In re MH 2007-001275

196 P.3d 819, 219 Ariz. 216, 2008 WL 4356288, 2008 Ariz. App. LEXIS 69
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedApril 8, 2008
DocketNo. 1 CA-MH 07-0023
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 196 P.3d 819 (In re MH 2007-001275) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re MH 2007-001275, 196 P.3d 819, 219 Ariz. 216, 2008 WL 4356288, 2008 Ariz. App. LEXIS 69 (Ark. Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

OPINION

KESSLER, Presiding Judge.

¶ 1 Appellant, G.M., appeals the decision of the superior court finding him persistently or acutely disabled and ordering a combined program of inpatient and outpatient treatment. Appellant argues that he was denied his due process rights to a formal, contested hearing as required by Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) section 36-539 (2003) when the superior court failed to make express findings that the waiver of his rights at such a hearing was voluntary, knowing and intelligent. We hold that, similar to a waiver of the right to be present at such a hearing and the waiver of a right to counsel, a superior court in conducting a hearing under section 36-539 (“539 hearing”) must ensure from a colloquy with the patient or from the record itself that the patient has voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived his statutory right to present evidence and to subpoena, confront and cross-examine witnesses. Since the contested hearing did not occur here and the record as presented indicates, at a minimum, that Appellant may not have been competent to have voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waived such rights, we remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶ 2 On July 23, 2007, a petition for a court-ordered inpatient evaluation of Appellant pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-523 (2003) was filed with the superior court. An application for an involuntary evaluation was also submitted at that time pursuant to AR.S. § 36-520 (2003). See A.R.S. § 36-523(C). The basis for both the petition and application was the belief that Appellant had a mental disorder and, as a result of the disorder, Appellant was a danger to himself and persistently and acutely disabled. A.R.S. §§ 36-520(B)(4) and -523(A)(4). An application for an emergency admission evaluation was also filed the same day pursuant to A.R.S. § 36-524 (2003), alleging that Appellant was a danger to himself. See A.R.S. §§ 36-523(0 and - 524(C)(1). Appellant was taken into custody for evaluation. See A.R.S. §§ 36-524(E) and -525 (2003). On July 25, 2007, the court appointed the Maricopa County Public Defender to represent Appellant. See A.R.S. §§ 36-528(D) and-535 (A).

¶ 3 On July 26, 2007, a petition for court-ordered treatment was filed by Dr. Marta Buñuel at Desert Vista Hospital (“Petitioner”) stating that Appellant was persistently or acutely disabled and that court-ordered treatment alternatives consisted of combined inpatient and outpatient treatment. See A.R.S. §§ 36-533(A)(2) and -540(A)(2) (2003). Pursuant to section 36-533(B), affidavits from two examining physicians who evaluated Appellant were attached to the petition. One affidavit was from Dr. Maria Bailón and the other was from Dr. Payam Sadr, who was supervised by Dr. Lydia Torio, a supervising attending physician.

¶4 The 539 hearing was scheduled for August 2, 2007. See generally A.R.S. § 36-535(B) (2003) (“The court shall either release the proposed patient or order the hearing to be held within six days after the petition is filed”.). At the scheduled time, Appellant was present and represented by counsel. Because both “acquaintance witnesses” were not present to testify and Petitioner’s attorney was unable to say the witnesses would be available the next day, the superior court dismissed the petition. See A.R.S. § 36-[218]*218539(B) (evidence shall include testimony of two witnesses acquainted with patient at time of disorder and testimony of the two evaluating physicians). Twenty minutes later, it was brought to the court’s attention that the two acquaintance witnesses were present in the court complex but in the wrong room. Although counsel for Appellant objected to reopening the matter, the court determined it would be appropriate to hold the hearing on the petition for court-ordered treatment because the acquaintance witnesses were available. Appellant was brought back before the court, at which time Petitioner’s attorney informed the court that,

[t]he parties have agreed to submit to you the 72 hour medication affidavit and the contents of the Court’s file, including the affidavits of the evaluating physicians in lieu of their testimony. And the patient is agreeing to waive the supporting testimony of the acquaintance witnesses that are present here today ... from Value Options. The parties agree that the witness statements in the Court’s file will support a finding of persistently and acutely disabled.

Appellant’s attorney then advised the court that,

given the fact that the Court has overruled the Respondent’s objection to proceeding in reopening the case and given the fact that the two listed witnesses are present and available in the courtroom, [the client] and I have discussed the matter. He knows he has a right to have a hearing and given the fact that the witnesses are now here and present, we will waive his right to a hearing and agree to the terms as described by (indiscernible).

¶ 5 Although the documentary record contained affidavits from the two evaluating physicians and a supervisor of one of the physicians, only one affidavit was received from an acquaintance witness. The superior court then addressed Appellant stating,

I had an opportunity earlier today to review the legal file, and which includes the affidavits of the two doctors as well as the petition and I’ve also had a chance to take a look now at your medication affidavit, and based upon the matters that I’ve considered, I do find by clear and convincing evidence that you are suffering from a mental disorder and that as a result you are persistently or acutely disabled. I find that you’ve been either unable or unwilling to accept voluntary treatment and that you’re in need of such treatment.

The court further found that there were no other available or appropriate alternatives other than court-ordered treatment. See A.R.S. § 36-533(A)(2). The court ordered that Appellant undergo combined inpatient/outpatient treatment not to exceed 365 days. See A.R.S. §§ 36-540(A)(2) and (D). Inpatient treatment was to be for at least 25 days but not to exceed 180 days. See A.R.S. § 36-540(F).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
196 P.3d 819, 219 Ariz. 216, 2008 WL 4356288, 2008 Ariz. App. LEXIS 69, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-mh-2007-001275-arizctapp-2008.