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2015 SEP 21 AH 9:
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
In the Matter of the Detention of NO. 72309-0-1
R.C.
DIVISION ONE
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
FILED: September 21, 2015
Lau, J. — R.C. appeals an order of commitment for involuntary mental health
treatment under chapter 71.05 RCW. He argues that his attorney's failure to timely
serve a motion to dismiss the proceeding constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel.
He also challenges the trial court's findings of fact and conclusions of law. We
conclude substantial evidence supports the trial court's factual findings and these
findings support its legal conclusions. Even if we assume, without deciding, that
defense counsel's performance was deficient, R.C. shows no prejudice because he
cannot show a reasonable probability that the trial court would have granted his motion
to dismiss. We affirm.
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FACTS
On July 10, 2014, University of Washington Police Officer Keith Gonzalves
received a call from a case manager in Everett stating that R.C. might be on campus
and was possibly suicidal. Officer Gonzalves found R.C. on the University of
Washington campus and asked him how his day was going and if he had been going to
class. R.C. spoke quickly, appeared anxious, and meandered around many different
topics. R.C. struggled to answer basic questions and made some strange comments
including that he was trying to hide from the Chinese government. Earlier Officer
Gonzalves talked to R.C.'s father about R.C.'s recent hospitalization for attempting
suicide. R.C. denied he recently attempted suicide and said he was "pretty good today."
Report of Proceedings (RP) (July 16, 2014) at 8. R.C. also told Officer Gonzalves that
he failed to take his anxiety medication for the past 36 hours. R.C. said that he wanted
to talk to somebody about the medications and wanted to go to the medical facility on
campus, but it was closed. R.C. agreed to voluntarily go to a hospital. Due to a two to
three hour wait for an ambulance, R.C. agreed to ride to the University of Washington
Medical Center (UWMC) with Officer Gonzalves. R.C. was evaluated at UWMC at
around 8:30 p.m. on July 10, 2014.
On July 11, R.C. was transferred to NAVOS Mental Health Systems, where Dr.
Bethany O'Neill evaluated him. Dr. O'Neill determined that R.C. suffered from schizo
affective disorder. She testified that R.C. is "gravely disabled," and posed a substantial
risk of harm to himself, others, and property. RP (July 16, 2014) at 16-17. Dr. O'Neill
based this conclusion on R.C.'s behavior while under observation. She testified that
R.C. exhibited disorganized, confused, and rapid speech. He was easily agitated and
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yelled at staff. He was unpredictable and lacked impulse control. He also refused to
take medication, damaged property, and threw food and food trays. Dr. O'Neill also
testified that R.C. mentioned an intent to commit suicide several times. R.C. told Dr.
O'Neill that he could "commit suicide at will." RP (July 16, 2014) at 26. He also
admitted to Dr. O'Neill that he made "ad hoc" nooses in the past. RP (July 16, 2014) at
25-26. Dr. O'Neill believed R.C.'s condition was so severe that he could not recognize
he needed treatment:
[THE STATE]: How would you characterize [R.C.'s] insight into his
need for treatment?
[DR. O'NEILL]: Nonexistent.
[THE STATE]: And what treatment are you recommending for him at
this time?
[DR. O'NEILL]: Most restrictive.
[THE STATE]: Why aren't you recommending a lesser?
[DR. O'NEILL]: Because he even admitted he took himself off his
medication, shows no insight into the need for
medication . . . he's not in a place where he can
actually follow through with the treatment at this point.
And he is just not stable enough to be able to manage
his own treatment or not get into harm at this point.
RP (July 16, 2014) at 29.
On July 15, 2014, the State filed a petition under chapter 71.05 RCWto commit
R.C. for 14 days of involuntary treatment in a secure facility. R.C.'s counsel prepared a
motion to dismiss the 14-day petition on the grounds that the State violated the deadline
under RCW 71.053.153(4). On July 15, 2014, RCW 71.05.15(3) provided that "Within
twelve hours of their arrival, the designated mental health professional must determine
whether the individual meets detention criteria." See Laws of 2011, ch. 305 § 8,
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formerly RCW 71.05.153(3) (emphasis added).1 The trial court struck R.C.'s motion to
dismiss the 14-day petition, however, because counsel failed to timely serve the motion.
Following a hearing, the court concluded that R.C. suffered from a mental
disorder with a substantial, adverse effect on his cognitive and volitional functions. The
court further concluded that R.C. presented a substantial risk of harm to the property of
others. Accordingly, the court granted the State's petition and ordered that R.C. be
committed for 14 days of treatment. R.C. appeals.
ANALYSIS
Mootness
The State argues that we should decline to review R.C.'s appeal because the
commitment period under the challenged order expired and thus his appeal is moot.
But even though R.C. is no longer detained, collateral consequences flow from that
detention. Therefore, his appeal is not moot and we address it on the merits.
Generally, we will dismiss an appeal as moot when it presents merely academic
questions and where this court can no longer provide any effective relief. In re Cross,
99 Wn.2d 373, 376-77, 662 P.2d 828 (1983). However, "an individual's release from
detention does not render an appeal moot where collateral consequences flow from the
determination authorizing such detention." In re Pet, of M.K.. 168 Wn. App. 621, 626,
279 P.3d 897 (2012). In M.K., the court rejected an identical mootness argument
1The statute was amended in May 2015 and now provides: "Within twelve hours
of notice of the need for evaluation, not counting time periods prior to medical
clearance, the designated mental health professional must determine whether the
individual meets detention criteria." RCW 71.05.153(4) (emphasis added).
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because the respondent's history of commitments could affect future civil commitment
evaluations:
In the case of civil commitments under chapter 71.05 RCW, the trial court
is directed to consider, in part, a history of recent prior civil commitments,
thus, each order of commitment entered up to three years before the
current commitment hearing becomes a part of the evidence against a
person seeking denial of a petition for commitment. . . Accordingly, each
commitment order has a collateral consequence in subsequent petitions
and hearings, allowing us to render relief if we hold that the detention
under a civil commitment order was not warranted.
M.K., 168 Wn. App. at 626. The same reasoning applies here. Although R.C. is no
longer in detention, the trial court's order committing him to 14 days of involuntary
treatment may be considered in a future commitment proceeding. We therefore can
render effective relief if we conclude that the trial court erred when it granted the State's
petition.
Further, we disagree with the State's contention that any collateral consequences
flowing from this detention are minimal because it is not R.C.'s first involuntary
commitment. Like R.C, the appellant in M.K. also challenged one of several involuntary
commitment orders, and the court nevertheless agreed that his appeal was not moot.
Because "each commitment order has a collateral consequence," whether R.C. has
other prior involuntary commitments is irrelevant. M.K., 168 Wn. App. at 626. We
therefore address R.C.'s appeal on the merits.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
R.C. argues that his trial counsel's ineffective assistance warrants reversal of the
commitment order. He claims that trial counsel was deficient when she failed to timely
serve a motion to dismiss the State's petition for 14-day involuntary treatment and that
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this failure prejudiced him. We conclude that, R.C. cannot show that his attorney's
alleged deficient performance prejudiced him.
A respondent in chapter 71.05 RCW proceedings has the right to effective
assistance of counsel. In re Pet, of T.A.H.-L. 123 Wn. App. 172, 179, 97 P.3d 767
(2004). To determine whether counsel was ineffective, we apply the same test
articulated in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674
(1984). "To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, counsel's
representation must have been deficient, and the deficient representation must have
prejudiced the defendant." State v. Aho, 137 Wn.2d 736, 745, 975 P.2d 512 (1999);
Strickland 466 U.S. at 687. "To establish ineffective representation, the defendant must
show that counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.
To establish prejudice, a defendant must show that but for counsel's performance, the
result would have been different." State v. McNeal, 145 Wn.2d 352, 362, 37 P.3d 280
(2002) (citation omitted). Failure to establish either prong of the test is fatal to an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 700.
Even ifwe assume, without deciding, that counsel's performance was deficient,
R.C. cannot show prejudice. To prove prejudice under these circumstances, R.C. must
show a reasonable probability that the trial court would have granted his motion to
dismiss. State v. Sutherbv, 165 Wn. 2d 870, 884, 204 P.3d 916 (2009). R.C. argues
that dismissal was required because he was held at UWMC for over 12 hours before a
designated mental health professional (DMHP) determined he satisfied detention
criteria. See former RCW 71.05.153(3) ("Within twelve hours of arrival, the designated
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mental health professional must determine whether the individual meets detention
criteria"). We disagree.
Dismissal in this case would be an inappropriate remedy and contrary to the
underlying purpose of the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA). In the unique context of
commitment proceedings, there is a presumption in favor of deciding issues on the
merits. In re Pet, of G.V., 124 Wn.2d 288, 296, 877 P.2d 680 (1994). "This
presumption furthers both the public and private interests because the mental and
physical well-being of individuals as well as public safety may be implicated by the
decision to release an individual and discontinue his or her treatment." G.V., 124 Wn.2d
at 296. Due to these important policy concerns, our Supreme Court has held that
dismissal of a commitment petition cannot depend on the inherently unpredictable
nature of mental health proceedings:
[T]here are numerous ways in which the calendar's time restraints are
buffeted by the mental instability of the individuals appearing before the
court. By its very nature, the calendar is unpredictable. It is easy to
visualize a circumstance where a single disruptive patient could cause a
significant delay in the hearing process
There are simply too many variables affecting the calendar... to ensure
that otherwise valid and factually supported petitions will not be dismissed
solely because of the unpredictability of the proceedings.
In re Swanson, 115 Wn.2d 21, 29-30, 804 P.2d 1 (1990). In light of this unpredictability,
the Swanson court stated that deciding a commitment petition on the merits despite
some delay would properly effectuate the legislative intent underlying the statute and
avoid the absurd results that may occur from strict application of the statute's timeliness
requirements:
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If Harborview had totally disregarded the reguirements of the statute or
had failed to establish legal grounds for Swanson's commitment, certainly
dismissal would have been proper. Indeed, it would have been required.
However, if the intent of the statute is to be fulfilled and absurd results are
to be avoided, dismissal cannot turn on the vagaries of scheduling,
especially in these unpredictable and sensitive proceedings.
Swanson, 115 Wn.2d at 31 (emphasis added). The court emphasized that this
conclusion "rests upon, and is guided by, the stated intent of the civil commitment
statute." Swanson, 115 Wn.2d at 31. Indeed, the Legislature recently amended RCW
71.05.153 to reflect the Swanson court's reasoning:
Dismissal of a commitment petition is not the appropriate remedy for a
violation of the timeliness requirements of this section based on the intent
of this chapter under RCW 71.05.010 except in the few cases where the
facility staff or designated mental health professional has totally
disregarded the requirements of this section.
RCW 71.05.153(5).2 This amendment codifies the Supreme Court's decision in
Swanson—the legislature intended that a failure to strictly comply with timeliness
requirements in the civil commitment context would only warrant dismissal in rare
circumstances. See Swanson, 115 Wn.2d at 29 ("it is the intent of the legislature that
chapter 71.05 RCW ... be carefully construed to accomplish the purposes stated in
RCW 71.05.010 and hereby reaffirmed." (quoting RCW 71.05.015) (emphasis added)).
Thus, a respondent must also show a complete disregard for the statute's requirements.
Swanson, 115 Wn.2d at 31.
2We recognize that this section of the statute was added earlier this year. See
Laws of 2015, ch. 269 § 6. The trial court would not have had the benefit of this
provision when it considered R.C.'s motion to dismiss, had the motion been timely
served. Regardless, the subsection does not articulate a new rule. It is merely a logical
extension of the rule articulated in Swanson. See Swanson, 115 Wn.2d at 31.
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Even if R.C.'s counsel had timely served the motion to dismiss, the State's
violation of the 12-hour requirement would warrant dismissal only if R.C. could show
that UWMC completely disregarded the requirements of the statute. Swanson, 115
Wn.2d at 31. R.C. has not made such a showing. Due to the unpredictable nature of
mental healthcare, hospital staff face many of the same delays as courts. See, e.g., ]n
reDet. ofC.W., 147 Wn.2d 259, 272, 53 P.3d 979 (2002) (Recognizing that the statute
"requires several events to occur before the hospital staff may refer a person to the
CPMHP."). The record shows that R.C.'s initial evaluation at UWMC occurred at 8:30
p.m. on July 10. He was sent to NAVOS around 10:10 a.m. on July 11 for a 72-hour
observation period, approximately 13 hours and 40 minutes after arriving at UWMC.
However, though he arrived at UWMC at 8:30 p.m., the record shows he was not
medically cleared until 11:10 p.m. Further, he was not referred to a Pesignated Mental
Health Professional (PMHP)—the individual who must make a detention determination
under RCW 71.05.153—until 12:51 a.m., July 11. Therefore, the PMHP could not even
begin to make a determination regarding R.C.'s eligibility for detention until four hours
after his arrival. The record shows that hospital staff acted in good faith. Further, we
note that R.C. went to UWMC voluntarily. In fact, he told Officer Gonzalves that he
wanted to speak to someone about his medication and that he had a "follow up
appointment" on July 10, the same day R.C. spoke with Officer Gonzalves. RP (July
16, 2014) at 9. It was only after R.C. stated he wanted to speak to someone that Officer
Gonzalves offered to take him to UWMC. Under these circumstances, dismissing the
State's commitment petition would be inconsistent with the legislative intent underlying
the ITA as articulated in Swanson. Swanson, 115 Wn.2d at 31.
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The Trial Court's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
R.C. challenges the trial court's factual findings and legal conclusions. However,
other than this assignment of error, R.C. presents no argument explaining how the trial
court erred when it entered these findings and conclusions. Typically, we do not
consider inadequately briefed arguments. Norcon Builders, LLC v. GMP Homes VG,
LLC, 161 Wn. App. 474, 486, 254 P.3d 835 (2011).
But even considering this assignment of error, substantial evidence supports the
trial court's factual findings and the findings support its legal conclusions. When a trial
court has weighed the evidence, our review is limited to determining whether substantial
evidence supports the findings and, if so, whether the findings in turn support the trial
court's conclusions of law. In re LaBelle, 107 Wn.2d 196, 209, 728 P.2d 138 (1986).
Substantial evidence is "evidence in sufficient quantum to persuade a fair-minded
person of the truth of the declared premise." Holland v. Boeing Co., 90 Wn.2d 384, 390,
583 P.2d 621 (1978).
Here, the trial court found (1) that R.C. posed a likelihood of serious harm to the
property of others, (2) that R.C. was gravely disabled, and (3) that a less restrictive
treatment environment was not in R.C.'s best interests. Substantial evidence supports
these findings.
First, Pr. O'Neill testified at length about R.C.'s aggressive outbursts, which
included multiple instances of damaged property. Second, Substantial evidence
supports the trial court's conclusion that R.C. satisfies both definitions of "gravely
disabled." "Gravely disabled" is defined as:
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"a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental disorder: (a) is in
danger of serious physical harm resulting from a failure to provide for his
or her essential human needs of health or safety; or (b) manifests severe
deterioration in routine functioning evidenced by repeated and escalating
loss of cognitive or volitional control over his or her actions and is not
receiving such care as is essential for his or her health or safety."
RCW 71.05.020(17). Pr. O'Neill's extensive testimony showed that R.C. could not
recognize his need for treatment and that he engaged in dangerous behavior, including
manufacturing nooses. Further, Or. O'Neill testified that R.C.'s severe deterioration in
routine functioning manifested as disorganized, tangential, and paranoid statements.3
She stated that R.C. had poor impulse control, that he was unpredictable, and that he
lashed out at hospital staff. Finally, due to R.C.'s inability to recognize his own need for
treatment, Pr. O'Neill recommended the most restrictive treatment because R.C. could
not manage treatment on his own. This testimony supports the trial court's factual
findings.
Further, the trial court's factual findings support its legal conclusion. RCW
71.05.240(3)(a) provides:
3 For example, at the commitment hearing, R.C. testified that he believed he was
"an assassin's target," RP (July 16, 2014) at 42, and that he had a role in an
international conspiracy occurring in Thailand:
For example, there is what the press dubs a coup in the country of
Thailand. This is actually a clandestine born internal defense mission in order to
establish an effective resistance in the very likely event that China and/or Russia
try to annex their peripheries byfirst destabilizing them and then attacking them.
Thailand is doing, is implementing strategy that me and Mr. Eric Greitens
developed together. . . Eric Greitens, the Rhodes Scholar who offered me a
Rhodes Scholarship—you know there's a lot of stuff in the world that in order to
protect the American people . . . that you don't discuss openly or publicly
because it's not prudent. I have an official capacity within the federal executive,
and so I'm not at liberty to say exactly what that is. If you don't know about it,
you probably aren't supposed to know about it.
RP (July 16, 2014) at 47.
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Ifthe court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that such person, as the
result of mental disorder, presents a likelihood of serious harm, or is gravely
disabled, and, after considering less restrictive alternatives to involuntary
detention and treatment, finds that no such alternatives are in the best interests
of such person or others, the court shall order that such person be detained for
involuntary treatment not to exceed fourteen days in a facility certified to provide
treatment by the department.
RCW 71.05.240(3)(a). Because the trial court found by a preponderance of the
evidence that R.C. posed a likelihood of serious harm, that he was gravely disabled,
and that a less restrictive alternative would not be in his best interest, the trial court did
not err when it granted the State's motion to detain R.C. for 14 days of involuntary
treatment. As discussed above, R.C. presents no argument to the contrary.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.
WE CONCUR:
(JCI^-
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