State v. M. A. B.

157 P.3d 1256, 212 Or. App. 400, 2007 Ore. App. LEXIS 616
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedMay 2, 2007
Docket050969426; A131985
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 157 P.3d 1256 (State v. M. A. B.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. M. A. B., 157 P.3d 1256, 212 Or. App. 400, 2007 Ore. App. LEXIS 616 (Or. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

HASELTON, P. J.

Appellant challenges an order adjudicating him to be a mentally ill person and continuing his commitment to the Department of Human Services. ORS 426.301 - 426.307. He asserts that (1) the trial court improperly, on its own motion, admitted into evidence the precommitment investigation report pertaining to his original commitment and cross-examined him on the basis of that report and (2) the state failed to prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that, because of a mental disorder, he was unable to provide for his basic needs. ORS 426.005(1)(d)(B). On de novo review, State v. O’Neill, 274 Or 59, 61, 545 P2d 97 (1976), we agree with both of appellant’s challenges. Accordingly, we reverse.

Appellant was originally involuntarily committed in September 2005 on the grounds that he was dangerous to himself and could not provide for his basic needs. As his term of commitment approached its end in March 2006, the Department of Human Services certified that appellant was still mentally ill and in need of further treatment. ORS 426.301(1). The certification alleged that appellant was mentally ill due to his inability to provide for his basic personal needs. Appellant protested further commitment and requested a hearing.

At the time of the hearing on continuing commitment, appellant had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He talked incessantly throughout the hearing, repeatedly expressing his interest in leaving the hospital and managing his own affairs.1 In addition to appellant’s numerous comments, Dr. Bruce Johnstone, appellant’s treating psychiatrist, and Diane Bowman, appellant’s social worker, testified concerning the effects of appellant’s condition.

Appellant requires both medication for his mental disorder and blood pressure medication. Johnstone testified that, if appellant were released, he would “probably stop taking his medication because he does not believe he needs the medication.” Johnstone further testified that

[403]*403“[if appellant] does not take his medicines * * * he starts taking drugs. Alcohol and street drugs.
* * * *
“* * * [If released,] [h]e would stop taking his medications, and he would become vulnerable to drugs, and he would become restless [.]”

However, when examined further, Johnstone explained that his opinion was based not on his personal observations of appellant, but, instead, on information in a patient history he was “not sure exactly” the origins of. Johnstone stated that, “using * * * [that] history as a guide, I would believe he would be [likely to begin drug use again] ,”2

Regarding appellant’s blood pressure medication, Johnstone stated that appellant “runs the risk — increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and (indiscernible) damage the more days he has high blood pressure.” However, he agreed that “that’s not a near future thing” necessarily resulting in harm in the next weeks or even months.

Bowman explained that appellant’s only plan to obtain housing was based on a misconception of certain social services, and that, otherwise, appellant had no viable plan for shelter. Bowman also explained that, in order to obtain housing, appellant would have to participate in interviews — and that, in his current condition, especially without taking medication, he would be unlikely to receive assistance.3

Following that testimony, the trial court, over appellant’s objection, admitted into evidence the precommitment investigation report from the original commitment. The investigator who prepared that report was not present at the hearing. The court then relied on the content of that report to examine appellant regarding whether he would engage in substance abuse upon release. Appellant responded by repeatedly denying that he would engage in substance abuse, but “just want[s] to smoke cigarettes and eat candy bars and [404]*404potato chips.” He explained, “I don’t use meth, crack cocaine or none of that stuff. I smoke cigarettes and eat candy.”

The trial court concluded that appellant still suffered from a mental illness and was unable to meet his basic personal needs. Consequently, the court ordered that appellant be committed for an additional period not to exceed 180 days.

ORS 426.130 allows the involuntary commitment of a “mentally ill” person to the Department of Human Services for a period not to exceed 180 days. ORS 426.301(1) provides for the continued commitment of a person who has been committed under ORS 426.130 when the person “is still mentally ill and in need of further treatment.” As relevant here, a “mentally ill person” is “a person who, because of a mental disorder,” is “[u]nable to provide for basic personal needs and is not receiving such care as is necessary for health or safety.” ORS 426.005(1)(d)(B).

In order to commit a person on the “basic needs” ground, “[t]he state must establish by clear and convincing evidence that the individual, due to a mental disorder, is unable to obtain some commodity (e.g., food and water) or service (e.g., life-saving medical care) without which he cannot sustain life.” State v. Bunting, 112 Or App 143, 145, 826 P2d 1060 (1992). To meet that standard, the state must show, again by clear and convincing evidence, that “there is a likelihood that the person probably would not survive in the near future because the person is unable to provide for basic personal needs.” Id. at 146; see also State v. Puha, 208 Or App 453, 461-62, 144 P3d 1044 (2006) (reiterating Bunting’s standards).

The “clear and convincing” evidence standard is rigorous. To be “clear and convincing,” evidence must be of “extraordinary persuasiveness.” State v. Howell, 53 Or App 611, 617, 633 P2d 14 (1981). The evidence must establish that “the truth of the facts asserted is highly probable.” State v. Jayne, 174 Or App 74, 77-78, 23 P3d 990, rev den, 332 Or 316 (2001).

In his first assignment of error, appellant asserts that the trial court’s sua sponte admission of, and reliance on, [405]*405the precommitment investigation report from the original commitment proceeding violated ORS 426.095(4)(d)(C) and the principles stated in State v. Hitt, 179 Or App 563, 41 P3d 434 (2002). The state concedes that the trial court erred in that regard, and we accept that concession as well founded. Under ORS 426.095

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Bluebook (online)
157 P.3d 1256, 212 Or. App. 400, 2007 Ore. App. LEXIS 616, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-m-a-b-orctapp-2007.