Opinion ID: 2629189
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Savannah Hurd v. Department of Social & Health Services

Text: The ALJ's findings of fact in Savannah Hurd are unchallenged, and therefore are verities on appeal. Postema, 142 Wash.2d at 100, 11 P.3d 726; Hilltop Terrace Homeowner's Ass'n, 126 Wash.2d at 30. At the time of the hearing, Savannah was a seven-year-old girl suffering from congenital scoliosis, kyphosis, and thoracic insufficiency syndrome. Congenital scoliosis is a lateral deviation from the normally straight line of the spine; kyphosis is an abnormally increased convexity in the curvature of the spine (hunchback); and thoracic insufficiency syndrome is the inability of the thorax to support normal respiration or lung growth, in Savannah's case secondary to progressive scoliosis. She also suffers from clubfoot, which has been partially resolved through surgery, and some nondisabling nerve damage to her left arm as a result of one of her surgeries. Savannah was, like Carmen, admitted to Dr. Campbell's project and underwent the titanium rib procedure. At the time of the hearing, Savannah had undergone 14 surgeries and would require these surgeries until age 14 to 16 or until she ceases to grow. Her prognosis is good with continuing surgical treatment. Without the surgeries, she would probably not be alive or would most certainly [be] a severe pulmonary crippled child, confined to a respirator. Admin. R. at 48 (letter from Dr. Melvin D. Smith, co-founder of the Titanium Rib Project). Savannah is not cognitively impaired, and she is not enrolled in any special education classes. Admin. R. (Finding of Fact 6) at 3. Savannah was found to be eligible for Department services under the same criteria as Carmenshe was under six and suffered from developmental delay; thus, she was also eligible for CAP services and the waiver of requirements for eligibility for medical benefits (Medicaid). Her mother's insurance pays for 80 percent of the medical expenses. Savannah's parents earn too much for her to qualify for SSI. In June 2001, the Department initiated review of Savannah's eligibility for continued Department services and determined that she was no longer eligible. Savannah's parents appealed to the DSHS Board of Appeals. The review judge noted their concession that the ALJ's findings of fact were accurate and that the conclusions of law were legally correct, [2] and concluded that there was no basis to modify the Initial Decision. Savannah's parents petitioned for review of the administrative decision in Spokane County Superior Court. The superior court reversed the Board of Appeals' decision. It entered findings stating that Savannah is, by any dictionary definition, developmentally disabled and her disability, although orthopedic, will become neurological if untreated because of unavoidable impingement of the spinal cord. CP at 75 (Findings of Fact 2.11, 2.12). As explained below, these findings are irrelevant, as well as inaccurate. The superior court also held that RCW 71A.10.020(3) and WAC 388-825-030 are unconstitutional as applied to Savannah because there is no rational basis for treating [a] five year old differently from six year olds in this case. CP at 75 (Conclusion of Law 3.4). The Department appealed. The Court of Appeals linked the case with Carmen Campbell v. Department of Social & Health Services and certified both to this court, which accepted certification and consolidated the cases. Most of the issues raised are common to both cases, while one issue is not. We address the common issues first.