener then made phone contact with a relative who confirmed the man that answered was [appellant], and he was being dishonest about his identity to pre-screener. This relative confirmed the above concerns stating [appellant] has been threatening his mother and sister, telling his mother "shut up before I slap the shit out of you" and telling them both they have to get out of "his" house (it is his mother's home).

[Appellant] has been posturing aggressively towards his mother as if to strike her. [Appellant] is sleeping no more than three hours per night, not bathing, and hardly eating.

[Appellant] spends his time walking in and out of the house "ranting and raving" and slamming doors. [Appellant]

threatened his mother and sister saying, "here comes my friend and he's strapped" (carries a loaded firearm).

No. 21AP-693 3

[Pre-screener] spoke with a second relative who reported the exact same concerns, stating [appellant's] mother is fearful to return to her own home due to [appellant's] behaviors.

[Appellant] believes his mother owes him money from his deceased father's estate, which is not accurate. Both relatives report these behaviors are extremely out of character for [appellant] and believe they are symptoms of mental health.

Pre-screener recommends [appellant] be brought to Netcare to assist in facilitating psychiatric stabilization and to ensure the safety of [appellant] and others.

(Oct. 29, 2021 Rufener Aff. at 1.)

{¶ 3} A magistrate approved the affidavit and issued an order of detention on October 29, 2021. Appellant was taken into custody by the Franklin County Sheriff and turned over to appellee, Franklin County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health ("ADAMH") Board. Appellant was subsequently placed at Mount Carmel Behavioral Health ("Mount Carmel") for inpatient treatment.

{¶ 4} On November 2, 2021, the probate court issued an entry appointing counsel for appellant and designating William Bates, M.D., a psychiatrist, as the court doctor. The court also scheduled an evidentiary hearing before a magistrate for November 3, 2021 to consider the affidavit of mental illness.

{¶ 5} Counsel for appellant waived appellant's appearance at the November 3, 2021 hearing. Dr. Bates provided the only testimony.1 Based on the evidence presented, the magistrate found that appellant was a mentally ill person subject to court order pursuant to R.C. 5122.01(B)(2). The magistrate recommended inpatient hospitalization for a period not to exceed 90 days.

1The probate court record does not include a transcript of the November 3, 2021 hearing. Our averments about the hearing derive from the magistrate's November 3, 2021 decision.

No. 21AP-693 4

{¶ 6} On November 4, 2021, counsel for appellant filed a motion requesting a de novo hearing. Counsel maintained that appellant had intended to attend and participate in the November 3, 2021 hearing; however, a miscommunication regarding transport of appellant to the hearing prevented him from attending. The court granted the motion and issued an entry reappointing legal counsel and Dr. Bates. The court set an evidentiary hearing before a magistrate for November 5, 2021 to consider anew the affidavit of mental illness.

{¶ 7} Dr. Bates, appellant, appellant's mother, and appellant's sister testified at the November 5, 2021 hearing. Based on the evidence presented, the magistrate found that appellant was a mentally ill person subject to court order pursuant to R.C. 5122.01(B)(2). The magistrate recommended inpatient hospitalization for a period not to exceed 90 days.

{¶ 8} On November 12, 2021, appellant, pro se, filed a document entitled "Official Request to Appeal decision rendered November 5th, 2021 by Magistrate," which the probate court construed as objections to the magistrate's decision. On November 15, 2021, the court filed an entry scheduling a hearing on the objections for November 22, 2021. Appellee filed a memorandum contra appellant's pro se objections on November 17, 2021. On November 19, 2021, appellant, through counsel, filed supplemental objections to the magistrate's decision.

{¶ 9} The probate court held a hearing on the objections on November 22, 2021.2 Following that hearing, the court issued a judgment entry on November 22, 2021 overruling appellant's objections and adopting the magistrate's decision. The court determined that appellant "is a mentally ill individual subject to court-ordered involuntary civil

2 The probate court record does not include a transcript of the objections hearing.

No. 21AP-693 5 commitment [under R.C. 5122.01(B)(2)] and shall be committed to the Franklin County ADAMH Board for treatment for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days, with placement at Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare or another appropriate facility." (Nov. 22, 2021 Jgmt. Entry at 11.) Appellant was discharged from commitment on November 24, 2021.3

{¶ 10} In a timely appeal, appellant assigns one error for review:

The trial court erred in adopting the November 5, 2021 magistrate's report and decision finding that appellant suffers from a mental illness requiring hospitalization.

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In re J.L.S., 2022 Ohio 3539 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022).

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