In the Matter of the Guardianship of: K.P.

Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided August 12, 2025·No. 39788-2·Unpublished

Opinion

FILED

AUGUST 12, 2025

In the Office of the Clerk of Court WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

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

In the Matter of the Guardianship of: ) No. 39788-2-III )

K.P. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION )

MURPHY, J. — Eastern State Hospital (ESH) petitioned for a full guardianship of the person and estate of K.P. After a bench trial, the superior court found that (1) K.P. lacked the ability to meet her physical needs and manage her finances, and (2) K.P.’s needs could not be met by a protective arrangement or a limited guardianship or conservatorship. We agree and affirm.

FACTS

K.P. was born in 1961 and carries a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. It was described that K.P. struggles with major mood episodes that have psychotic elements, as well as elements of paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, and aggression. Since the late 1990s, K.P. has been admitted to ESH over 20 times, with 6 admissions since 2017. ESH does not function as a permanent place to live. In recent years, ESH worked to create an effective discharge plan that would not result in K.P.’s readmission. Unfortunately, over the last few years, discharges have each resulted in a short period of time with K.P. experiencing dangers to self and endangerments to others, and

In re Guardianship of K.P.

readmission. With this historical perspective, on October 4, 2021, ESH petitioned for a full guardianship of the person and the estate of K.P. 1 ESH alleged in the petition that K.P. “is unable to adequately provide for nutrition, health, housing, or physical safety and is at significant risk of personal harm” and “is unable to adequately manage property or financial affairs and is at significant risk of financial harm.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 1.

A bench trial on the petition was held in April 2023.

Trial testimony Josh Guthmueller The first witness called by ESH at trial was Josh Guthmueller, the proposed guardian and conservator. Guthmueller’s brief testimony touched on his background, training, and willingness to serve if appointed.

Dr. Brian Sweatt Dr. Brian Sweatt, K.P.’s treating psychiatrist, testified about K.P.’s current diagnosis: schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type treatment resistant. Dr. Sweatt described that the schizophrenia component of K.P.’s diagnosis manifests in disorganized

1 Nomenclature has changed from “full guardianship of person and estate” to “guardianship/conservatorship” with enactment of the uniform guardianship, conservatorship, and other protective arrangements act, chapter 11.130 RCW, and repeal of the former guardianship statutes, chapters 11.88 and 11.92 RCW.

In re Guardianship of K.P.

behaviors, along with delusional and persecutorial beliefs. He testified that people demonstrating disorganized behavior take issue with the current chronology or calendar, or may wear multiple layers of clothing or clothing inappropriate for the weather. K.P.’s “delusional beliefs or counter factual beliefs regarding the way her body operates” would often lead K.P. to being resistant to beneficial treatments or would interfere with her ability to make medical decisions that were in her best interest. Rep. of Proc. (RP) (Apr. 10, 2023) at 43. Dr. Sweatt expressed concern that K.P. was unable to make reality-based decisions about her health based on his experiences with her. For example, K.P. declined medical interventions due to her belief that the doctors were trying to steal her blood. As another example, historically, K.P. had been unable to regulate her sodium levels as a result of drinking excessive water, but she declined recommended blood draws to test her sodium levels, which may have become dangerously low. As a result, ESH engaged in “pretty stringent work” to restrict K.P.’s fluids “so that she can manage her [sodium] at a level that’s consistent with her ability to think at least apparently appears to be clinically more clearly.” RP (Apr. 10, 2023) at 59.

The bipolar component of K.P.’s diagnosis has a mood component in which K.P.

will become easily upset and switch between happy, sad, and angry relatively quickly. To complicate matters, K.P. will complain about health issues, but follow-up is not easily accomplished because K.P. declines exams. Dr. Sweatt expressed that it has been a

In re Guardianship of K.P.

struggle to assess K.P.’s reported symptoms because K.P. often requires “serious convincing” before allowing any medical intervention. RP (Apr. 10, 2023) at 48.

Late in 2022, ESH obtained a court order to administer a new antipsychotic medication that K.P. did not want to take. Dr. Sweatt did not believe K.P.’s previous medication was working, and the new medication was offered to reduce symptoms. The change in medications, which occurred only as the result of a court order, has been observed to have resulted in behavioral improvements.

Dr. Sweatt has repeatedly worked with K.P. to create discharge plans. K.P.’s history is that she discharges from ESH to a hotel of her choice, thereafter rapidly declines as a result of her choices, and readmits to psychiatric care. The recommendation of K.P.’s treatment team is discharge to “someplace where she may be able to have help with her medicines, with her food, with her shelter, where someone can check in on her.” RP (Apr. 10, 2023) at 49. In the past, K.P. on discharge declined to follow the treatment team’s recommendations and insisted on independent living. Dr. Sweatt noted that when he engages K.P. to discuss discharge or a possible guardianship, K.P. becomes upset and goes into a “[m]urderous rage,” directing threats and physical violence toward Dr. Sweatt. RP (Apr. 10, 2023) at 56.

The opinion of Dr. Sweatt was that a guardianship would help K.P. with both her medical and financial decisions. Further, it was Dr. Sweatt’s opinion that K.P.’s somatic

In re Guardianship of K.P.

delusions precluded her from understanding the risks associated with declining treatment, or with actions like sending money to hotels and apartments for deposits, or to an unknown person she referred to as her “husband.” RP (Apr. 10, 2023) at 53. While recognizing K.P.’s right to make her own financial choices and placing value on her independence, Dr. Sweatt opined that K.P. demonstrated a “concrete inability to accept new information incorporated into her thinking process.” RP (Apr. 10, 2023) at 52. It was Dr. Sweatt’s belief that a guardian could help K.P. sign necessary paperwork that she may not understand or be comfortable with, and also help in finding proper places to live on discharge, as well as assist in making decisions regarding health and safety should K.P. experience a medical emergency or require a medical intervention while in the community.

As far as medical decision making, Dr. Sweatt noted K.P.’s brother agreed with a guardianship for K.P. “because she’s made threats against [their family], and they worry about if they were to make decisions for her what that would do.” RP (Apr. 10, 2023) at 60.

Leslie Miknavich Leslie Miknavich has been K.P.’s psychiatric social worker at ESH since August 2022. Miknavich was ESH’s signing representative for the petition on a basis that K.P. needs a higher level of care after discharge in the form of assisted living with case

In re Guardianship of K.P.

management, structured care in assisted living, or a group home. Miknavich testified K.P.’s paranoia, distrust of staff, and inability to make reality-based decisions resulted in K.P. being unwilling to participate in discharge planning with agencies to receive assistance in finding housing or signing up for housing vouchers. K.P. expressed the goal of living with her “husband,” a person with no known address or phone number, and with whom Miknavich has never spoken. RP (Apr. 10, 2023) at 91-92. K.P. has expressed the fear that if she signed up for services, then her money would be taken, with these discussions on discharge from ESH causing K.P. to become upset and then yell and threaten staff.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

In the Matter of the Guardianship of: K.P., (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).

In the Matter of the Guardianship of: K.P. (In the Matter of the Guardianship of: K.P.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

State v. Russell
415 P.2d 503 (Washington Supreme Court, 1966)
In Re the Detention of LaBelle
728 P.2d 138 (Washington Supreme Court, 1986)
State v. Holland
656 P.2d 1056 (Washington Supreme Court, 1983)
Groff v. Department of Labor & Industries
395 P.2d 633 (Washington Supreme Court, 1964)
In Re The Guardianship Of Casey Lynn Ursich v. Gregory L. Ursich
448 P.3d 112 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2019)
Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District v. Dickie
73 P.3d 369 (Washington Supreme Court, 2003)
In re the Detention of H.N.
355 P.3d 294 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2015)