Court Opinion

ID: 4428673
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:10:45.941687+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:49.354783
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

                             NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                            APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
     This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
  internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                     SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                     APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                     DOCKET NO. A-2928-17T2

IN THE MATTER OF THE
CIVIL COMMITMENT OF S.T.,
____________________________

                Submitted February 14, 2019 – Decided May 2, 2019

                Before Judges Simonelli and O'Connor.

                On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
                Division, Union County, Docket No. 24218.

                Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
                appellant S.T. (Alexandria S. Correa, Assistant
                Deputy Public Defender, of counsel and on the brief).

                Robert E. Barry, Union County Counsel, attorney for
                respondent County of Union (Kevin G. Campbell,
                Assistant County Counsel, on the briefs).

PER CURIAM

      S.T. appeals from a February 22, 2018 order that continued her

involuntary commitment to Trinitas Regional Medical Center. Although she is
no longer committed, 1 this matter is not moot because she is liable for the cost

of the confinement the court ordered on February 22, 2018. See N.J.S.A. 30:4-

60(c)(1). If that confinement should not have been ordered, S.T. is entitled to

a credit. See In re Commitment of B.L., 346 N.J. Super. 285, 292 (App. Div.

2002). After perusing the record and applicable legal principles, we reverse.

      On February 18, 2018, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2(m), the court

entered a temporary order for S.T.'s involuntary commitment for inpatient

treatment.   A hearing to review her continued eligibility for involuntary

commitment was held on February 22, 2018. At that hearing, M. Awais Sethi,

M.D., and S.T.'s mother testified. We summarize the salient testimony.

      S.T. was admitted into the hospital on February 16, 2018, with a history

of having given birth to her first child within the month. Since then, she had

been "agitated," and was observed to have thrown vases and cable boxes

against the wall. During her hospital admission, Sethi diagnosed S.T. with

psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified. He noted the Division of Child

Protection and Permanency was involved in the baby's care because of her

behavior.

1
  The record does not reveal when S.T. was released from involuntary
commitment.

                                                                       A-2928-17T2
                                      2
      Although Sethi testified that he had observed S.T. "acting really bizarre"

while in the hospital, which took the form of S.T.'s "laughing for no reason,"

he also stated that, on the day before the hearing, he thought S.T. "wasn't that

sick, [and] I was questioning why she was brought [to the hospital]." Despite

the latter statement, he testified he had a concern for both S.T. and her

newborn. He commented:

            I believe she's . . . not in her right mind to provide the
            child with the care that the child needs. She is at risk
            of losing the child if she continues to behave the way
            she did. And I've just started her on the anti-psychotic
            medication that . . . needs to be adjusted before she's
            stable enough to go home.

      Sethi acknowledged S.T. is compliant with taking medication and, while

hospitalized, did not exhibit assaultive behavior either toward herself or others,

and did not damage any property. Nevertheless, Sethi was "fairly convinced

that [S.T. is] psychotic[,]" and he had a concern about her "bizarre behavior."

In his opinion, if she were discharged, she "possibly" would be a danger to

others and, in particular, her child. Sethi recommended that S.T. continue to

be committed, but that the court hold a review hearing in two weeks. S.T. 's

mother's testimony was very limited; she merely testified S.T. would "laugh

out sometimes."

                                                                         A-2928-17T2
                                       3
      Without making any findings of fact or conclusions of law, see Rule 1:7-

4(a), the court ordered that S.T.'s involuntary commitment continue another

two weeks and scheduled a review hearing for March 8, 2018. The record

does not reveal what occurred at the latter hearing.

      On appeal, S.T. asserts a number of contentions. They include, but are

not limited to, that Sethi had not been qualified as an expert witness before he

testified, and that he did not state it was probable S.T. would be a danger to

others if released from involuntary commitment. S.T. argues either one of

these omissions requires the reversal of the February 22, 2018 order.

      N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.15(a) authorizes a court to continue an individual's

involuntary commitment past a temporary commitment order, so long as "the

court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the patient needs continued

involuntary commitment."       The statute defines "in need of involuntary

commitment to treatment" as "an adult with mental illness, whose mental

illness causes the person to be dangerous to self or dangerous to others or

property and who is unwilling to accept appropriate treatment voluntarily after

it has been offered." N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2(m).

      "Dangerous to self" is defined as:

            [B]y reason of mental illness the person has threatened
            or attempted suicide or serious bodily harm, or has

                                                                        A-2928-17T2
                                       4
             behaved in such a manner as to indicate that the
             person is unable to satisfy his need for nourishment,
             essential medical care or shelter, so that it is probable
             that substantial bodily injury, serious physical harm or
             death will result within the reasonably foreseeable
             future; however, no person shall be deemed to be
             unable to satisfy his need for nourishment, essential
             medical care or shelter if he is able to satisfy such
             needs with the supervision and assistance of others
             who are willing and available. This determination
             shall take into account a person's history, recent
             behavior and any recent act, threat or serious
             psychiatric deterioration.

             [N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2(h).]

      We turn to S.T.'s contention that the court's failure to qualify Sethi as an

expert witness warrants the reversal of the February 22, 2018 order. N.J.R.E.

702 states that:

             [i]f scientific, technical, or other specialized
             knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand
             the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness
             qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience,
             training, or education may testify thereto in the form
             of an opinion or otherwise.

This rule requires that a witness who testifies on a subject matter beyond the

ken of the fact-finder possess sufficient expertise to offer the intended

testimony. State v. Kelly, 97 N.J. 178, 208 (1984). Before such witness may

testify, the court must establish the witness has the requisite expertise to testify

about such specialized knowledge. See State v. Jenewicz, 193 N.J. 440, 455

                                                                          A-2928-17T2
                                        5
(2008). In addition, when seeking a final order for involuntary commitment,

the State's application must be supported by the oral testimony of a

psychiatrist. R. 4:74-7(e).

      As stated, to involuntarily commit a party, the State must prove such

party is afflicted with a mental illness that causes the party to be dangerous to

himself, others, or property.     R. 4:74-7(f).   Generally, such proof requires

medical expert testimony. Here, S.T. did not stipulate Sethi was qualified to

testify as an expert in this matter. Thus, the State was required to introduce

evidence of Sethi's qualifications and the court was obligated to make a

finding about them. As a result of the State's omission, the court could not

make the requisite findings. There was no evidence Sethi was qualified to

testify as an expert witness.      There is not even any evidence he was a

psychiatrist. See R. 4:74-7(e).

      In addition, even if Sethi were properly qualified, he merely testified it

was "possible" S.T.'s mental illness made her a danger to others. That opinion

was insufficient to establish by clear and convincing evidence S.T. needed

continued involuntary commitment. To establish her illness made her a danger

to others required expert testimony couched in terms of reasonable medical

probability. Eckert v. Rumsey Park Associates, 294 N.J. Super. 46, 50-51

                                                                       A-2928-17T2
                                        6
(App. Div. 1996). An opinion stating it is "possible" an illness or condition

causes a particular result is inadmissible.     See ibid.; see also Vuocolo v.

Diamond Shamrock Chems. Co., 240 N.J. Super 289, 299 (App. Div. 1990)

("Historically, courts have refused to admit expert medical testimony based on

mere speculation of possibility . . . ."); Gribbin v. Fox, 130 N.J.L. 357, 359

(Sup. Ct. 1943) aff'd, 131 N.J.L. 187 (E & A 1944) (it was error to not strike

the testimony of a medical expert based on mere possibility).

      Here, Sethi's failure to testify it was probable S.T. was a danger to others

and the fact he was not qualified to testify as an expert witness compels that

we reverse the February 22, 2018 order. There was no competent evidence

introduced at the subject hearing that supports the State's contention S.T. was a

danger to others. Because of our disposition, we need not address the other

contentions S.T. raises on appeal.

      Reversed.

                                                                        A-2928-17T2
                                       7