In Re State Ex Rel. KDC

78 S.W.3d 543, 2002 WL 563610
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 16, 2002
Docket07-00-0530-CV
StatusPublished

This text of 78 S.W.3d 543 (In Re State Ex Rel. KDC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re State Ex Rel. KDC, 78 S.W.3d 543, 2002 WL 563610 (Tex. Ct. App. 2002).

Opinion

78 S.W.3d 543 (2002)

The STATE of Texas FOR THE BEST INTEREST AND PROTECTION OF K.D.C., as a Mentally Ill Person.

No. 07-00-0530-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Amarillo.

April 16, 2002.

*544 Robert Teel, Lubbock, for appellant.

*545 Lubbock County District Attorney's Office, William Sowder and R. Neal Burt, Lubbock, for appellee.

Before BOYD, C.J., and REAVIS and JOHNSON, JJ.

PHIL JOHNSON, Justice.

Appellant K.D.C. appeals from orders committing her for temporary inpatient mental health services and authorizing administration of psychoactive medication. We reverse and render as to both orders.

BACKGROUND

On November 1, 2000, K.D.C. was detained in Levelland, Hockley County, and taken to the Sunrise Canyon Hospital (the hospital) in Lubbock. An Order for Protective Custody was issued by the Lubbock County judge (the "trial judge" or "trial court") pursuant to an Application for Emergency Detention and Temporary Mental Health Services. The application alleged that K.D.C. was mentally ill and evidenced a substantial risk of harm to herself or others in that she was exhibiting manic behavior and hyper-religiosity, and was unable to care for herself. The order for protective custody was to expire on November 6, 2000. Pursuant to agreement of K.D.C.'s attorney ad litem, the order was extended until November 9, 2000.

On November 9, 2000, the trial court held a hearing to determine whether K.D.C. should be detained for court-ordered temporary inpatient mental health services for up to 90 days. See Tex. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 574.034(a) (Vernon Supp.2002).[1] The trial court granted the State's motion. The court's order included findings that K.D.C. was mentally ill and that each of the subdivisions of HSC § 574.034(a)(2) were applicable. The court adjudged appellant mentally ill, determined that she required inpatient care and treatment in a mental health facility and ordered that she be committed for inpatient mental health services for a period not exceeding 90 days. See HSC § 574.034(g). After finding that K.D.C. required inpatient care and treatment and ordering that she be committed for such treatment, the court held a hearing on and granted the State's application to administer psychoactive medications to K.D.C.

K.D.C. does not challenge the determination that she was mentally ill. See HSC § 574.034(a)(1). However, she challenges the evidentiary support for findings required pursuant to HSC § 574.034(a)(2). She also challenges the order authorizing administration of psychoactive medications.

K.D.C. asserts five issues, but groups the first four together for argument. By her first issue, K.D.C. argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove that she would likely cause harm to herself or others. See HSC § 574.034(a)(2)(A) and (B). Her second issue alleges that the evidence was insufficient to prove that she was suffering severe distress, see HSC § 574.034(a)(2)(C)(i), or deterioration of her ability to function independently. See HSC § 574.034(a)(2)(C)(ii). In her third issue, K.D.C. asserts that the evidence was insufficient to prove that she was not capable of surviving safely in freedom. By her fourth issue, K.D.C. generally contends that the evidence was insufficient to prove that the requirements of HSC § 574.034 were met as to her. Her fifth issue urges that the order authorizing administration *546 of psychoactive medications is invalid because it must be based on a valid order that she be committed for inpatient care, and the order for inpatient care was not valid for the reasons urged in her first four issues. See HSC § 574.104(a)(3), (b)(3). Although K.D.C. does not clearly set out whether she is challenging the legal or factual sufficiency of the evidence, we construe the issues to be both legal and factual sufficiency challenges. See Tex.R.App. P. 38.1(e).

STANDARD OF REVIEW

In instances requiring the trial court to exercise its function as a factfinder and to also make legal determinations and to exercise its discretion in making a decision based on combination of the two functions, appellate review is multi-faceted. See Bocquet v. Herring, 972 S.W.2d 19, 21 (Tex. 1998). Necessary underlying factual findings by the trial court are reviewable for legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence. Id. Decisions vested in the discretion of the trial court based on predicate factual findings supported by the evidence, decisions involving application of legal principles, or decisions involving application of or matters of law are reviewed only to determine whether the trial court acted without reference to any guiding rules and principles. See Craddock v. Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc., 134 Tex. 388, 393, 133 S.W.2d 124, 126 (1939).

An appellate court reviewing "no evidence" or legal sufficiency complaints may consider only the evidence and inferences that tend to support the finding and must disregard all contrary evidence and inferences. See Continental Coffee Prods. Co. v. Cazarez, 937 S.W.2d 444, 450 (Tex. 1996). In the absence of direct evidence, a finding may be upheld on circumstantial evidence if the finding may be fairly and reasonably inferred from the facts. See Blount v. Bordens, Inc., 910 S.W.2d 931, 933 (Tex.1995).

If a finding is challenged for factual sufficiency of the evidence, all of the evidence is reviewed. See Lofton v. Texas Brine Corp., 720 S.W.2d 804, 805 (Tex. 1986). The review includes evidence both favorable to and contrary to the findings. See In re King's Estate, 150 Tex. 662, 664-65, 244 S.W.2d 660, 661 (1951). We reverse on the basis of factual insufficiency only if the verdict is so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence that it is manifestly erroneous or unjust. Id. Where enough evidence is before the factfinder that reasonable minds could differ on the meaning of the evidence or the inferences and conclusions to be drawn from the evidence, we may not substitute our judgment for that of the factfinder. See Herbert v. Herbert, 754 S.W.2d 141, 144 (Tex.1988).

LAW

A judge may order a proposed patient to receive court-ordered, temporary inpatient mental health services only if the judge finds, from clear and convincing evidence, that:

(1) the proposed patient is mentally ill; and
(2) as a result of that mental illness the proposed patient:
(A) is likely to cause serious harm to himself;
(B) is likely to cause serious harm to others; or
(C) is:
(i) suffering severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress;

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Lofton v. Texas Brine Corp.
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Goldwait v. State
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Taylor v. State
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Broussard v. State
827 S.W.2d 619 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1992)
Bocquet v. Herring
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Vista Chevrolet, Inc. v. Lewis
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Craddock v. Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc.
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T.G. v. State
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State for the Best Interest & Protection of K.D.C.
78 S.W.3d 543 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2002)

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Bluebook (online)
78 S.W.3d 543, 2002 WL 563610, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-state-ex-rel-kdc-texapp-2002.