[Cite as In re: P.A., 2018-Ohio-2314.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

In re: : Case No. 17AP-728 

 (C.P.C. No. MI-26445) 

P.A., : 

 (ACCELERATED CALENDAR) 

 (Respondent-Appellant). : 

 

 

D E C I S I O N 

Rendered on June 14, 2018 

 

On brief: J. Michael Evans, for appellee. 

Argued: Gregory S. Dupont. 

On brief: Steven McGann Law Office, and Steven McGann, 

for appellant. 

 

APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, 

Probate Division 

KLATT, J. 

{¶ 1} Respondent-appellant, P.A., appeals a judgment of the Franklin County 

Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division, that involuntarily committed P.A. for inpatient 

mental health treatment and authorized forced medication of psychotropic drugs. For the 

following reasons, we affirm that judgment. 

{¶ 2} On September 12, 2017, Dr. Ann Morrison, the chief clinical officer of Twin 

Valley Behavior Healthcare Hospital ("Twin Valley"), submitted an affidavit of mental 

illness to the probate court. In the affidavit, Dr. Morrison stated that P.A. was a mentally 

ill person subject to court order under the criteria set forth in R.C. 5122.01(B)(2), (3), and 

(4). Dr. Morrison explained: 

[P.A.] is a 35 year old female, who was admitted to [Twin 

Valley] on 8/17/2017 with a legal status of Incompetent to 
No. 17AP-728 2 

Stand Trial, Unrestorable, related to charges of Assault, 

Criminal Trespass (7 counts), Resisting Arrest, and Failure to 

Disclose Personal Information. [P.A.] has been diagnosed with 

Bipolar Disorder, unspecified. * * * She reportedly received 

legal charges while homeless, resulting in attempts to stay in 

multiple businesses after businesses closed as a means of 

shelter. On one occasion, when a property owner asked [P.A.] 

to leave the premises she became erratic and assaultive. 

During all these incidents, [P.A.] was uncooperative with law 

enforcement, refused to provide basic information, and was 

resistant and evasive. On one occasion (5/14/17), she reported 

she had been sexually assaulted the night before, and when 

asked to elaborate about the assault, [P.A.] stated she knew "in 

her spirit" that she was assaulted while she slept. Since her 

admission to [Twin Valley], [P.A.] has refused medication and 

demonstrated poor judgement [sic] and poor insight into her 

mental health needs. She was involved in a physical altercation 

with her roommate while at [Twin Valley], and has been unable 

to share a room due to paranoia and irritability. She isolates to 

her room and does not participate in provided groups or 

interact with peers. It was reported [P.A.] was naked in her 

room when the adjoining unit (an all male unit) was in the court 

yard outside her window and could see her. She has reported 

she believes people are saying things about her and she appears 

paranoid. [P.A.] has also reported she can see into other 

people's spirits and can see when they have an evil spirit within 

them. [P.A.] does admit to continued symptoms of depression, 

and admitted to hearing voices in the past, but believes the 

voices were "spirits" telling her to hurt herself. [P.A.] has a 

severe mental illness and lacks capacity to make treatment 

decisions. Due to her mental illness, her thoughts, perceptions, 

moods, judgements [sic], and behaviors are grossly impaired, 

causing her to be at risk in the community in that she is unable 

to provide for her basic needs such as maintaining adequate 

housing. [P.A.] has been homeless since January and is banned 

from the local shelter due to having a physical altercation with 

another female while there. She also poses a risk to others, 

which is demonstrated by her recent history of assaultive 

behavior. * * * She would benefit from continued inpatient 

psychiatric treatment at this time. 

(Sept. 12, 2017 Affidavit of Mental Illness at 2.) 

{¶ 3} At the same time Dr. Morrison submitted the affidavit of mental illness, she 

also filed with the probate court an application to authorize the forced psychotropic 
No. 17AP-728 3 

medication of P.A.1 In the application, Dr. Morrison alleged P.A. was psychotic and unlikely 

to improve without antipsychotic medication. P.A., however, was refusing to take that 

medication. 

{¶ 4} A magistrate reviewed the affidavit of mental illness and found probable 

cause to believe that P.A. was a mentally ill person subject to court order. Consequently, 

the magistrate ordered P.A.'s continued detention at Twin Valley. In a separate order, the 

magistrate scheduled a full hearing for consideration of the affidavit of mental illness and 

the application for forced psychotropic medication. The magistrate appointed counsel for 

P.A. and designated Dr. William Bates, a psychiatrist, as the court doctor. 

{¶ 5} The full hearing occurred on September 15, 2017. Dr. Bates, Dr. Davis, and 

P.A. testified at the hearing. Based on the evidence submitted, the magistrate found that 

P.A. was a mentally ill person subject to court order and committed her to Twin Valley for 

90 days. The magistrate also granted the application for forced psychotropic medication. 

{¶ 6} P.A. objected to the magistrate's decisions. In a judgment entered 

September 27, 2017, the probate court overruled P.A.'s objections and adopted the 

magistrate's decisions. 

{¶ 7} P.A. now appeals the September 27, 2017 judgment, and she assigns the 

following errors: 

[1.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ADOPTING THE 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 MAGISTRATE'S REPORT AND 

DECISION FINDING THAT APPELLANT SUFFERS FROM A 

MENTAL ILLNESS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION. 

[2.] THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ADOPTING THE 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 MAGISTRATE'S REPORT AND 

DECISION FINDING THAT APPELLANT SUFFERS FROM A 

MENTAL ILLNESS AND REQUIRES FORCED 

PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION. 

{¶ 8} By her first assignment of error, P.A. challenges the trial court's finding that 

she is a mentally ill person subject to court order. According to P.A., because she is not a 

 

1 Dr. Gary Davis, P.A.'s treating psychiatrist, joined Dr. Morrison in applying for the authority to medicate 

P.A. against her wishes. 
No. 17AP-728 4 

mentally ill person subject to court order, the trial court erred in involuntarily committing 

her to Twin Valley for mental health treatment for 90 days.2 We disagree. 

{¶ 9} R.C. Chapter 5122 sets forth specific procedures for the involuntary 

commitment of a person to a mental hospital. In a non-emergency situation, that process 

commences with the filing of an affidavit of mental illness in the probate court. R.C. 

5122.11; In re Miller, 63 Ohio St.3d 99, 101 (1992). In the affidavit, the affiant must state 

facts sufficient to indicate probable cause to believe that the person named in the affidavit 

is a mentally ill person subject to court order. R.C. 5122.11; Miller at 105. If the probate 

court determines that such probable cause exists, the court may order the temporary 

detention of the person and/or set the matter for further hearing. R.C. 5122.11. 

{¶ 10} Ultimately, the probate court must afford the respondent, i.e., the person 

alleged to be mentally ill, a full hearing conducted as required by R.C. Chapter 5122 and 

due process of law. R.C. 5122.15(A). If, upon completion of the full hearing, a probate court 

"finds by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent is a mentally ill person subject 

to court order," the court may commit the respondent to a hospital for a period not to 

exceed 90 days. R.C. 5122.15(C). 

{¶ 11} A "mentally ill person subject to court order" is "a mentally ill person, who 

because of the person's illness: 

(1) Represents a substantial risk of physical harm to self as 

manifested by evidence of threats of, or attempts at, suicide or 

serious self-inflicted bodily harm; 

(2) Represents a substantial risk of physical harm to others as 

manifested by evidence or recent homicidal or other violent 

behavior, evidence of recent threats that place another in 

reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm, 

or other evidence of present dangerousness; 

(3) Represents a substantial and immediate risk of serious 

physical impairment or injury to self as manifested by evidence 

that the person is unable to provide for and is not providing for 

the person's basic physical needs because of the person's 

 

2 Although the 90-day period of court-ordered hospitalization has long since ended, this case is not moot. 

Because an adjudication of mental illness carries a stigma and can have adverse consequences that 

significantly impact a person's life, this court reviews commitment orders even if those orders have expired. 

In re D.B., 10th Dist. No. 14AP-44, 2014-Ohio-1464, ¶ 7; In re R.T., 10th Dist. No. 13AP-291, 2013-Ohio4886, ¶ 6. 
No. 17AP-728 5 

mental illness and that appropriate provision for those needs 

cannot be made immediately available in the community; 

(4) Would benefit from treatment for the person's mental 

illness and is in need of such treatment as manifested by 

evidence of behavior that creates a grave and imminent risk to 

substantial rights of others or the person[.] 

R.C. 5122.01(B)(1) through (4).3 A "mental illness" is a "substantial disorder of thought, 

mood, perception, orientation, or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behavior, 

capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life." R.C. 

5122.01(A). 

{¶ 12} Given these definitions, to involuntarily commit a person, a probate court 

must find by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) the person has a substantial mental 

disorder, (2) the mental disorder grossly impairs the person's functioning, and (3) the 

person must be hospitalized for one of the reasons set forth in R.C. 5122.01(B)(1) through 

(4). In re D.B., 10th Dist. No. 14AP-44, 2014-Ohio-1464, ¶ 10; In re R.T., 10th Dist. No. 

13AP-291, 2013-Ohio-4886, ¶ 12. Courts must utilize a "totality of the circumstances" test 

to determine whether an allegedly mentally ill person is subject to hospitalization under 

R.C. 5122.01(B)(1), (2), (3), or (4). In re Burton, 11 Ohio St.3d 147 (1984), paragraph one 

of the syllabus. The factors a court must consider include, but are not limited to: 

(1) whether, in the court's view, the individual currently 

represents a substantial risk of physical harm to himself or 

other members of society; (2) psychiatric and medical 

testimony as to the present mental and physical condition of 

the alleged incompetent; (3) whether the person has insight 

into his condition so that he will continue treatment as 

prescribed or seek professional assistance if needed; (4) the 

grounds upon which the state relies for the proposed 

commitment; (5) any past history which is relevant to establish 

the individual's degree of conformity to the laws, rules, 

regulations and values of society; and (6) if there is evidence 

that the person's mental illness is in a state of remission, the 

court must also consider the medically suggested cause and 

degree of the remission and the probability that the individual 

will continue treatment to maintain the remissive state of his 

illness should he be released from commitment. 

 

3 The General Assembly amended R.C. 5122.01(B) in 2014 to add a fifth subsection. 2014 Am.Sub.S.B. No. 

43. However, a person who meets only the criteria described in that subsection is not subject to 

hospitalization. R.C. 5122.01(B)(5)(b). Accordingly, we do not consider that subsection in this decision. 
No. 17AP-728 6 

Id. at 149-50. 

{¶ 13} Where, as here, the trial court applies a clear-and-convincing standard of 

review, "a reviewing court will examine the record to determine whether the trier of facts 

had sufficient evidence before it to satisfy the requisite degree of proof." State v. Schiebel, 

55 Ohio St.3d 71, 74 (1990); accord R.T. at ¶ 12 (applying this law in determining whether 

the trial court erred in involuntarily hospitalizing the appellant under R.C. Chapter 5122). 

If the judgment is supported by some competent, credible evidence going to all the essential 

elements of the case, an appellate court must affirm it. Schiebel at 74. In determining 

whether the record contains the necessary competent, credible evidence, a reviewing court 

must weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences, consider the credibility of witnesses, 

and determine whether in resolving conflicts in the evidence, the finder of fact clearly lost 

its way. Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, ¶ 20. However, 

reviewing courts "must always be mindful of the presumption in favor of the finder of fact." 

Id. at ¶ 21. 

{¶ 14} In the case at bar, Dr. Bates testified that he examined P.A. and reviewed her 

medical records. Dr. Bates diagnosed P.A. with a psychotic disorder not otherwise 

specified. Dr. Bates stated that P.A.'s mental illness substantially disturbed her ability to 

think, which resulted in gross impairment of her judgment. He further opined that: 

[P.A.] has a recent history of numerous episodes of aggression 

towards other people. So I think she represents a danger 

towards -- to others. 

She's been unable to take care of her basic needs; doesn't 

recognize that she has a mental illness; is not taking care of her 

psychiatric condition[;] and is homeless, unable to find 

someplace to live. 

(Tr. at 8.) To support his opinions, Dr. Bates recounted P.A.'s criminal charges, which she 

acquired "because she was homeless, and so, in seeking some shelter from the elements, 

she would go into a business, basically refuse to leave, and the police would be called." Id.

at 9. Dr. Bates also spoke of P.A.'s aggression toward her roommate, where she "[t]wist[ed] 

a nightgown or some kind of garment around the woman's neck," and P.A.'s pattern of 

paranoid behavior. Id. at 10. 
No. 17AP-728 7 

{¶ 15} Based on Dr. Bates' testimony, we conclude that the record contains 

competent, credible evidence that clearly and convincingly establishes that P.A. is a 

mentally ill person subject to court order. Consequently, the trial court did not err in 

involuntarily committing her to Twin Valley for mental health treatment. We thus overrule 

P.A.'s first assignment of error. 

{¶ 16} By her second assignment of error, P.A. argues that the trial court erred in 

authorizing Twin Valley to medicate her against her wishes. P.A., however, fails to advance 

any argument in support of her second assignment of error. An appellant has the duty to 

construct the arguments necessary to support the assignments of error; an appellate court 

will not construct those arguments for the appellant. Bond v. Canal Winchester, 10th Dist. 

No. 07AP-556, 2008-Ohio-945, ¶ 16. If an appellant fails to fulfill its duty, the appellate 

court may disregard the unsupported assignment of error. App.R. 12(A)(2). While we 

could decline to decide P.A.'s second assignment of error, we will address it in the interest 

of justice. 

{¶ 17} A probate court may issue an order permitting the administration of 

psychotropic medication against the wishes of an involuntarily committed mentally ill 

person if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) the person does not have the 

capacity to give or withhold informed consent regarding his or her treatment; (2) it is in the 

person's best interest to take the medication, i.e., the benefits of the medication outweigh 

the side effects; and (3) no less intrusive treatment will be as effective in treating the mental 

illness. Steele v. Hamilton Cty. Community Mental Health Bd., 90 Ohio St.3d 176 (2000), 

paragraph six of the syllabus. 

{¶ 18} In this case, Dr. Bates and Dr. Davis testified that P.A. lacked the capacity to 

make informed medical treatment decisions, and that the benefits of medicating P.A. with 

antipsychotic drugs outweighed the risks of the treatment. Dr. Davis opined that P.A. had 

a severe mental illness that caused paranoid delusions and perception problems. P.A.'s 

mental illness prevented her from seeing that she was mentally ill and in need of treatment, 

and interfered with her ability to process treatment information. Dr. Davis predicted that, 

after receiving antipsychotic medication for four to six weeks, P.A. would recover 

sufficiently for discharge from Twin Valley. Neither Dr. Bates nor Dr. Davis was aware of 

any less intrusive treatment alternative. 
No. 17AP-728 8 

{¶ 19} Based on Dr. Bates' and Dr. Davis' testimony, we conclude that competent, 

credible evidence supports the trial court's conclusion that the evidence clearly and 

convincingly established that P.A. should be forcibly medicated. Accordingly, we overrule 

P.A.'s second assignment of error. 

{¶ 20} For the foregoing reasons, we overrule both of P.A.'s assignments of error, 

and we affirm the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Probate 

Division. 

Judgment affirmed.

BRUNNER and HORTON, JJ., concur.