IN THE MATTER OF THE
COMMITMENT OF M.M.
________________________
Argued January 19, 2006 - Decided
Before Judges Stern, Grall and Miniman.
On appeal from Superior Court of New
Jersey, Law Division, Camden County,
CASC-519-05.
Lorraine Gormley, Assistant Deputy Public
Defender, argued the cause for appellant
(Yvonne Smith Segars, Public Defender,
attorney; Ms. Gormley on the brief).
Laura J. Paffenroth argued the cause for
respondent (Office of the Camden County
Adjuster, attorneys; Ms. Paffenroth, on
the brief).
The opinion of the court was delivered by
GRALL, J.A.D.
This case requires us to consider the showing necessary to establish "exceptional circumstances"
and "good cause" authorizing extension of the statutory deadline for a hearing on
civil commitment pursuant to R. 4:74-7(c)(1). See N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.12a. We hold that absent
a request by the patient, the circumstances must be atypical, rather than routine,
and reasonably unforeseen and unavoidable, rather than within the reasonable control of the
state or the court. We further hold that "good cause" exists when the
state's interest in extending the time for a hearing due to "exceptional circumstances"
substantially outweighs the patient's interest in terminating confinement that is not supported by
clear and convincing evidence of the existence of grounds for commitment.
M.M. was admitted to the Camden County Health Service Center from a crisis
center on April 2, 2005.
See footnote 1
A hearing on the state's application for her
involuntary commitment was scheduled for and held on April 12, 2005.
See footnote 2
At the
conclusion of that hearing, the trial judge equivocated about the adequacy of the
evidence, directed the state to subpoena M.M.'s husband, adjourned the hearing for fourteen
days and continued M.M.'s commitment pending that hearing. On the return date, April
26, 2005, the judge entered an order conditionally extending M.M.'s commitment pending placement
pursuant to R. 4:74-7(h)(2) without taking any testimony about her condition. She was
discharged to return home on May 10, 2005.
On May 26, 2005, M.M. appealed from the April 12, 2005 order.
See footnote 3
She
contends that the judge erred in continuing her temporary commitment beyond the twenty-day
statutory period without a sufficient showing of exceptional circumstances and good cause justifying
the delay or adequate proof that she was a person in need of
involuntary commitment. See N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.12a; R. 4:74-7(c)(1); N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2m. The state argues that
the judge found clear and convincing evidence of M.M.'s need for commitment and
that the order reflecting an adjournment was simply not well-drafted.
We conclude that the evidence did not establish exceptional circumstances and good cause
for adjournment or provide clear and convincing proof that M.M. was a person
in need of involuntary commitment. Accordingly, we reverse.
I.
There were three witnesses at M.M.'s commitment hearing. Dr. Madrack, who is a
psychiatrist, a social worker and M.M. testified. A summary of the evidence presented
and the judge's findings and conclusions follows.
M.M. is a licensed dental technician. She also has an Associates Degree in
Human Services. She had been married for approximately one year prior to her
involuntary admission to a crisis center.
Dr. Madrack was "filling in" for Dr. Friedman, who treated M.M. after her
admission to the facility from the crisis center on April 2, 2005. Dr.
Madrack reviewed M.M.'s records, including a report prepared by Dr. Friedman on April
8.
According to Dr. Friedman's report, M.M. was admitted to the crisis center for
stabilization after kicking in a basement window and throwing glass plates at her
husband because she believed that he was having an affair with a super
model. He noted that M.M. was chronically non-compliant with medications and follow-up. He
described M.M. as "paranoid and hypervigilant," "preoccupied," "mood labile," and "lack[ing in] insight
into her illness." His diagnosis was "Axis I: 1) Bipolar I disorder; manic
õ psychoses 2) ETOH Abuse"; "Axis II: Deferred"; "Axis III: Amennorhea (sic)." He concluded
that M.M. was dangerous to others, property and herself. He recommended hospitalization for
a period of ninety days.
Dr. Madrack claimed to have seen M.M. twice during her hospitalization, for approximately
twenty minutes on each occasion. She described a meeting on the Friday prior
to the April 12 hearing, which would have been April 8, and a
meeting on April 11 at which she just reminded M.M. about the hearing.
In Dr. Madrack's opinion, M.M. suffered from bipolar disorder and posed a danger
to others and property. Her recitation of the basis for that opinion tracked
Dr. Friedman's report:
The patient was originally brought in by the police after she kicked in
a basement window at her home. This all stems from the fact that
she believes that her husband is having an affair with a super model.
She also ha[d] been damaging other proper[ty] at the home at that time
by throwing dishes and glass plates at her husband and breaking objects in
the house. And, there has been a period that she has for a
long time been noncompliant with her medications, and she also displays other delusions
at this time.
Like Dr. Friedman, Dr. Madrack concluded that M.M. had "little insight into what
she had done" prior to her admission "with regard to destruction of property
and throwing objects at" her husband. Dr. Madrack admitted, however, that her information
about M.M.'s pre-admission conduct was derived solely from her review of M.M.'s records.
She explained that because M.M. had been taken to the crisis center by
the police, she assumed that the officers provided some of the information. She
did not know whether the police had observed the events, and she reported
that M.M. had neither admitted nor denied the conduct during their meetings. None
of the reports upon which Dr. Madrack relied were admitted into evidence. When
Dr. Madrack saw M.M. on April 8, M.M. was angry and upset with
her husband, believed he was having an affair, had thoughts about wanting to
get even with him, said he would deserve whatever he got and that
she wanted to go home with him.
M.M. testified about her pre-admission conduct. She denied kicking in the basement window
and said she may have broken it accidentally while trying to cover her
husband's car with a tarp. She also denied throwing or purposely breaking any
dishes and explained that her husband sometimes drinks too much and that they
sometimes have "spat[s] . . . like most people do when they're newlyweds."
She admitted that she let a teacup saucer drop on the table during
one of those spats and suggested that her husband might have thought that
she was aiming at him.
Dr. Madrack described M.M.'s progress and current condition as follows:
While she has been here she has made minimal progress. The only progress
that I could see was the fact that she has not destroyed any
property in here at the hospital, but, besides that, she has been []very
labile, very focused on her husband, making statements that she wants to tell
her husband to take her home. She has continued to display the same
paranoid delusions that . . . presented her here.
Dr. Madrack explained that M.M.'s delusions were her belief that she was pregnant
and her belief that her husband was having an affair. She reported that
M.M. continued to believe that she was pregnant even after she was told
that a pregnancy test was negative. Dr. Madrack did not discuss, however, Dr.
Friedman's diagnosis of Amenorrhea. She did not ask M.M. about whether she and
her husband were attempting to conceive a child, and she did not explain
why she concluded that M.M.'s belief about her husband's affair was delusional.
A psychiatric nurse practitioner who evaluated M.M.'s status on April 11 reported that
M.M. was alert and neither disoriented nor delusional. Although Dr. Madrack admitted she
had not assessed M.M.'s condition on April 11, she dismissed the nurse's report.
According to Dr. Madrack, because the nurse had not evaluated M.M. in the
past, she may not have been aware of or talked to M.M. about
the delusions.
At the hearing M.M. denied any present delusions. She said she knew she
was not pregnant and did not suspect her husband of infidelity. She said
she would continue her medications.
In Dr. Madrack's opinion, M.M.'s delusional beliefs were likely caused by her non-compliance
with her medication schedule. She had not contacted M.M.'s doctor to determine whether
he had discontinued her medication and did not know whether M.M. had ever
been hospitalized in the past. She reported that M.M. had been taking her
medication at the hospital. Dr. Madrack was not asked and did not offer
an opinion as to whether the improvements in M.M.'s condition reported by the
nurse practitioner were attributable to M.M.'s renewed compliance with her medication schedule. She
did not comment on M.M.'s promise to continue her medication following release.
The social worker assigned to M.M.'s case did not know where M.M.'s husband
stood with respect to her return to the marital residence. He noted that
the husband had not sought a restraining order and was ambivalent about M.M.'s
return, saying he was "afraid of her coming home" but also saying "he
guessed she could come home."
M.M. asked the judge to discharge her. Although she wanted to return home,
she said she would move in with her mother if not permitted to
go to her own home.
M.M.'s attorney asked the court to place her on conditional extension pending placement
(CEPP). In the attorney's view, CEPP status would permit a determination as to
whether M.M. would return home or make other arrangements.
The judge found:
It doesn't seem like there [has] been any violent behavior since [M.M.] has
been in the hospital. I understand . . . that [M.M.] has indicated
to Dr. Madrack and others . . . facts that are not correct
about being pregnant, about her husband having an affair with a super model,
that would of course not be enough in and of itself . .
. for continued commitment, but what the court observed, and these are business
records that that there was some damage of property . . . and
there may have been assaultive behavior by [M.M.] at that point in time.
I don't want to be dismissive of that. I would like to adjourn
this hearing at this time, reschedule for two weeks and have [M.M.'s husband]
subpoenaed to be here.
M.M.'s attorney argued that the state had not proven dangerousness by clear and
convincing evidence. The judge said:
I understand these are all business records, and we cannot admit them as
to the truth of the event of throwing dishes, kicking out windows, assaultive
behavior, but there's just no way that we can function bringing all these
potential witnesses here every day.
. . . .
. . . There's no way that the court can believe that there
was a police report that said she was throwing dishes if, in fact,
she dropped a saucer in the basement and the saucer may have cracked,
that is not credible.
The judge ultimately concluded that a two-week continuation of confinement was appropriate and
not objectionable, stating:
There is no difference in the time of this person being deprived of
her liberty whether I adjourn this matter for two weeks to allow [M.M.'s
husband] to be subpoenaed and to be here and if we if I
order CEPP today and we bring her back bring them everybody back two
weeks from now as to the condition. It's exactly the same two weeks.
. . . .
I think the State has proven its case at this juncture, however I'm
willing before we order a 90-day commitment [to] listen to [M.M.'s husband]. That's
all. I'm not going to order that every witness in every case be
produced. . . .
Without further explanation or discussion, the judge entered an order adjourning the hearing
for two weeks over the objection of M.M.'s attorney.
On the return date, no additional evidence was presented about the events that
led up to M.M.'s commitment, her current mental status or her dangerousness.
See footnote 4
Although
M.M.'s husband and her brother were present, they were not questioned about anything
other than their willingness to take M.M. home with them. M.M.'s husband responded,
"Not at this time, no. I've got so many other things to do."
M.M.'s brother explained why he believed his mother's home was not a good
placement at that time. As noted above, M.M. was placed on CEPP and
subsequently discharged to return home.
II.
We first consider whether the judge erred in extending M.M.'s temporary commitment hearing
beyond the statutory period. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.12a, "[a] patient who is involuntarily
committed to a short-term care or psychiatric facility or special psychiatric hospital [must]
receive a court hearing with respect to the issue of continuing need for
involuntary commitment within 20 days from initial inpatient admission to the facility." Rule
4:74-7(c)(1) permits delay of a hearing beyond that deadline only "in exceptional circumstances
and for good cause shown." In this case, the statutory period expired on
April 22, 2005, and the adjournment ordered by the trial judge extended the
period until April 26, 2005.
In determining whether particular circumstances warrant relaxation of a statutory deadline or procedural
rule, our courts generally consider the purpose of the requirement at issue and
the public and individual interests implicated by a decision to enforce or relax
it. See, e.g., Hartsfield v. Fantini,
149 N.J. 611, 615 (1997) (considering relief
from the thirty-day deadline for requesting trial de novo following arbitration); Rivers v.
LSC P'ship,
378 N.J. Super. 68, 78 (App. Div.) (considering "exceptional circumstances" warranting
extension of discovery pursuant to R. 4:24-1(c)), certif. denied,
185 N.J. 296 (2005);
see also Housing Auth. of Morristown v. Little,
135 N.J. 274, 289-90 (1994)
(balancing interest in finality of judgments and the parties' competing interests in considering
"exceptional circumstances" warranting relief from judgment pursuant to R. 4:50-1(f)). Courts of other
states have taken a similar approach in identifying circumstances that warrant extension of
a deadline for a civil commitment hearing. In re Kirby,
829 P.2d 1139,
1142 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992) (quoting In re Schuoler,
723 P.2d 1103 (Wash.
1986) and concluding the question requires comparison of the "public and private interests"
and the "weight of the reasons for and against" extension).
The purpose of the twenty-day statutory period is to afford a prompt hearing
on the question whether the individual's commitment is warranted. "[I]nvoluntary commitment . .
. is a profound and dramatic curtailment of a person's liberty . .
. ." In re Commitment of D.M.,
285 N.J. Super. 481, 486 (App.
Div. 1995), certif. denied,
144 N.J. 377 (1996); see Addington v. Texas,
441 U.S. 418, 426,
99 S. Ct. 1804, 1809,
60 L. Ed.2d 323,
331 (1979). This interference with individual liberty is justified by the state's interest
in confining and treating "an individual [who] is likely to pose a danger
to self or others or property by reason of mental illness." In re
Commitment of S.L.,
94 N.J. 128, 138 (1993). Because the patient's liberty is
at stake, "meticulous adherence to statutory and 'constitutional criteria'" is required. D.M., supra,
285 N.J. Super. at 486.
The criteria impose procedural and substantive limitations on the state's commitment authority. The
statutory law, N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.1 to -27.23, is the result of the Legislature's effort
to "balance[] the basic value of liberty with the need for safety and
treatment . . . ." N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.1b. The Legislature's express goal was to
"provide clear standards and procedural safeguards that ensure that only those persons who
are dangerous to themselves, to others or to property, are involuntarily committed." Ibid.
While the law permits temporary commitment prior to a hearing on the basis
of probable cause to believe that a person is in need of involuntary
commitment, it also recognizes that it is exceptional to deprive a person of
liberty prior to a hearing on the need for such extraordinary restraint. See
R. 4:74-7(c); N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.10f, g, h. Our cases recognize that this pre-hearing confinement
is justified only because of the urgency of the threat of serious harm
to person, property or self posed by the patient. In re Commitment of
B.L.,
346 N.J. Super. 285, 304 (App. Div. 2002); In re Commitments of
M.G. & D.C.,
331 N.J. Super. 365, 380 (App. Div. 2000). The twenty-day
period for pre-hearing deprivation of liberty is deemed constitutionally reasonable because of the
urgency at its inception and in order to permit time for preparations essential
to a fair and meaningful hearing. Coll v. Hyland,
411 F. Supp. 905,
907, 910-11 (D.N.J. 1976) (per curiam opinion of three-judge statutory court considering challenge
to New Jersey law). Those essential preparations include testing and observation adequate to
permit a diagnosis, notice to the patient, assignment of counsel, opportunity to prepare
the case, and court scheduling. Id. at 911; accord Briggs v. Arafeh,
411 U.S. 911,
93 S. Ct. 1556,
36 L. Ed.2d 304 (1973) (summarily
affirming Logan v. Arafeh,
346 F. Supp. 1265, 1269 (D. Conn. 1972), which
held that a forty-five-day period was not unreasonable when the purposes of examination
and preparation were considered). Our statutes require all these pre-hearing steps to ensure
a reliable and fair proceeding at which the substantive criteria for commitment must
be proven by clear and convincing evidence at or before the end of
the twenty-day period. N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.11, -27.13,
-27.14, -27.15.
The justifications for temporary commitment prior to a hearing permit several conclusions relevant
to the question of circumstances that should be deemed "exceptional" and the "good
cause" that should be deemed adequate to extend the statutory period for pre-hearing
confinement. The Legislature intended to establish a clear and certain time frame. The
primary purpose of this clear standard is protection of the patient's interest in
a prompt determination. A secondary purpose is providing a time period sufficient to
permit preparation essential to a fair hearing with a reliable outcome. In effect,
the twenty-day rule gives the patient a right to expect a hearing within
twenty days and the state an obligation to provide it. See Hashimi v.
Kalil,
446 N.E.2d 1387, 1389-90 (Mass. 1983) (concluding "[t]hat the statute imposes a
restraint on liberty [] compels the conclusion that the time limit . .
. goes to the essence of the public duty").
On the basis of the forgoing, we hold that trial courts must take
a narrow view of the circumstances that qualify as "exceptional" and establish "good
cause" for extension. A broad reading permitting routine and numerous exceptions would undermine
the intended clarity of the standard. N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.1b; see State v. Goode,
830 So.2d 817, 824 (Fla. 2002) (noting that a broad reading of permissible
exceptions to Florida's statutory period would render the standard meaningless).
Because the twenty-day period primarily protects the patient's liberty interest, a patient's request
for extension should be viewed with liberality. A judge may presume, subject to
rebuttal, that a patient's request is based on an "exceptional circumstance." In contrast,
circumstances justifying an extension over the patient's objection should be atypical, rather than
routine, and unforeseeable and unavoidable, rather than reasonably avoidable through the exercise of
due diligence. Kirby, supra, 829 P.
2d at 1142; see Rivers, supra, 378 N.J.
Super. at 78-79 (concluding that exceptional circumstances must be "unusual" and beyond the
control of the party requesting relief). For example, an emergency closure of the
courthouse or unavoidable and unexpected absence of a treating psychiatrist scheduled to testify
could qualify as exceptional.
A finding of "good cause" must be based on the conclusion that the
patient's significant interest in a prompt hearing is substantially outweighed by the state's
interest in extension of the pre-hearing deprivation due to the exceptional circumstance. Fourteen
days is the maximum not the automatic duration of the extension authorized by
R. 4:74-7(c)(1). Thus, the duration of the extension must be reasonably attributable to
the exceptional circumstance and the need to address it. For example, an exceptional
circumstance such as the closing of the courthouse would establish good cause for
an extension limited in duration by the time essential to address the emergency
closure. Similarly, even when the patient requests an adjournment, the delay should be
no longer than required to accommodate the exceptional circumstance.
"Good cause" also must be assessed in light of relevance to the outcome
of the proceeding. For example, where the medical evidence is inadequate to establish
mental illness within the meaning of the statute, an exceptional circumstance precluding presentation
of testimony about dangerousness would not establish good cause, because the state has
no legitimate interest in committing a person on the basis of dangerousness alone.
Thus, the need to find "good cause" requires a judge to consider whether
there is a legitimate basis for continuing confinement in order to address the
exceptional circumstance.
As in other instances in which courts are authorized to relax statutory time
frames and rules of litigation, the inquiry is fact-specific and must be left
to the sound exercise of the trial judge's discretion in light of the
standards enunciated here. Hartsfield, supra, 149 N.J. at 618; Housing Auth. of Morristown,
supra, 135 N.J. at 286. Such discretionary determinations will be given deference and
reviewed for abuse of discretion. Rivers, supra, 378 N.J. Super. at 80.
The narrow scope of appellate review is not the equivalent of a grant
of unbridled discretion or a license to avoid meticulous fact-finding in light of
the controlling legal standards. "Our cases have repeatedly indicated the importance of such
findings and conclusions to assure informed appellate review." Rosenberg v. Bunce,
214 N.J.
Super. 300, 303 (App. Div. 1986). As the Supreme Court and this court
have stressed, a court's failure "to perform this essential duty 'constitutes a disservice
to the litigants, the attorneys and the appellate court.'" Klajman v. Fair Lawn
Estates,
292 N.J. Super. 54, 61 (App. Div.) (quoting Curtis v. Finneran,
83 N.J. 563, 569-70 (1980)), certif. denied,
146 N.J. 569 (1996). Omission of this
duty is particularly problematic where the decision is discretionary; without findings relevant to
the legal standards the litigants and the reviewing court "can only speculate about
the reasons" for the decision. Rosenberg, supra, 214 N.J. Super. at 304.
The importance of the individual and public interests implicated by civil commitment "demonstrate
the particular necessity . . . for the trial judge to comply assiduously
with the mandate of . . . [the] myriad [of] cases pointing out
the importance of findings." In re Commitment of S.D.,
212 N.J. Super. 211,
218-19 (App. Div. 1986). A judge presiding over a commitment hearing is vested
with extraordinary responsibility; when the judge does not apply the legal standards and
find the relevant facts, our subsequent correction of the abuse of discretion is
a poor remedy for the ill.
In this case, the judge did not even consider whether there were exceptional
circumstances and good cause warranting extensions of the statutory period. Such a failure
to consider the legal standards is an abuse of discretion. In the interest
of judicial economy and because of M.M.'s discharge, we decline to remand for
a statement explaining the decision. See Rosenberg, supra, 214 N.J. Super. at 304.
A fair reading of the decision below is that the judge extended M.M.'s
pre-determination confinement because he was not clearly convinced that the evidence of her
need for commitment was adequate. There simply was no evidence of an atypical,
unavoidable circumstance precluding presentation of adequate proof. The judge's suggestion that failure to
present essential testimony warrants extension of pre-determination confinement is without legal foundation and
troubling. To the extent the state's obligation to produce witnesses is burdensome, it
is a burden that is imposed by the Constitution. M.G., supra, 331 N.J.
Super. at 385.
With respect to good cause, the judge gave little consideration to the patient's
interest and did not even consider the possibility of the state's securing the
witness he deemed critical within the statutory period. The omission is not easily
understood in the context of this case; M.M.'s social worker, who had been
in contact with the witness, was present. Without any inquiry into the time
needed to address the exceptional circumstances, a judge cannot conclude that there is
good cause for the delay he or she authorizes.
We do not suggest that a witness of the sort the trial judge
deemed necessary here will be essential in every case, or even most cases.
Most frequently witnesses other than a treating psychiatrist are not necessary. That is
so because police, screening center or hospital reports often indicate that the author
has recorded his or her observations of the patient's relevant behavior in the
course of performing his or her duties. Such reports are admissible. N.J.R.E. 803(c)(6).
To the extent that such reports include statements made by the patient for
purposes of treatment or in explaining his or her present state of mind,
they are also admissible for the truth of those statements. N.J.R.E. 803(c)(4); N.J.R.E.
803(c)(3); N.J.R.E. 805. With preparation, counsel should be able to identify and obtain
witnesses for those rare cases in which there is inadequate competent evidence of
dangerousness included in admissible reports.
III.
As an alternate basis for affirmance, the state argues that it presented clear
and convincing evidence that M.M. was a person in need of commitment. Our
review convinces us that the evidence did not establish M.M.'s mental illness or
dangerousness by that standard. Equivocal proofs are not sufficient. In re Commitment of
W.H.,
324 N.J. Super. 519, 523 (App. Div. 1999). The evidence must permit
the judge "to come to a clear conviction [that person is mentally ill
and dangerous], without hesitancy." In re Commitment of G.G.N.,
372 N.J. Super. 42,
59 (App. Div. 2004); see P.D., supra, 381 N.J. Super. at 394; In
re D.C.,
146 N.J. 31, 60-61 (1996).
While this court gives deference to civil commitment decisions and reverses only when
there is clear error or mistake, a reviewing court must consider the adequacy
of the evidence. D.C., supra, 146 N.J. at 58-59; see Rova Farms Resort,
Inc. v. Investors Ins. Co. of Am.,
65 N.J. 474, 484 (1974). To
be adequate, the evidence must be competent. Rova Farms Resort, supra, 65 N.J.
at 484.
A judge may assign to expert testimony only the weight to which it
is entitled given its foundation. Balsamides v. Protameen Chems. Inc.,
160 N.J. 352,
368 (1999) (discussing importance of trial judge's fact-finding in evaluating expert testimony and
deference to be given to the trial judge's determinations). For that reason, the
judge must consider whether the opinion is based on evidence of the sort
upon which experts in the particular field reasonably rely. N.J.R.E. 703; see In
re Commitment of J.H.M.,
367 N.J. Super. 599, 612-14 (App. Div. 2003), certif.
denied,
179 N.J. 312 (2004). A judge must be given enough information to
conclude that the expert is not simply repeating diagnoses and opinions of other
experts. See In re Commitment of E.S.T.,
371 N.J. Super. 562, 575 (App.
Div. 2004). And, because a judge must discount expert opinion to the extent
that is based on facts and assumptions not established or inferable from admissible
evidence, the expert must identify and the judge must consider the source of
the information underlying the opinion. See B.L., supra, 346 N.J. Super. at 306-07;
State v. Farthing,
331 N.J. Super. 58, 78 (App. Div.), certif. denied,
165 N.J. 530 (2000); In re Commitment of J.B.,
295 N.J. Super. 75, 78-79
(App. Div. 1996). Moreover, a judge must take care to avoid any use
of an expert's testimony about the foundation for an opinion as proof of
facts that are neither derived from nor established by otherwise admissible evidence. J.H.M.,
supra, 367 N.J. Super. at 612-14.
Considered in light of the foregoing basic rules that have been well-explained in
a host of decisions, the expert testimony about M.M.'s dangerousness and delusion had
no probative value. The "delusion" critical to Dr. Madrack's concern about M.M.'s anger
and conduct was M.M.'s belief that her husband was having an affair, a
belief the psychiatrist apparently deemed irrational and evidential of a substantial disturbance of
M.M.'s perception of reality. N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2r; see Farthing, supra, 331 N.J. Super. at
77. But the psychiatrist and the judge apparently failed to appreciate that any
conclusion about the irrationality of that belief was dependent upon real world circumstances
that were never established. See id. at 77-78.
While the conclusion that a delusion is at work is reasonably inferred when
a person believes he is "the Napoleon," the same inference is not available
when based on a person's belief that his or her spouse is having
an affair with a super model. See Farthing, supra, 331 N.J. Super. at
77; Lodge v. State,
597 S.W.2d 773, 778 (Tex. App.) (discussing lack of
foundation for the expert's opinion that the patient's belief that her daughter was
"mistreating" her grandson was delusional), aff'd on other grounds, State v. Lodge,
608 S.W.2d 910 (1980). While it is not inconceivable that an expert could conclude
that a belief of this sort is delusional based on an irrational explanation
provided by the patient, Dr. Madrack offered no such explanation. Thus, the only
foundation for the judge's conclusion that M.M. had told "Dr. Madrack facts that
are not correct . . . about her husband having an affair with
a super model," was M.M.'s testimony at the hearing acknowledging that she did
not presently question her husband's fidelity. There was no foundation for Dr. Madrack's
opinion that by reason of a delusional belief M.M. was dangerous; M.M., who
provided the only competent proof that the belief was delusional, no longer entertained
the belief.
Dr. Madrack's opinion about M.M.'s dangerousness was similarly based on facts not established
by competent admissible evidence. Dr. Madrack had no idea of the source of
the information provided to the screening center about M.M.'s pre-admission conduct. See State
v. Alston,
312 N.J. Super. 102, 113 (App. Div. 1998). Thus, there was
no cause for the judge's concern that M.M. had engaged in assaultive behavior
because there was no competent evidence that she had. The only admissible evidence
provided by Dr. Madrack was that M.M. had engaged in no destructive conduct
since her admission to the facility. Although the judge did not credit M.M.'s
testimony about the dishes and the window, he rightly equivocated about the adequacy
of that testimony to support a finding of dangerousness by reason of mental
illness as those terms are defined.
A person is in need of involuntary commitment when there is clear and
convincing evidence of the following: (1) the person is mentally ill, as that
term is defined in N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2r; (2) the mental illness causes the person
to be dangerous (a) to self or (b) to others or property, as
those terms are defined in N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2h, i; (3) the person is unwilling
to be admitted to a facility for voluntary care; and (4) the patient
needs care at a psychiatric facility or hospital because other available services will
not meet the patient's needs. N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2m; see P.D., supra, 381 N.J. Super.
at 394; D.M., supra, 285 N.J. Super. at 489-90; R. 4:74-7(f)(1).
The relevant terms are statutorily defined. The term "mental illness" means:
[A] current, substantial disturbance of thought, mood, perception or orientation which significantly impairs
judgment, capacity to control behavior or capacity to recognize reality . . .
. The term mental illness is not limited to "psychosis" or "active psychosis,"
but shall include all conditions that result in the severity of impairment described
herein.
[N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2r.]
The term dangerous to others or property means:
[T]hat by reason of mental illness there is a substantial likelihood that the
person will inflict serious bodily harm upon another person or cause serious property
damage within the reasonably foreseeable future. This determination shall take into account a
person's history, recent behavior and any recent act or threat.
[N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2i.]
As these statutes clearly provide, medical labels are not determinative of the existence
of a qualifying "mental illness" or dangerousness; a functional analysis of the patient's
condition under "the standards plainly articulated in the relevant statutes" is required. D.M.,
supra, 313 N.J. Super. at 456. The definitions call for a legal judgment
guided by medical expert testimony. D.C., supra, 146 N.J. at 59; D.M., supra,
313 N.J. Super. at 456. The judge must make specific findings and correlate
them to the legal standards. D.M., supra, 313 N.J. Super. at 454.
There was no evidence of current "mental illness" requiring care at the facility.
R. 4:74-7f(1), (4). At best the evidence supported a finding that M.M. was
experiencing "a current, substantial disturbance of thought, mood, perception or orientation which significantly
impair[ed her] judgment, capacity to control behavior or capacity to recognize reality" at
the time of her admission. N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2r. By the time of the hearing,
M.M.'s testimony and condition established that, consistent with Dr. Madrack's view, any delusion
was a product of her failure to take her medication and had been
eliminated. See W.H., supra, 324 N.J. Super. at 524. Having resumed and agreed
to continue her medication, M.M. was no longer suffering from a current disturbance
or in need of treatment services available only at the facility. N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2m,
r;
R. 4:74-7f(1), (4).
There was also insufficient competent evidence to permit a finding of a "substantial
likelihood that [M.M. would] inflict serious bodily harm upon another person or cause
serious property damage within the reasonably foreseeable future." N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2i. Nothing established that
she had done anything of that sort prior to her admission, and competent
evidence demonstrated that she had done nothing remarkable since her hospitalization. Ibid. If
Dr. Madrack had reason to believe that M.M.'s statement about wanting to get
even with her husband was indicative of an intention or inclination to engage
in violent conduct, she did not give any testimony that would allow the
judge to draw that inference. Cf. N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2i (recent threats). If the judge
observed something that allowed him to conclude that M.M. posed such a danger,
he did not make that finding.
For all of these reasons, we reject the state's alternative argument in support
of affirming the decision to confine M.M. beyond the statutory period for commitment
on the basis of probable cause. Our conclusion is based on the absence
of evidence and consistent with the equivocation of the judge who had the
opportunity to observe the witnesses.
Reversed.
Footnote: 1
The parties have not provided an order memorializing a judicial finding of
probable cause for M.M.'s temporary commitment and setting the hearing date. See R.
4:74-7(c)(1); N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.10f, g, h. Because M.M. does not allege a deprivation of
rights prior to the hearing, we assume entry of the requisite order.
Footnote: 2
The transcript erroneously denotes April 14, 2005, as the hearing date. There is
no dispute that the hearing was held on April 12, 2005.
Footnote: 3
Because M.M. was temporarily committed on April 2, 2005, and less than
one year has passed, this appeal is not moot. This commitment remains relevant
in the event of future placements. See N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.5b; In re Commitment of
P.D.,
381 N.J. Super. 389, 393 n.2 (App. Div. 2005), certif. granted and
remanded, ___ N.J. ___ (2006). Further, regardless of potential future consequences, the issue
raised is one of public importance that is likely to recur in cases
that will be mooted before adjudication. In re Commitment of N.N.,
146 N.J. 112, 124 (1996).
Footnote: 4
The transcript of this proceeding was provided following oral argument on this appeal
and without objection.
A-