Opinion ID: 2443833
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Follow the Law Court Mandate

Text: [¶ 43] On remand, a trial court must adhere to our mandate and `effectuate the decision of the [C]ourt.' State v. Patterson, 2005 ME 55, ¶ 9, 881 A.2d 649, 651 (quoting Farnsworth v. Whiting, 106 Me. 543, 546, 76 A. 942, 943 (1910)). In Patterson, we held that the trial court's failure on remand to `make clear its findings of fact and conclusions of law' in disregard of this Court's decision and the party's request for specific findings constituted an unsustainable exercise of its discretion. Id.; cf. Estate of Voignier, 638 A.2d 732, 733-34 (Me.1994) (holding that, on remand, the Probate Court did not fail to follow this Court's mandate). [¶ 44] In this case, we affirmed the Probate Court's determination that a temporarily intolerable living situation existed with respect to the father, finding that it was relevant, though possibly not sufficient in isolation, that the father had not yet found a qualified therapist in his area for Jewel. Jewel I, 2010 ME 17, ¶ 17, 989 A.2d at 731. We then stated in conclusion that [w]e expect that once the father has provided the Probate Court with the name of a licensed qualified therapist for Jewel, the court will terminate the [then-existing] guardianship and Jewel will be transferred to her father's custody without condition.  Id. ¶ 25, 989 A.2d at 733 (emphasis added). The mandate affirmed the court's judgment as modified in accordance with our opinion. Id. [¶ 45] The Probate Court appeared to find that the father had complied with our decision in Jewel I because it terminated the guardianship then at issue. It then took up the new guardianship petition. We do not construe this action as violative of our mandate, although any further guardianship proceedings after this opinion should be precluded for reasons discussed below.