Opinion ID: 883543
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Implied Finding

Text: This Court has adopted the doctrine of implied findings for purposes of reviewing findings of fact. Interstate Brands Corp. v. Cannon (1985), 218 Mont. 380, 384, 708 P.2d 573, 576. That doctrine provides that where the findings are general in terms, any findings not specifically made, but necessary to the [determination], are deemed to have been implied, if supported by the evidence. Interstate Brands, 708 P.2d at 576 (citations omitted). We apply the doctrine only if the implied findings are consistent with express findings. Interstate Brands, 708 P.2d at 576. For the most part, the hearing examiner addressed the components of the Impaired Safety problem area in a systematic manner. With regard to the first component, the hearing examiner expressly found that D.B.B. had verbalized an intent to harm both others and herself and that these threats were probably caused by her mental disorder. Under the second component, relating to the patient's recent loss, the hearing examiner found that D.B.B.'s threats were accompanied by the recent loss of her family ... loss of self and loss of self-esteem. The third component is comprised of two alternatives: the patient's verbalization of intent to harm self or others must be accompanied by gestures or plans or escalating in intensity. The hearing examiner expressly found that the record did not support a finding that D.B.B.'s verbalizations of intent to harm herself or others were accompanied by gestures or plans or a finding that verbalizations of intent to harm herself escalated in intensity. Shodair does not dispute the finding related to verbalizations accompanied by gesture or plan and, for purposes of appeal, has conceded that the record does not support a finding that D.B.B.'s verbalizations of intent to harm herself had escalated in intensity. Thus, the only portion of the third component of the Impaired Safety problem area at issue is whether D.B.B.'s verbalizations of intent to harm others escalated in intensity. The hearing examiner did not make an express finding regarding the escalating in intensity factor. She continued her discussion regarding the third component by finding that D.B.B. had harmed peers, including one incident which could have posed a danger, but that Shodair's treatment after the incident rendered the event insignificant. She also found that D.B.B. did not have a serious intent to harm and that she was not frequently violent. Shodair does not challenge these express findings. The hearing examiner concluded by finding that [criterion] (4) of the Department's criteria for hospital inpatient psychiatric treatment has not been met. The hearing examiner made systematic, express, and undisputed findings that the first two Impaired Safety problem area components had been established and that portions of the third component had not been established. Those express findings, together with her finding that Shodair failed to establish the fourth MIPS manual criterion, permitted the District Court to determine that the hearing examiner had necessarily found that the escalating in intensity portion of the third component had not been established, if such a finding is supported by the evidence. See Interstate Brands, 708 P.2d at 576. This is so because the finding that D.B.B.'s verbalizations were not escalating in intensity was necessary for the examiner's ultimate finding that the MIPS manual criteria were not met. Moreover, the implied finding is entirely consistent with the express findings made by the hearing examiner and with the general finding that Shodair failed to meet the fourth MIPS manual criterion. See Interstate Brands, 708 P.2d at 576. Thus, all that remains is to determine whether the implied finding is supported by substantial credible evidence.