In re B.B., 12–0158.
| Decision Date | 22 February 2013 |
| Docket Number | No. 12–0158.,12–0158. |
| Parties | In the Matter of B.B., Alleged to be Seriously Mentally Impaired, B.B., Appellant. |
| Court | Iowa Supreme Court |
OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE
Zachary S. Hindman of Bikakis, Mayne, Arneson, Hindman & Hisey, Sioux City, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Gretchen Witte Kraemer, Assistant Attorney General, Patrick A. Jennings, County Attorney, and Joshua D. Widman, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee.
In this case, we must determine whether an appeal from a finding of “serious mental impairment” resulting in an involuntary commitment under Iowa Code chapter 229 (2011) becomes moot when the appellant is released and the proceedings are terminated. We agree with the jurisdictions that hold such an appeal is not moot. On the merits presented, we conclude substantial evidence supports the conclusion of the district court that the appellant was “seriously mentally impaired.” We therefore affirm the judgment of the district court.
On December 14, 2011, police brought B.B. to the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City after he entered a restricted area at an Iowa Air National Guard base. A judge then ordered B.B.'s emergency hospitalization pursuant to Iowa Code section 229.22(3). The judge found probable cause to believe B.B. was “seriously mentally impaired” and “a threat to harm himself or others” because B.B. was in a very agitated and confused state when police brought him to the hospital, was “making wild threats to harm himself and others,” and required “[three] police officers to keep him subdued.”
Shortly after B.B.'s emergency hospitalization, an application alleging serious mental impairment pursuant to Iowa Code section 229.6 was filed with the District Court for Woodbury County. Two affidavits accompanied the application. The first affidavit, made by Marlene Sorensen, stated B.B. attempted to board a plane in Omaha, Nebraska, with a fake passport. It further indicated that B.B. then drove to Sioux City, Iowa, and tried to follow a worker into a secured area at the air base in Sergeant Bluff. The affidavit further stated B.B. was paranoid when authorities brought him into the hospital. A second affidavit, filed by Jane Hoffman, was substantially the same, except it stated that B.B. attempted to board the plane with a fake boarding pass instead of a fake passport and also stated B.B.'s wife “fears that he might harm her or their children if released” from the hospital.
A physician's report was also attached to the application. The report, authored by Dr. Ejiro Idahosa, a psychiatrist, diagnosed B.B. with psychosis, not otherwise specified, and noted symptoms of paranoia. Dr. Idahosa concluded B.B. lacked sufficient judgment to make responsible decisions with respect to his hospitalization or treatment because of the mental illness. The report further stated that, because of his mental illness, if left at liberty without treatment B.B. was more likely to physically injure himself or others, to inflict serious emotional injury on members of his family or others who lacked a reasonable opportunity to avoid contact with him, and to be unable to satisfy his need for nourishment, clothing, essential medical care, or shelter such that it made it likely he would suffer physical injury, debilitation, or death. Dr. Idahosa also noted B.B. had a history of mental illness, recommended B.B. return to inpatient treatment for further stabilization, and opined B.B. would need outpatient treatment upon release for medication management and therapy.
A hearing was held on the application on December 20. The Sorensen and Hoffman affidavits and Dr. Idahosa's report were admitted into evidence. Dr. Idahosa testified that B.B. met the statutory requirements as one who is seriously mentally impaired. She explained B.B. was a danger to himself or others based on B.B.'s irritability, arguments with his wife, and symptoms of paranoia. Elaborating, she stated that B.B. “feels people are trying to do something to him,” that he believes people are trying to remove his brain or other organs from his body, and that his wife “is afraid for him to come home.” Dr. Idahosa further stated that “[B.B.'s wife] has a restraining order and he has nowhere to go.” Dr. Idahosa noted the observations made in the two affidavits in the application. She testified that B.B.'s wife advised her B.B. had a history of paranoia that had been ongoing for twelve years and that recently the symptoms were “the worst [B.B.'s wife] has seen.” Dr. Idahosa also opined B.B. did not have sufficient judgment to make responsible decisions with regard to his hospitalization or treatment. In Dr. Idahosa's opinion, hospitalization was the least restrictive form of treatment available for B.B. at that time.
B.B. also testified. B.B. denied attempting to board a flight with a fake passport. B.B. asserted it was all a misunderstanding because he found some boarding passes that did not belong to him and he was simply attempting to give them to an airline employee. He then left the Omaha airport and drove to the air base in Sergeant Bluff because he was emotional due to marital problems and “was considering getting into the National Guard.” B.B. testified that he accidentally drove into a secured area. He further stated he did not believe he suffered from a mental illness or was a danger to himself or others.
The district court concluded the record established by clear and convincing evidence that B.B. was seriously mentally impaired. The court based its decision on the report and testimony of Dr. Idahosa, which it found credible; admissions made by B.B.; and the Sorensen and Hoffman affidavits. The court also concluded that B.B. lacked sufficient judgment to make responsible decisions regarding his hospitalization and treatment, illustrated by his failure to recognize that he had a mental illness, and that B.B. was likely to inflict serious injury to himself or others if he was not hospitalized. The court stated B.B.'s testimony “just does not make sense on a great part of it” and that his testimony about his trips to the airport and air base was not credible. The court entered its order that day. B.B. appealed, alleging the district court's finding that B.B. was seriously mentally impaired was not supported by substantial evidence.
During the pendency of the appeal, B.B. was released to outpatient treatment at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha. Because an entry in the court file indicated B.B. was no longer a patient at UNMC as of January 28, 2012, and because B.B. did not have family or employment connections in Woodbury County, the State filed a motion to discharge and terminate the proceedings. The district court granted the motion, terminated the proceedings, discharged B.B. from court-ordered treatment and placement, and stated interested parties could reinitiate court proceedings if B.B. returned to Iowa and was believed to be seriously mentally impaired.
This proceeding is not B.B.'s first involuntary commitment proceeding. He testified that he was involuntarily committed approximately fourteen years ago for depression with psychotic features.
We review challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence in involuntary commitment proceedings for errors at law. In re J.P., 574 N.W.2d 340, 342 (Iowa 1998). The allegations made in an application for involuntary commitment must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. Id. Clear and convincing evidence is less burdensome than evidence establishing proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but more burdensome than a preponderance of the evidence. Id. “It means that there must be no serious or substantial doubt about the correctness of a particular conclusion drawn from the evidence.” Id. (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
We are confronted with two issues in this appeal. First, we must address whether an appeal from a finding that a person is seriously mentally impaired under chapter 229 becomes moot when the person is released from involuntary commitment and the proceedings are terminated.1 Second, if the matter is not moot, we must determine whether the district court's finding that B.B. is seriously mentally impaired is supported by substantial evidence.
A. Mootness. Ordinarily, an appeal is moot if the “issue becomes nonexistent or academic and, consequently, no longer involves a justiciable controversy.” State v. Hernandez-Lopez, 639 N.W.2d 226, 234 (Iowa 2002). We will generally not review moot issues, but our caselaw and that of other jurisdictions recognize exceptions. Relevant to this appeal, one exception permits appellate review of otherwise moot issues when the issue is one of broad public importance likely to recur. Id.;In re M.T., 625 N.W.2d 702, 704 (Iowa 2001). Another exception provides that an appeal is not moot if a judgment left standing will cause the appellant to suffer continuing adverse collateral consequences. See Sibron v. New York, 392 U.S. 40, 53–57, 88 S.Ct. 1889, 1898–1900, 20 L.Ed.2d 917, 929–31 (1968).
For example, in M.T. we stated that an appeal from an involuntary commitment was moot when the party had been released from inpatient treatment, the State no longer sought to have the party committed for inpatient treatment, and the party did not challenge his commitment to outpatient treatment. 625 N.W.2d at 705. Nonetheless, we reached the merits of whether the party's statutory right to be present at his involuntary commitment proceeding had been violated because it was an issue of broad public importance capable of recurring, yet likely to evade appellate review. Id.
Similarly, B.B.'s case is arguably moot because he was no longer subject to inpatient treatment and had been discharged from court-ordered treatment and placement. B.B., however, argues his case warrants our review because...
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