In Re The Detention Of: L.l.

• Court: Court of Appeals of Washington
• Decided: December 22, 2025
• Docket: 87326-1
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION ONE

In Re the Detention of: No. 87326-1-I L.L. DIVISION ONE

UNPUBLISHED OPINION

PER CURIAM — L.L. appeals the trial court’s 14-day involuntary commitment

order. L.L. contends, and respondent Fairfax Behavioral Health Hospital (Fairfax)

concedes, that the order must be reversed because he was not properly informed that

he could avoid the loss of his firearm rights if he submitted to voluntary treatment.

At the time of a probable cause hearing for involuntary commitment and before

entry of an order of commitment, either the court or the prosecutor “shall inform the

person both orally and in writing that the failure to make a good faith effort to seek

voluntary treatment. . . will result in the loss of his or her firearm rights if the person is

subsequently detained for involuntary treatment.” RCW 71.05.240(2). To satisfy this

requirement, the subject of the petition must be explicitly advised that the loss of firearm

rights can be avoided by voluntary participation in treatment. In re Detention of T.C., 11

Wn. App. 2d 51, 63, 450 P.3d 1230 (2019).

Here, the court informed L.L.’s counsel, “I think I have to advise your client that if

I do make a finding that commitment is warranted, that he would lose the right to

possess a firearm,” but did not explain that L.L. could prevent the loss of this right by No. 87326-1-I/2

agreeing to treatment. Fairfax concedes that the advisement was insufficient. We

accept Fairfax’s concession of error and reverse and remand for an order vacating the

14-day commitment finding. 1

Reversed and remanded.

FOR THE COURT:

1 Given this decision, we do not reach the other issues raised on appeal.

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