Opinion ID: 1316860
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: compliance with petition requirements

Text: Appellant Gilman contends that the trial court erred in not dismissing the petition for 90-day treatment and that the court lacked jurisdiction because the petition failed to comply with RCW 71.05.290(2): The petition shall summarize the facts which support the need for further confinement and shall be supported by affidavits signed by two examining physicians, or by one examining physician and examining mental health professional. The affidavits shall describe in detail the behavior of the detained person which supports the petition and shall explain what, if any, less restrictive treatments which are alternatives to detention are available to such person, and shall state the willingness of the affiant to testify to such facts in subsequent judicial proceedings under this chapter. Appellant argues that one of the affidavits submitted in support of the petition recommended less restrictive treatment and that neither affidavit stated that the affiant was willing to testify to such facts. Respondents counter that the affidavit which supported less restrictive treatment also supported the petition for more restrictive treatment and in any case any lack of support was eliminated by the submission of a second affidavit by the affiant. Respondents further argue that there was substantial compliance with RCW 71.05.290(1) and (2). RCW 71.05.015 provides that the act is to be carefully construed. Additionally, this court indicated in Cross that statutes that involve a deprivation of liberty are to be strictly construed. Cross, at 379. MPR 6.3(h) provides a 90-day petition form and requires that the petition shall be in substantial conformance with such form. As previously indicated, the petition provisions are intended to provide adequate notice to the detainee of the pending hearing and the issues involved. We find that the instant petition substantially complied with MPR 6.3(h) and met the requirements of RCW 71.05.290(2).