Court Opinion

ID: 9385980
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-10 21:10:40.870226+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:27.684501
License: Public Domain

IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

In re: H.A., a protected person,                                                FILED
                                                                             April 10, 2023
No. 22-ICA-40        (Cir. Ct. McDowell Cnty. No. CC-27-2016-G-8)          EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
                                                                         INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                OF WEST VIRGINIA

                             MEMORANDUM DECISION

       Petitioner H.A.1 appeals the July 22, 2022, order of the Circuit Court of McDowell
County denying her petition to modify or terminate the court’s December 7, 2016, order
appointing H.A. a guardian and a conservator. Respondents James Muncy, Sheriff of
McDowell County (“Sheriff”), and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human
Resources (“Department”) each timely filed a response.2 H.A. did not file a reply. On
appeal, H.A. argues, inter alia, that based on the evidence presented, the circuit court erred
by failing to grant her petition to modify or terminate her current guardianship and
conservatorship.

       This Court has jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to West Virginia Code § 51-
11-4 (2022). After considering the parties’ arguments, the record on appeal, and the
applicable law, this Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For
these reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate
under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        This case began on November 16, 2016, when the Department, through its Adult
Protective Services division, filed a petition in circuit court seeking the appointment of a
guardian and conservator for H.A., who was being hospitalized for mental illness. On
November 17, 2016, H.A. was evaluated by psychiatrist Dr. Jeffry Gee, M.D. Dr. Gee
diagnosed H.A. with schizophrenia-par type. In his report, Dr. Gee opined that H.A.
suffered from a significant psychotic disorder and had poor insight into her illness, which
resulted in H.A. being noncompliant with her medication regimen. As a result, Dr. Gee
found this caused H.A. to exhibit an increase in symptoms of psychosis, delusions, and
paranoia, along with cognitive dysfunction that prohibited H.A. from caring for herself.
Dr. Gee concluded that H.A. was a protected person whose needs would be best served in
an assisted living facility along with the appointment of a guardian and a conservator.

       1
         We use initials where necessary to protect the identities of those involved in this
case. See W. Va. R. App. P. 40(e).
       2
       H.A. is represented by Chantel R. Kidd, Esq. The Sheriff is represented by Brittany
R. Puckett, Esq. and the Department is represented by Andrew T. Waight, Esq.
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       On December 15, 2016, the court entered an order appointing the Department as
guardian and the Sheriff as conservator of H.A. These appointments have remained
unchanged since that time. Since 2016, H.A. has been placed in an assisted living facility
by the authority of her guardian, the Department.

       Based on the record, this case has been the subject of at least three prior petitions to
modify or terminate the guardianship and conservatorship. These petitions were filed in
April 2017, January 2018, and March 2019, respectively, and each was denied by the
circuit court based on the findings and recommendations of the mental hygiene
commissioner.

        Regarding the April 2017 petition, H.A. was reevaluated by psychiatrist Dr. Bobby
Miller, M.D. on June 27, 2017. Dr. Miller opined that it was clinically in H.A.’s best
interest to remain in her current guardianship and conservatorship because historically,
H.A. has been unsuccessful with less restrictive alternatives. Dr. Miller found that it was
impossible for H.A. to maintain her contact with reality and interact with the public and
institutions without periodic, yet predictable, aggressive and/or involuntary psychiatric
intervention.

       In the subsequent denials in January 2018 and March 2019, the circuit court found
that H.A. had failed to put forth any new evidence to show that the expert opinions and
recommendations of Dr. Gee and Dr. Miller were no longer valid.

       On January 24, 2022, the current petition to modify or terminate the guardianship
and conservatorship was filed. The petition sought leave of the court to allow H.A. to live
in her own residence with minimal outpatient services or intervention. The petition was
based on H.A.’s belief that she possessed sound mental health. She also argued it was in
her best interest to reside independently due to the personal financial burden of residential
care. This petition was accompanied by a motion for H.A. to undergo a new psychological
evaluation, with the specific request that the evaluation be performed by Saar
Psychological Group. The circuit court granted the motion for a new evaluation.

       On April 7, 2022, H.A. underwent a psychological evaluation with Saar
Psychological Group. She was evaluated by licensed psychologists, Dr. Timothy Saar,
Ph.D., and Barbara Nelson, M.A. A psychological report detailing the findings of H.A.’s
evaluation was completed on April 23, 2022. The findings in the report set forth a DSM-5
diagnosis of unspecified schizophrenia and other psychotic disorder. Based on her
evaluation, it was concluded and recommended that:

       It is evident from her behavioral history, the documentation provided for this
       evaluation and the results of this evaluation, that [H.A.] is experiencing
       symptoms related to schizophrenia and psychosis. These symptoms impede
       her ability to gain insight into her deficits, leading to non-compliance with

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       medication and decompensation. While there are no signs of significant
       cognitive deficits or neurocognitive disorders, such as dementia, her level of
       cognitive abilities is not the impediment to independent living. [H.A.]
       appears to possess average intelligence, adaptive skills and knowledge, as
       well as, adequate focus and memory. Her psychotic symptoms, however,
       present an imminent danger to her[self] as [H.A.] will act on irrational
       internal stimuli and bizarre beliefs. As has been demonstrated in the past, she
       is then unable to perform capable self-care and make appropriate and
       necessary decisions. Given the results of this evaluation, within a reasonable
       degree of psychological certainty, [H.A.] requires the continued appointment
       of a guardian and [a] conservator and placement in a safe and secure
       environment.

       On May 27, 2022, a hearing on the petition was held before the mental hygiene
commissioner. At that time, testimony was adduced from three witnesses, as well as H.A.
The first witness defined herself professionally as a direct support professional who worked
with H.A. on a regular basis on coping skills and other issues related to H.A.’s mental
health. This witness testified that she believed H.A. was intelligent and capable of caring
for her own daily needs. However, she acknowledged that she had only observed H.A. in
a structured setting, and she was unaware of H.A.’s mental health history or diagnoses.

        The other two witnesses are spouses who are former employees of the assisted living
facility where H.A. resides. They testified that they had developed a close relationship with
H.A. through their employment. Likewise, they believed that H.A. had the ability to live
in a more independent environment with support services. However, they too
acknowledged that they had only observed H.A. in a structured setting. They further
testified that after their employment ended, they only interacted with H.A. on one occasion,
which resulted in H.A. obtaining a restraining order against them.

       In her testimony, H.A. took exception to the findings of Dr. Saar’s report regarding
her mental health and his recommendations. She firmly believed that she was not suffering
from schizophrenia or any other mental disease or defect, and that Dr. Saar’s findings were
simply wrong. H.A. believed she does not need medication. H.A. stated that she did not
need reminders or assistance to remember to do things because she writes herself a copious
number of notes. She further testified that she had friends that could provide her
transportation for errands and medical appointments. H.A. was adamant that she could live
independently. Following the conclusion of H.A.’s testimony, the matter was continued
and rescheduled for Dr. Saar to be available to testify.

       The matter reconvened on July 1, 2022, for the testimony of Dr. Saar, who was
recognized as an expert in the field of psychology. Dr. Saar testified that while H.A.’s
testing exhibited the cognitive ability to live independently, more factors must be
considered. In this case, Dr. Saar noted that H.A.’s chronic mental illness, which is

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schizoaffective, has impacted her life on multiple occasions resulting in the present
guardianship and conservatorship. He testified that when H.A. is in a controlled setting and
is not influenced by her mental illness, then she has the cognitive ability for self-care. Dr.
Saar further opined that even with medication, H.A. has extremely poor insight into her
illness, strongly disagrees with her diagnosis, and shows signs that she is still influenced
by her prior delusions. Dr. Saar also explained that, as is consistent with about one-third of
patients with schizoaffective disorder, H.A.’s condition does not fully respond to
medication.

       Additionally, Dr. Saar testified that if H.A. were permitted to live independently,
she would still require, at a minimum, twelve hours per day of extensive supervision to
monitor her personal and residential cleanliness, finances, and medication management. It
was Dr. Saar’s professional opinion that at the present time, H.A. is exhibiting stability due
to her structured environment and medication management. Dr. Saar found that due to a
lack of acceptance and insight into her mental illness, a structured environment with regular
monitoring was necessary for H.A.’s health, safety, and well-being.

       On July 18, 2022, the mental hygiene commissioner filed a written report with
detailed findings and recommendations regarding H.A.’s petition with the circuit court.
Based on the evidence adduced, it was recommended that the petition be denied. In support,
the commissioner concluded that:

               [H.A.] is a protected person who suffers from a significant psychotic
       disorder, schizophrenia-par type. This disorder causes her to have poor
       insight into her illness, therefore, any compliance with treatment, without
       supervision, would be impossible. Without continued treatment, [H.A.]’s
       mental state would decline resulting in an increase in symptoms of psychosis,
       delusions[,] and paranoia with cognitive dysfunction. After hearing the
       testimony of the witnesses, reviewing the court file[,] and reviewing the
       evaluation reports of [Drs.] Gee, Miller, and Saar, I recommend to the [circuit
       court] that the [petition] be denied. This recommendation is based upon the
       fact that there [was] no new evidence presented [to] contradict the findings
       of the available medical evaluations concluding that [H.A.] suffers from a
       significant psychotic disorder[,] which causes her to have poor insight into
       her illness and ultimately requires her to need a [g]uardian and [a]
       [c]onservator.

        On July 22, 2022, the circuit court entered its order adopting the findings and
recommendations of the mental hygiene commissioner and denying the petition. To that
end, the circuit court’s order concluded that H.A. had failed to present any new evidence
to contradict the medical evaluations of Drs. Gee, Miller, and Saar that she suffers from a
significant psychotic disorder with a poor prognosis. Given these conclusions, the circuit

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court found that H.A. continues to be a protected person, who requires a guardian and a
conservator. This appeal followed.

       In this appeal, we use the same standard of review applied by our Supreme Court of
Appeals when reviewing circuit court orders in adult guardianship and conservatorship
cases:

              This Court reviews the circuit court’s final order and ultimate
       disposition under an abuse of discretion standard. We review challenges to
       findings of fact under a clearly erroneous standard; conclusions of law are
       reviewed de novo.

Syl. Pt. 6, In re Donald M., 233 W. Va. 416, 758 S.E.2d 769 (2014) (citing Syl. Pt. 4,
Burgess v. Porterfield, 196 W. Va. 178, 469 S.E.2d 114 (1996)).

      A petition to modify or terminate guardian and conservator appointments is
governed by the West Virginia Guardianship and Conservatorship Act, West Virginia Code
§ 44A-4-6 (1994). Of import is subsection (b), which provides:

       (b) Upon petition by the protected person, by the guardian or conservator, by
       any other interested person, or upon the motion of the court, the court may
       terminate a guardianship, conservatorship, or both, or modify the type of
       appointment or the areas of protection, management or assistance previously
       granted. Such termination, revocation or modification may be ordered if:
       (1) The protected person is no longer in need of the assistance or protection
       of a guardian or conservator;
       (2) The extent of protection, management or assistance previously granted is
       either excessive or insufficient considering the current need therefor;
       (3) The protected person's understanding or capacity to manage the estate
       and financial affairs or to provide for his or her health, care or safety has so
       changed as to warrant such action;
       (4) No suitable guardian or conservator can be secured who is willing to
       exercise the assigned duties; or
       (5) It is otherwise in the best interest of the protected person.

Id. Further, West Virginia Code § 44A-2-10(c) (2000) provides that “[a] guardianship or
conservatorship appointed under this article shall be the least restrictive possible, and the
powers shall not extend beyond what is absolutely necessary for the protection of the
individual.”

       On appeal, H.A.’s argument is two-fold, and we will address each seriatim. First,
she argues that the circuit court abused its discretion by ignoring the testimony of her first
three witnesses when it determined that no new evidence had been presented to warrant a

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modification or termination of the circuit court’s prior order. In support, H.A. argues that
these individuals had extensive, personal experience working with H.A. over several years,
and therefore were best suited to offer opinions regarding H.A.’s ability to live
independently. We disagree.

        The record is devoid of any development regarding these witnesses’ credentials,
education, and/or licensure, if any. For example, while one witness defined herself
professionally as a “direct support professional,” there was little testimony in the record
about what her position’s duties and responsibilities specifically entailed. Likewise, there
is nothing in the record as to what jobs the remaining two witnesses performed at the
facility, nor was the record developed as to their educations or backgrounds. Moreover,
these witnesses collectively admitted they had only observed H.A. in a structured setting,
possessed minimal insight about H.A.’s mental health, and offered no evidence to contest
the evaluations of record regarding the prognosis for H.A.’s mental illness. As such, we
find no error in the circuit court’s conclusion that H.A. failed to produce new evidence to
rebut the multiple expert opinions that H.A. lacked the capacity to function independently
outside of a structured residential setting.

        Second, H.A. argues that the circuit court abused its discretion by ignoring Dr.
Saar’s testimony that H.A. could live independently. Here, it is argued that Dr. Saar’s
testimony established that if H.A. consistently took her medication, she would have the
ability to live independently. Thus, H.A. asserts that with outpatient services to monitor
her medication compliance, there should be no restriction to her ability to live on her own.
Upon review, we find this argument misrepresents and fails to consider the totality of Dr.
Saar’s testimony.

        As noted above, Dr. Saar testified that H.A.’s cognitive testing illustrated that she
had the intellectual ability to live on her own. However, he elaborated that H.A.’s cognitive
ability alone was not the impediment to her living independently. Dr. Saar further testified
that H.A. was in denial about the severity of her mental illness, and that despite medication,
H.A. remains influenced by her prior delusions. Likewise, he opined that H.A.’s current
signs of stability were a product of the structure and supervision she presently receives in
residential placement. Therefore, Dr. Saar determined that due to the schizoaffective nature
of H.A.’s chronic mental illness, which is not fully controlled by medication, her interests
were best served by her continued residential placement under the existing guardianship
and conservatorship.

        Thus, contrary to H.A.’s argument, it is clear to this Court that Dr. Saar believed,
within a reasonable degree of psychological certainty, that H.A.’s well-documented mental
illness prevents her from living independently or free from the appointment of a guardian
and a conservator. We further find that Dr. Saar’s opinions are consistent with the prior
opinions of Drs. Gee and Miller, and are uncontroverted. Therefore, we find the circuit
court properly considered the expert opinion of Dr. Saar in this case.

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       Based on the foregoing, we find that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in
denying H.A.’s underlying petition. The record clearly shows that H.A. failed to establish
that she no longer required the protections of her existing guardianship and
conservatorship, nor did H.A. establish there was a less restrictive alternative to protect her
health, safety, and welfare, and to promote her best interests other than her continued
residential placement.

       Accordingly, we affirm the circuit court’s July 22, 2022, order.

                                                                                    Affirmed.
ISSUED: April 10, 2023

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Judge Daniel W. Greear
Judge Thomas E. Scarr
Judge Charles O. Lorensen

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