Graham v. Dept. of Children and Families

• Decision Date: 05 December 2007
• Docket Number: No. 4D07-996.,4D07-996.
• Citation: 970 So.2d 438
• Parties: Laurence GRAHAM, Appellant, v. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, and Catholic Charities of The Diocese of Palm Beach, Inc., Appellees.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

970 So.2d 438

Laurence GRAHAM, Appellant, v. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, and Catholic Charities of The Diocese of Palm Beach, Inc., Appellees.

No. 4D07-996.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.

December 5, 2007.

Rehearing Denied January 4, 2008.

Joseph S. Shook of Law Office of Joseph S. Shook, Coral Gables, for appellant.

Edward A. Shipe, Boca Raton, for appellee Luke Graham.

Ronald E. Crescenzo of Casey Ciklin Lubitz Martens & O'Connell, West Palm Beach, for appellee Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Inc.

HAZOURI, J.

Appellant, Laurence J. Graham (Laurence Graham), appeals the following orders entered by the trial court: (1) Judgment of Guilt on Order to Show Cause Why Laurence Graham Should Not be Held in Contempt of Court; (2) Order Appointing Plenary Guardian of Person and Property Over Betty Pat Graham (Betty Graham)/Letters of Plenary Guardianship of Person and Property of Betty Pat Graham; and (3) Denial of Laurence Graham's Motion for Continuance. Luke Graham, Laurence's brother, is the only appellee who filed an answer brief in this case, in which appellee, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach, Inc. (Catholic Charities), joined. We reverse.

On November 8, 2005, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), filed a petition for appointment of plenary guardian, alleging that Betty Graham, Laurence and Luke Graham's mother, was incapacitated by mental illness. The petition alleged that Betty, a 61-year old woman, was presently located in a psychiatric facility in Fair Oaks Pavilion on the campus of Delray Medical Center. The petition alleged further that Betty had over $500,000 of real estate assets and $350,000 in a Merrill Lynch account. DCF claimed that Laurence and Luke Graham were trying to hide Betty from one another and get her assets in their respective names. However, DCF determined that Luke is the son who most has Betty's best interests in mind. Finally, the petition alleged that the situation is an emergency because DCF learned that the Merrill Lynch account was closed, and the money was suspected to be in Laurence's name. Simultaneously, DCF filed a petition for appointment of emergency temporary guardian, raising the same allegations.

The trial court appointed Catholic Charities as Betty's emergency temporary plenary guardian. Upon Catholic Charities' petition following its discovery that $200,000.00 was transferred from Betty's joint account with her son Laurence, made payable to "Laurence Graham ITF Betty Graham," the trial court entered an order securing Betty's assets, freezing her accounts, and directing Betty's financial institutions and accountant(s) to provide information to Catholic Charities.

Shortly thereafter, Laurence Graham filed a petition for appointment as Betty's guardian. Laurence alleged he was being denied access to Betty and was denied his right to exercise health care decisions for Betty in violation of a health care advance directive ("the Directive") executed by Betty on July 22, 2006, designating Laurence as her health care surrogate. Catholic Charities filed a verified petition for an order compelling Laurence to disclose Betty's location and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of court. The trial court granted the petition and entered an order accordingly. The order mandated that Laurence appear before the trial court on a date certain, to show cause why he should not be held in indirect criminal contempt of court. Laurence filed a response to the order to show cause, motion to dismiss order and request for statement of particulars, but did not appear before the trial court. Luke Graham filed a petition to be appointed as Betty's permanent plenary guardian. The trial court granted the petition, appointing Luke Graham as temporary plenary guardian of Betty's person and property.

Thereafter, Laurence filed an emergency motion for continuance of the hearing on the petition for appointment of a permanent guardian and motion for order for rule to show cause. His counsel claimed he did not have adequate time to prepare for the hearing because he had just been retained by Laurence Graham, and there was additional evidence necessary for the court to make a meaningful determination of the issues. The trial court denied the motion for continuance. After the hearing, the trial court denied the motion to dismiss and request for statement of particulars, and entered a judgment of guilt on the order to show cause why Laurence Graham should not be held in contempt of court. Specifically, the trial court stated:

As to the merits of the alleged contempt, the Court finds that Laurence Graham is in fact in violation of the Court's Orders, voluntarily and freely, knowing at all times that he has been in violation, and having at all times the ability to comply with the Court's Orders. The Court is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, based on the record before it, that Laurence Graham is in contempt of Court as described in the Order to Show Cause, i.e., his participation in the removal and disappearance of Betty Pat Graham from this jurisdiction and his subsequent failure to immediately disclose her location, in violation of this Court's Order Appointing Emergency Temporary Guardian (dated November 8, 2006) and the Letters of Emergency Temporary Guardianship (dated November 9, 2006), both of which delegated plenary emergency temporary guardianship powers to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach Inc.

The trial court scheduled sentencing, and ordered Laurence Graham to appear in person with Betty Graham at that time.

At the sentencing hearing, the trial court withheld sentencing for 90 days. The trial court encouraged the parties to determine what is best for Betty during that time and "revise these proceedings with the Court in its guardianship capacity rather than in its contempt capacity if necessary." This appeal followed.¹

Laurence Graham argues first that the trial court erred in finding him guilty of indirect criminal contempt on two grounds: (1) the court failed to comply with the procedural requirements of Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.840; and (2) there was no evidence that he violated a court order. Because we agree with the first ground, we do not reach the second.

Failure to strictly follow the dictates of Rule 3.840, governing indirect criminal contempt, constitutes fundamental, reversible error. Hagan v. State, 853 So.2d 595, 597 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003).

Laurence Graham argues that the trial court's order is based upon a statement from Catholic Charities, which is not in affidavit form and was not issued upon personal knowledge, that he did not receive notice of the contempt proceedings, and that he was not properly served. Rule 3.840(a) provides:

The judge, on the judge's own motion or on affidavit of any person having knowledge of the facts, may issue and sign an order directed to the defendant, stating the essential facts constituting the criminal contempt charged and requiring the defendant to appear before the court to show cause why the defendant should not be held in contempt of court. The order shall specify the time and place of the hearing, with a reasonable time allowed for preparation of the defense after service of the order on the defendant.

Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.840(a). We reject without comment Laurence's arguments concerning an insufficient affidavit and lack of notice, but agree with his contention that he was not properly served.

The order indicates that copies were furnished to Laurence and his attorney; however, this is insufficient service under Rule 3.840. In Giles v. Renew, 639 So.2d 701 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994), the Second District reversed an adjudication of guilt for indirect criminal contempt where the trial court and state did not strictly comply with Rule 3.840 in serving the appellant with the order to show cause. The court held: "Giles was entitled to have the order served upon him, not sent by facsimile to his attorney." Giles, 639 So.2d at 702; see also Transp. & Gen. Ins. Co., Ltd. v. Receiverships of Ins. Exch. of the Ams., 576 So.2d 1351, 1352 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991) (concluding that the trial court erred in denying appellant's motion to dismiss order to show cause in the absence of proper service of process). It is undisputed here that Laurence was not personally served with the order to show cause and thus, reversal is warranted. See Van Hare v. Van Hare, 870 So.2d 125, 127 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003) (reversing order of criminal contempt for lack of compliance with Rule 3.840).

Laurence Graham contends next that, in appointing Luke Graham as Betty's temporary plenary guardian, the trial court effectively revoked Betty's valid Directive, and did so without the necessary proof under section 765.105, Florida Statutes (2007), and without notice and a hearing, in violation of section 744.3115, Florida Statutes (2007). We agree in part.

"Statutory interpretation is a question of law subject to de novo review." BellSouth Telecomm. Inc., v. Meeks, 863 So.2d 287, 289 (Fla.2003).

Section 744.3115, Florida Statutes (2007), governing advance directives for health care, states:

In each proceeding in which a guardian is appointed under this chapter, the court shall determine whether the ward, prior to incapacity, has executed any valid advance directive under chapter 765. If any advance directive exists, the court shall specify in its order and letters of guardianship what authority, if any, the guardian shall exercise over the surrogate. Pursuant to the grounds listed in s. 765.105, the court, upon its own motion, may, with notice to the surrogate and any other appropriate parties, modify or revoke the authority of the surrogate to make health care decisions for the ward. For purposes of this section, the term "health care decision" has the same meaning as in s. 765.101.

In appointing Luke Graham as Betty's temporary plenary guardian, an act which...