IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
No. COA18-957
Filed: 21 May 2019
Halifax County, No. 18 SPC 102
IN THE MATTER OF: J.C.D.
Appeal by respondent from order entered 14 March 2018 by Judge J. Henry
Banks in District Court, Halifax County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 27 February
2019.
Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Assistant Attorney General Jessica
Macari, for the State.
Appellate Defender Glenn Gerding, by Assistant Appellate Defender Katy
Dickinson-Schultz, for respondent-appellant.
STROUD, Judge.
J.C.D. (“Respondent”) appeals from an involuntary commitment order which
committed her to Halifax Regional Medical Center (“HRMC”) for up to 30 days. We
vacate the district court’s order and remand for additional findings of fact and entry
of a new order.
I. Background
Respondent, age 76, presented to the emergency room with bruising on
the left side of her mouth and eyes and rambling speech. Respondent was initially
IN RE: J.C.D.
Opinion of the Court
examined by Dr. E. Conti at HRMC. Dr. Conti noted Respondent had stated her
daughter had hit her, and she had rambling speech focused on her daughters trying
to take advantage of her. Dr. Conti recounted Respondent had a history of
“delusional” disorder and determined Respondent was “mentally ill,” “dangerous to
self,” and “dangerous to others.”
On the Examination and Recommendation to Determine Necessity for
Involuntary Commitment Form (“commitment form”), Dr. Conti states, “daughter
reports that [Respondent] has been doing dangerous things such as walking long
distances to the store in a bad neighborhood, telling strangers her personal buisness
[sic] and inviting strangers into her home. Daughter also reports that [Respondent’s]
guns were take [sic] away from her due to threatening behavior.”
Respondent was examined by Dr. Ijaz the following day to determine the
continued necessity for involuntary commitment. Dr. Ijaz determined Respondent
was “mentally ill,” “dangerous to self,” and “dangerous to others.” The commitment
form completed by Dr. Ijaz indicates “[Respondent] presents with occular [sic] and
facial bruising. She maintains that her daughter assulted [sic] her because she would
not sell her house.” Dr. Ijaz found Respondent was “at risk of causing harm to herself
or others due to her impaired judgement and delusional thinking and requires
inpatient hospitalization for stabilization and treatment.”
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Dr. Conti signed an affidavit and petition requesting involuntary commitment
of Respondent on 8 March 2018. An involuntary commitment hearing was held on
14 March 2018. Respondent was represented by counsel. The only witness who
testified for the hospital was Latasha Motley, who was employed by HRMC.
Respondent also testified. All parties indicate the transcript is unintelligible
regarding Ms. Motley’s specific job title at HRMC. Ms. Motley identified her role as
being involved with “psychiatric discharge,” but she also testified about Respondent’s
course of care in the hospital. Petitioner also offered as evidence a report by Dr. Ijaz,
who had evaluated and treated Respondent. The report was admitted without
objection from respondent.
The trial court announced at the conclusion of the hearing it found there
were facts supporting the involuntary commitment, and it would incorporate by
reference as findings in the order the report signed by Dr. Ijaz and offered by Ms.
Motley. The trial court also announced that it found respondent mentally ill and a
danger to herself and others and committed her for up to 30 days.
The court’s written order, filed after the hearing, is on North Carolina
Administrative Office of the Courts form order SP-203. In the “Findings” portion of
the form,1 box number four was marked:
1 Italics indicate hand-written additions to Form 203; the remainder is the preprinted text of
the form.
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Based on the evidence presented, the Court
4. by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence, finds as
facts all matters as set out in the physician’s/eligible
psychologist’s report specified below, and the report is
incorporated by reference as findings.
Date of Last Examiner’s Report 3-14-18
Name of Physician/Eligible Psychologist Dr. Ijaz
The trial court also marked box five:
5. by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence, finds
these other facts:
...
facts supporting the involuntary commitment:
All facts as set out in the physician’s report date 3-
14-18. The physician’s report shall be incorporated by
reference as evidence to support this order.
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Dr. Ijaz’s letter which was incorporated by reference stated:
[Respondent] is a 76 year old female admitted to
Halifax Regional on March 4, 2018, under Involuntary
Commitment Order, with a diagnosis of Possible
Neurocognitive D/O (Alzheimer’s disease). Patient
presented to the Emergency Care Center on this date with
reports of confusion, auditory and visual hallucinations,
flight of ideas and confabulation prior to admission.
Patient was checked and has been cleared for all things
medical that could produce these symptoms in patients.
Psychiatric Medications
Xanax 0.5mg BID PO Antianxiety
Since being on the unit, patient has shown some
improvement. However she still presents with intermittent
episodes of confusion and paranoia. She is easily
redirected at this time with no agitation or verbally
aggressive behaviors as initially presented upon admission
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to the unit. Patient is compliant with medications and unit
activities at present. In my opinion, patient is a danger to
self, due to level of confusion and confabulation. I
recommend that patient remain on the inpatient
psychiatric unit for up to 30 days for further stabilization
and to formulate an effective discharge plan. Patient’s
daughter petition the court and became her legal guardian
so that she can make necessary decisions for patient’s care
due to change in patient’s mental status and concerns for
her safety.
The court concluded Respondent was mentally ill and a danger to herself and
others. Respondent timely appealed.
II. Jurisdiction
An appeal of right lies with this Court from a final judgment of
involuntary commitment. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-27(b)(2) (2017); N.C. Gen. Stat. §
122C-272 (2017). “[A] prior discharge will not render questions challenging the
involuntary commitment proceeding moot. When the challenged order may form the
basis for future commitment or may cause other collateral legal consequences for the
respondent, an appeal of that order is not moot.” In re Webber, 201 N.C. App. 212,
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217, 689 S.E.2d 468, 472-73 (2009) (citations and quotation marks omitted). This
appeal is not moot even though Respondent’s commitment period has expired.
III. Issues
Respondent argues the trial court erred by ordering her commitment,
where the only findings of fact were solely those incorporated from and set out in the
non-testifying physician’s report. She asserts findings were insufficient to support
the conclusion she was dangerous to herself and others. Respondent also asserts a
denial of her statutory right to effective assistance of counsel.
IV. Standard of Review
The trial court is required to support its findings of fact and ultimate
conclusion that Respondent “is mentally ill and dangerous to self . . . or dangerous to
others” by “clear, cogent and convincing evidence.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-268(j)
(2017). Further, “[t]he court shall record the facts that support its findings.” Id.
On appeal of a commitment order our function is to
determine whether there was any competent evidence to
support the “facts” recorded in the commitment order and
whether the trial court’s ultimate findings of mental illness
and dangerous to self or others were supported by the
“facts” recorded in the order.
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In re Whatley, 224 N.C. App. 267, 270, 736 S.E.2d 527, 530 (2012) (citation
omitted); see also In re Collins, 49 N.C. App. 243, 246, 271 S.E.2d 72, 74 (1980) (“On
appeal of a commitment order our function is to determine . . . whether the trial
court’s ultimate findings of mental illness and dangerous to self or others were
supported by the ‘facts’ recorded in the order.”).
V. Admissibility of Physician’s Report
Respondent first argues that “[t]he admission of Dr. Ijaz’s report, without Dr.
Ijaz’s presence at the hearing, constituted a denial of J.D.’s right to confront and
cross-examine the witness.” Respondent contends that based upon N.C. Gen. Stat. §
122C-268(f), Dr. Ijaz’s report was improperly admitted as evidence because she did
not appear at the hearing to testify.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-268(f) provides that “[c]ertified copies of reports and
findings of physicians and psychologists and previous and current medical records
are admissible in evidence, but the respondent’s right to confront and cross-examine
witnesses may not be denied.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-268(f) (2017). Respondent
suggests that because her “right to confront and cross-examine witnesses may not be
denied,” Dr. Ijaz’s report could not be admitted unless she appeared to testify.
Respondent’s counsel failed to object to admission of Dr. Ijaz’s report as evidence
under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-268(f) or for any other reason. Although Respondent
had a right to object to admission of the report without Dr. Ijaz’s testimony, she
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waived this right by her failure to object. N.C. R. App. P. 10(a)(1). Respondent’s
interpretation of the statute—that she has a non-waivable right for the physician to
appear and testify—is the opposite of what the statute allows. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-
268(f) specifically allows the physician’s report to be admitted into evidence. Since
respondent did not object to admission of the report, and she did not assert her right
to have Dr. Ijaz appear to testify, the trial court did not err by admitting and
considering the report.
VI. Sufficiency of Findings of Fact under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-268(j)
The trial court’s ultimate findings of mental illness and dangerous to
self or others must be based upon clear, cogent, and convincing evidence and be
“supported by the ‘facts’ recorded in the order.” Whatley, 224 N.C. App. at 270, 736
S.E.2d at 530. “But unlike many other orders from the trial court, these ultimate
findings, standing alone, are insufficient to support the order; the involuntary
commitment statute expressly requires the trial court also to record the facts upon
which its ultimate findings are based.” In re W.R.D., ___, N.C. App. ___, ___, 790
S.E.2d 344, 347 (2016) (citation and quotation marks omitted). The order for
Respondent’s involuntary commitment indicates the trial court had “incorporated by
reference” Dr. Ijaz’s report as the “clear, cogent, and convincing evidence” of
Respondent’s mental illness and danger to herself. The facts found by the trial court
to support its conclusions and order were simply the facts set out in Dr. Ijaz’s letter
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and did not include any findings based upon Ms. Motley’s or respondent’s testimony
at the hearing. Respondent does not challenge the specific facts as incorporated from
Dr. Ijaz’s letter as unsupported by the evidence but argues here that the incorporation
alone is not sufficient under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-268(j). Thus, the issue is whether
the incorporation by reference of Dr. Ijaz’s report was sufficient to comply with the
statutory mandate for the trial court to “record the facts that support its findings.”
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-268(j). Given the higher standard for findings of fact set forth
by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-268(j) than in many other types of orders, we agree and
hold that the findings are not adequate to support the ultimate conclusion.
Based upon the incorporation of Dr. Ijaz’s letter, the trial court made findings
that Respondent “is a 76 year old female admitted to Halifax Regional on March 4,
2018; she had a “diagnosis of Possible Neurocognitive D/O (Alzheimer’s disease);” she
“presented to the Emergency Care Center on this date with reports of confusion,
auditory and visual hallucinations, flight of ideas and confabulation prior to
admission;” she “was checked and has been cleared for all things medical that could
produce these symptoms in patients;” she had a prescription for “Xanax 0.5mg BID
PO Antianxiety;” she “has shown some improvement” while in the hospital but “she
still presents with intermittent episodes of confusion and paranoia;” “She is easily
redirected at this time with no agitation or verbally aggressive behaviors as initially
presented upon admission to the unit;” and she was “compliant with medications and
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unit activities at present.” The trial court also found by incorporation of Dr. Ijaz’s
report that Respondent “is a danger to self, due to level of confusion and
confabulation” and that she should “remain on the inpatient psychiatric unit for up
to 30 days for further stabilization and to formulate an effective discharge plan.”
We must therefore consider whether the trial court’s findings of fact,
made by incorporation of Dr. Ijaz’s report, were sufficient to comply with the statutory
requirements to “record the facts which support its findings.” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-
268(j). Certainly, the trial court’s order included more detail than those cases in
which the only findings were ‘checking the boxes” on the form, with no other
indication of the facts upon which it relied. Merely “placing an ‘X’ in the boxes” of the
form order has been disapproved repeatedly, as noted in Matter of Jacobs, where
respondent
assign[ed] as error the district court’s failure to
make findings of fact to support its commitment order. G.S.
122-58.7(i) provides in unambiguous terms: “The court
shall record the facts which support its findings.” This
Court has held on numerous occasions that the district
court must record the facts necessary to support its
findings. We note that the commitment order in the case
sub judice is essentially identical to that order found to be
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insufficient in In Re Koyi, supra. Merely placing an “X” in
the boxes on the commitment order form does not comply
with the statute.
38 N.C. App. 573, 575, 248 S.E.2d 448, 449 (1978). It is not uncommon, and is
specifically provided as an option on AOC Form 203 for the trial court to incorporate
the physician’s report as at least a portion of the findings of fact in the order. Yet
where there is “directly conflicting evidence on key issues,” incorporation of a
document or other evidence is not sufficient for this Court to determine if the trial
court resolved the conflicts in the evidence to the required standard and burden of
proof by petitioner, and we must remand for findings of fact resolving the factual
issues. See In re Gleisner, 141 N.C. App. 475, 480, 539 S.E.2d 362, 365-66 (2000)
(“These findings are simply a recitation of the evidence presented at trial, rather than
ultimate findings of fact. In a nonjury trial, it is the duty of the trial judge to consider
and weigh all of the competent evidence, and to determine the credibility of the
witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. If different inferences may be
drawn from the evidence, the trial judge must determine which inferences shall be
drawn and which shall be rejected. Where there is directly conflicting evidence on
key issues, it is especially crucial that the trial court make its own determination as
to what pertinent facts are actually established by the evidence, rather than merely
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reciting what the evidence may tend to show.” (citations omitted)); see also In re
Allison, 216 N.C. App. 297, 300, 715 S.E.2d 912, 915 (2011) (“The trial court used a
locally modified form involuntary commitment order and in making its findings of
fact checked the box stating, ‘Based on the evidence presented, the Court by clear,
cogent and convincing evidence finds these other facts: Court Finds That The
Respondent Meets Criteria For Further Inpatient Commitment.’ The trial court did
not make any written findings of fact or incorporate by reference either physician’s
report. Had the trial court utilized the standard Administrative Office of the Courts
form involuntary commitment order and entered the findings of fact required by that
form, this remand may not have been necessary as the evidence tends to show that
respondent is likely mentally ill and potentially dangerous to himself and to others.
But, the trial court’s checking of a box on its locally modified form is insufficient to
support this determination.”). If the report incorporated into the order does not
include sufficient facts to support the trial court’s conclusions, remand may be
necessary for additional findings. For example, in In re Booker, the respondent’s
sister, his physician, and respondent testified at the hearing, and there were
substantial conflicts in the evidence. 193 N.C. App. 433, 667 S.E.2d 302 (2008). The
trial court’s order incorporated the physician’s report, but that report included
minimal information and there were no additional findings to resolve the conflicts in
the evidence so remand was necessary:
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In its order, the trial court checked the box on the
printed form that reads: “Based on the evidence presented,
the Court by clear, cogent and convincing evidence finds as
facts all matters set out in the physician’s report, specified
below, and the report is incorporated by reference as
findings.” The date of the last physician's report was 13
November 2007 and the physician's name listed was Dr.
P.R. Chowdhury. The next box on the printed form that
provided a section for other findings of fact to be recorded
was not checked and no other findings of fact were recorded
in the order.
The 13 November 2007 report stated it was Dr.
Chowdhury’s opinion that Respondent was mentally ill,
dangerous to himself, and dangerous to others, but the only
“matters set out in” the report as findings by Dr.
Chowdhury were that Respondent was a “56 year old white
male, with history of alcohol abuse/dependence, admitted
with manic episode. He continues to be symptomatic with
limited insight regarding his illness.” These findings by Dr.
Chowdhury “incorporated by reference” in the trial court’s
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order are insufficient to support the trial court’s
determination that Respondent was dangerous to himself
and to others.
Id. at 437, 667 S.E.2d at 304 (brackets omitted). In contrast, this Court has
also held that the trial court’s incorporation by reference of the physician’s report
included sufficient facts to support the trial court’s conclusion that the respondent
presented a “danger to himself.” See In re Zollicoffer, 165 N.C. App. 462, 468-69, 598
S.E.2d 696, 700 (2004) (“Judge Senter’s involuntary commitment order incorporates
Dr. Soriano’s examination and recommendation of 3 June 2003 in his findings of fact.
In Dr. Soriano’s recommendation she states that respondent has a history of chronic
paranoid schizophrenia, that respondent admits to medicinal non-compliance which
puts him ‘at high risk for mental deterioration,’ that respondent does not cooperate
with his treatment team, and that he ‘requires inpatient rehabilitation to educate
him about his illness and prevent mental decline.’ These findings of fact were not
objected to in respondent’s assignments of error, thus they are binding on appeal.”).
Here, the facts included in Dr. Ijaz’s report were more detailed than
those in Booker, but still did not address conflicts in the evidence or resolve questions
of credibility. The trial court’s findings did not address Ms. Motley’s testimony at all
and did not resolve any conflicts in the evidence presented by Respondent’s
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testimony. Respondent testified in her own defense. Her testimony was rambling
and not always coherent, but she testified that she had lived alone for over 20 years
and was able to take care of herself. She also testified that her daughter, who worked
at the hospital where she was involuntarily committed, was “working together” with
the hospital personnel to “permanently put [her] somewhere.” “If different inferences
may be drawn from the evidence, the trial judge must determine which inferences
shall be drawn and which shall be rejected.” Gleisner, 141 N.C. App. at 480, 539
S.E.2d at 365-66.
The trier of fact could draw from the evidence an inference that Respondent’s
daughter was simply seeking to put her away, and, because she worked at the
hospital, the physicians there were helping her. Respondent drove and presented
herself with physical injuries at the emergency room, but was immediately taken for
involuntary commitment evaluation by the nurses who stated Respondent’s daughter
told them that Respondent was mentally ill. Or the trier of fact could infer that
Respondent’s paranoia and confusion led her to believe that her daughter was seeking
to harm her when she was actually trying to protect Respondent. But only the trial
court can draw these inferences or any other potential inferences based on the
evidence. This Court does not resolve issues of credibility and “[w]e do not consider
whether the evidence of respondent’s mental illness and dangerousness was clear,
cogent and convincing. It is for the trier of fact to determine whether the competent
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evidence offered in a particular case met the burden of proof.” Collins, 49 N.C. App.
at 246, 271 S.E.2d at 74. This Court does not review whether the trial court properly
adjudicated all the evidence under the applicable burden of proof and whether its
findings of fact support its conclusions. The trial court’s order did not resolve the
conflicts in the evidence and did not fully state the facts upon which its conclusions
rested, so we must remand for additional findings of fact.
VII. Sufficiency of Evidence to Support Findings
We also note that although evidence was presented at the hearing which could,
if the trial court adjudicates conflicts in the evidence and makes the required findings
of fact, support a conclusion that Respondent was “dangerous to self,” there was no
evidence she was “dangerous to others.” In relevant part, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-
3(11) provides that one is “dangerous to self” when:
within the relevant past:
1. The individual has acted in such a way as to show:
I. That he would be unable, without
care, supervision, and the continued
assistance of others not otherwise available,
to exercise self-control, judgment, and
discretion in the conduct of his daily
responsibilities and social relations, or to
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satisfy his need for nourishment, personal or
medical care, shelter, or self-protection and
safety[.]
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-3(11) (2017).
There was evidence that Respondent’s daughter was seeking treatment for her
because she was dangerous to herself, and she had demonstrated the potential for
harming herself most recently by her fall, by which she was actually injured, and
frequent calls from neighbors reporting she was wandering in the streets. Ms. Motley
testified regarding Respondent’s condition upon admission to the hospital and the
reasons for her admission:
She came in. She did have the entire left side of her face
was bruised. When she initially came into the hospital she
told us that her daughter . . . had beaten her and she said
that had happened before Christmas, a couple weeks or the
week before Christmas. Since being on the unit she has
come back and said that’s not what happened at all, she
remembered that she was scrubbing her floor and she
slipped and fell and hit her face. It’s the confusion and the
wandering in the streets as described by her neighbors, her
being out in the street and they’re afraid that something
may happen to her as well so that’s why she was actually
brought into the hospital for the bruising and the confusion
and the wandering.
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The evidence tends to show that Respondent was diagnosed with “possible
neurocognitive disease disorder which is Alzheimer’s disease.” She had psychiatric
hospitalizations at least twice before for this condition. Dr. Ijaz noted that
respondent’s symptoms upon admission were “confusion, auditory and visual
hallucinations, flight of ideas, and confabulation.” The term “confabulation” as used
in the medical context refers to “filling in of gaps in memory through the creation of
false memories by an individual who is affected with a memory disorder . . . and is
unaware that the fabricated memories are inaccurate and false[.]” Merriam-Webster,
https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/confabulation (last visited May 1, 2019).
Respondent’s own testimony at the hearing could also support Dr. Ijaz’s findings of
confusion, flight of ideas, and confabulation.
But there was no evidence, including in Dr. Ijaz’s report, that respondent was
dangerous to others. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-3(11) defines “dangerous to others” as:
within the relevant past, the individual has inflicted
or attempted to inflict or threatened to inflict serious bodily
harm on another, or has acted in such a way as to create a
substantial risk of serious bodily harm to another, or has
engaged in extreme destruction of property; and that there
is a reasonable probability that this conduct will be
repeated. Previous episodes of dangerousness to others,
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when applicable, may be considered when determining
reasonable probability of future dangerous conduct.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 122C-3(11)(b).
There was no evidence that respondent had “inflicted or attempted to inflict or
threatened to” harm anyone or of any “previous episodes of dangerousness.” The
court’s conclusions that Respondent is mentally ill and dangerous to self and others
are based solely upon the incorporated “facts set out in” Dr. Ijaz’s letter. But Dr. Ijaz
did not state any opinion that Respondent was dangerous “to others;” her opinion was
only that “patient is a danger to self, due to level of confusion and confabulation.”
(Emphasis added.) Nor did Ms. Motley testify that Respondent had threatened
anyone or presented any danger to others. No evidence was presented to support any
findings or conclusion that Respondent was dangerous to others. The trial court’s
conclusion she was dangerous to others was not supported by either the evidence or
findings of fact and must be vacated without remand.
VIII. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Respondent argues that “she was denied effective counsel when her attorney
conceded that [she] should be involuntarily committed, an argument which was in
stark contrast to her wishes.” However, no prior case has determined that either
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Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984) (finding a criminal
ineffective assistance of counsel claim to require deficient performance and
prejudice), or State v. Harbison, 315 N.C. 175, 337 S.E.2d 504 (1985) (finding where
defendant’s counsel admits to guilt in a criminal proceeding without defendant’s
consent to be per se ineffective assistance of counsel), are applicable to an involuntary
commitment hearing. Even if we presume that an ineffective assistance of counsel
claim is potentially available to a respondent denied their liberty in an involuntary
commitment case, it is unnecessary for this Court to address this issue here. Since
we must vacate and remand for additional findings of fact, any potential prejudice to
Respondent from her counsel’s argument can be addressed by the trial court on
remand.
IX. Conclusion
The court’s order contains insufficient findings to support its determination
that Respondent was dangerous to herself or to others. See Whatley, 224 N.C. App.
at 270, 736 S.E.2d at 530. Because the trial court failed to make sufficient findings
of fact resolving material conflicts in the evidence, adjudicate questions of credibility,
and only made findings by incorporation of Dr. Ijaz’s report, we must vacate the order
and remand for additional findings of fact regarding dangerousness to self and entry
of a new order. Because there was no evidence to support a conclusion that
Respondent was dangerous to others, we vacate the trial court’s conclusion on that
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issue without remand. The commitment order is vacated and the matter is
remanded.
VACATED AND REMANDED.
Judges TYSON and ARROWOOD concur.
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