Court Opinion

ID: 4433342
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-26 19:21:43.409601+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:55.872296
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

In the Matter of the Guardianship of:                 )           No. 78258-4-I

CASEY LYNN URSICH, an                                 )           DIVISION ONE
incapacitated person,                                 )
                                                      )           PUBLISHED OPINION
                          Appellant,                  )
                                                      )
                 v.
                                                      )
GREGORY L. URSICH,                                    )
                          Respondent.
                                                      )           FILED: August 26, 2019
        HAZELRIGG-HERNANDEZ, J.             —   Casey Lynn Ursich seeks reversal of certain

 provisions of her guardianship order, arguing that the court applied the wrong legal

standard in determining her residential schedule and that the provisions violate her

statutory and constitutional rights. Because the court did not abuse its discretion

 in determining that the provisions were in Casey’s best interests, we affirm.

                                                 FACTS

        Casey L. Ursich is a 21-year-old incapacitated person.                           Her parents,

 Gregory L. Ursich and Kathy Lynn, divorced when she was very young. When

 Casey1 was a minor, her residential time was split between her two parents’

 homes.

        1   For clarity, the parties will be referred to by their first names. We intend no disrespect.
No. 78258-4-1/2

I.     2016 Agreed Guardianship Order

       As Casey approached the age of majority, Kathy filed a petition seeking to

be appointed limited guardian of Casey’s person and full guardian of her estate.

Gregory filed a counter-petition requesting that he fill those roles. In June 2016,

before the conclusion of trial, the parties entered an agreed order appointing Kathy

to the contested roles. The order indicated that Casey had the right to provide

input on all issues, which shall be taken into consideration by her guardian to

decide who should provide her with care and assistance, and to make decisions

regarding social aspects of her life. The order also specified that Casey was to

make all decisions about her education, with assistance from school staff and her

parents.

       Casey was expected to remain in high school until the age of 21, during

which time she was to reside primarily with her mother, but her residence could be

changed on Casey’s initiative with the agreement of her guardian. The parties

agreed that it was in Casey’s best interests to have continued contact with her

father, and the order recommended that Casey reside with Gregory for four days

of every fourteen-day period. Each visit would take place only with Casey’s explicit

approval after private, in-person consultation with a therapist, and Kathy was

directed to “support, assist, and encourage Casey to participate in additional

visitation requests.”   Both parents were directed to encourage communication

between Casey and the other parent, and to “avoid undermining the parenting

efforts of the other parent in front of Casey.” The order also provided a grievance

mechanism.

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No. 78258-4-1/3

II.    2017 Modification of Guardianship Order

       About a year later, in May 2017, Gregory moved to modify the guardianship

order and replace Kathy as guardian, alleging that Casey’s physical, medical,

educational, and emotional conditions had deteriorated dramatically since the

entry of the guardianship order. He asserted that the residential plan in the order

had not been followed and Casey had only had one overnight visit with him.

Gregory presented evidence that Casey had not attended school since January

10, 2017, and Kathy had canceled and failed to reschedule a meeting with school

officials to discuss a possible re-entry plan. Casey’s health care records indicated

that she had gained a significant amount of weight in a short period of time.

       Kathy responded that Casey had needed wrist surgery in September 2016,

and the necessary adjustments to her medications leading up to that procedure

had precipitated a mental health crisis.       She asserted that Casey had begun

complaining about school and refusing to attend, and Kathy felt that the school

was not able to meet Casey’s emotional and medical needs. She stated that

Casey was responsible for her limited contact with her father.

       The court stated at a hearing on the motion that, after reviewing the

submissions of all parties, it was “incredibly concerned about the state of affairs.”

Even considering Casey’s resistance to attending school and medical difficulties,

the court was clear that “taking [Casey] out of her regular schedule with her friends,

with structure, with socialization, with education, was not—not a choice that is or

was in her best interest.” The court expressed concern about the unacceptable

breakdown of communication between Casey’s guardian and the school, which it

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No. 78258-4-1/4

felt was not in Casey’s best interest. The court was also concerned by the minimal

contact between Casey and Gregory, which it felt was not contemplated by the

agreed order.

       The court found good cause to grant the motion to modify and appointed

Gregory as guardian of Casey’s estate and limited guardian of her person. The

court found that “[i]mminent and ongoing serious harm to Casey” had occurred due

to her removal from school, minimal contact with her father, lack of engagement in

physical activities, and isolation from her friends and family. The court determined

that these circumstances were not in her best interests and “[w]ithout changes, the

guardianship and residential arrangements in effect prior to the entry of this order

will create an ongoing likelihood of serious harm to Casey.” The court also found

that Kathy had substantially violated the guardianship order “in many ways,”

including failing to consult with Gregory on educational decisions, to comply with

the grievance process, and to make reasonable efforts to accomplish residential

time and visits between Casey and Gregory; which all parties had agreed were in

Casey’s best interest.

       Although Casey expressed a wish to reside primarily with her mother, the

court found that she was susceptible to undue influence. The record contained a

declaration from Casey’s attorney in which he noted that     “[ut   has become quite

clear to me that Casey wants whatever her mother wants.” Because she had been

in the sole custody of her mother and had little contact with her father for over a

year, the court found that it could not reliably determine her uninfluenced interests

and preferences at the time.

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       The order specified a residential schedule in which Casey would reside with

Gregory for nine days, then with Kathy for five days. The order stated that Casey’s

primary residence with her father could be “changed on Casey’s initiative, subject

to the court’s approval following the receipt of input from Casey’s attorney, GAL,

and information from school and the family therapist.” The court appointed a

guardian ad litem (GAL) to investigate the situation and report her findings to the

court, and scheduled a review hearing for six months later.

III.   2018 Order Confirming Modification

       In early 2018, the GAL issued a report recommending that Gregory remain

guardian of Casey’s estate and that either a certified professional guardian be

appointed as limited guardian of her person or that Gregory continue to fill that

role. Based on Casey’s expressed wishes, the report also recommended that

Casey reside primarily with her mother. The GAL noted in the report that “[w]ith

appropriate checks and balances in place, this Guardian ad Litem does not believe

Casey’s health or safety is compromised by living primarily with her mother.” The

GAL recommended that “the primary goal for Casey going forward is to provide all

resources and opportunities to her to develop independence so that in 2—3 years

she is able to move out of her parents’ homes and live independently in a

supported living environment.” In response to this report, Gregory submitted a

declaration asserting that Casey had returned to school, resumed her physical and

social activities, and had not threatened to run away or leave the house while

residing primarily with him.

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No. 78258-4-1/6

         The court held the review hearing in January 2018. Gregory argued that

“[t]here would be no reason for a guardianship if we were simply following the

express wishes of Casey,” and all parties seemed to agree that a guardianship

was necessary. He argued that the residential provisions directed Gregory and

Kathy to ‘support a default residential schedule and not to interfere with it,” but did

not actually restrict Casey’s actions.       He also requested that the residential

schedule be modified so that Casey would spend ten days with him and four with

Kathy.    He cited Casey’s marked improvement in the previous six months in

support of this request. Kathy acknowledged that Casey had improved, but argued

that her improvement should not be attributed to her living situation because she

was already on the path to improvement when the guardianship was modified.

         The court issued an order confirming the modification of the guardianship

order, which maintained Gregory as full guardian of her estate and limited guardian

of her person. The court stated that under RCW 11.88.120(1) it had the authority

to modify a guardianship for good reason and to grant relief “as it deems just and

in the best interest of the incapacitated person.” The court found that it was in

Casey’s best interests to spend time with each of her parents and did not disturb

the five-day/nine-day residential split in favor of her father, finding that the schedule

was also in her best interests. The order directed Gregory and Kathy to “manage

housing for Casey” by transporting her to the other parent’s residence on specified

days. The parents were ordered not to make any effort to reside with Casey

outside the designated time without the agreement of the other parent, “prior to

contacting Casey Ursich for any discussion of a proposed change, until further

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No. 78258-4-117

order of this Court” The court identified the most significant fact bearing on its

decision as Casey’s significant improvement since the order granting the motion

to modify the guardianship.       The court also found that Gregory had acted in

Casey’s best interests since he was appointed guardian.

       Casey moved for reconsideration through her counsel, arguing that the

court failed to consider the GAL’s report and Casey’s own expressed wishes. The

court denied the motion, indicating in a written order that it “carefully considered

the desire of Casey Lynn Ursich as well as the GAL report and recommendations

when issuing its prior ruling.           Based on Casey’s desires and GAL’s

recommendation, the mother’s residential time was increased by one day.” Casey

expressed confusion regarding this ruling in a subsequent motion because there

was no increase in the number of days that she was to reside with her mother.

The court stated that it had increased Casey’s time with her mother by “reject[ing]

the residential schedule proposed by the Guardian and grant[ing] the Mother 5

days with Casey instead of the 4 day residential rotation urged by the Father.”

Casey appealed.

                                     DISCUSSION

       Casey contends that the court erred in imposing a residential schedule

under which she would reside primarily with her father, contrary to her stated

wishes.

       The superior court has the authority to appoint guardians for the persons

and/or estates of incapacitated persons. RCW 11 .88.010(1)2. A court may deem

       2  Chapters 11.88 ROW and 11.92 RCW were repealed by Laws of 2019, chapter 437, but
the repeal will not take effect until January 1,2021.

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No. 78258-4-I/S

a person incapacitated as to their person when it finds that they have “a significant

risk of personal harm based upon a demonstrated inability to adequately provide

for nutrition, health, housing, or physical safety.” RCW 11.88.010(1)(a). Similarly,

a court may deem a person incapacitated as to their estate when it finds that they

are “at [a] significant risk of financial harm based upon a demonstrated inability to

adequately manage property or financial affairs.” RCW 11 .88.01 0(1 )(b). The court

also has the authority to appoint limited guardians for the persons or estates of

incapacitated persons if they are capable of managing some of their personal and

financial affairs, but still require some protection and assistance. RCW

11 .88.010(2). In this instance, the court shall impose “only such specific limitations

and restriction on an incapacitated person to be placed under a limited

guardianship as the court finds necessary for such person’s protection and

assistance.” Id.

       We review the superior court’s management of a guardian for abuse of

discretion. In re Guardianship of Cornelius, 181 Wn. App. 513, 528, 326 P.3d 718

(2014). A trial court abuses its discretion only when no reasonable person would

take the view adopted by the trial court. In re Guardianship of Johnson, 112 Wn.

App. 384,48 P.3d 1029 (2002). We accept unchallenged findings of fact as true

for the purposes of appeal, while we review challenged findings of fact for

substantial evidence. In re Estate of Jones, 152 Wn.2d 1, 8, 93 P.3d 147 (2004).

“Substantial evidence is evidence that is sufficient to persuade a rational, fair

minded person of the truth of the finding.” ~ We defer to the trial court on

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No. 78258-4-1/9

determinations of “the persuasiveness of the evidence, witness credibility, and

conflicting testimony.” In re Knight, 178 Wn. App. 929, 937, 317 P.3d 1068 (2014).

       Substituted Judgment Versus Best Interests Analysis

       Casey contends that the trial court erred in using a “best interests” analysis

rather than a “substituted judgment” analysis to determine her primary residence.

After a guardianship is established, the court may modify the guardianship or

replace the guardian or limited guardian ‘as it deems just and in the best interest

of the incapacitated person.” RCW 11.88.120(1)(a). The court is the superior

guardian of the incapacitated person, while the person appointed guardian is

considered an officer of the court and is under the court’s direction and control in

that capacity. Cornelius, 181 Wn. App. at 523; RCW 11 .92.010.

       In support of her argument for a substituted judgment analysis, Casey

analogizes this case to those involving medical treatment decisions for

incompetent persons. Casey cites two Washington Supreme Court cases for the

proposition that “the goal of a guardianship is to do what the incapacitated person

would do, if she were competent to make the decision in question.” Matter of

Guardianship of Ingram, 102 Wn.2d 827, 838, 689 P.2d 1363 (1984); Raven v.

Dep’t of Soc. and Health Servs., 177 Wn.2d 804, 817, 306 P.3d 920 (2013).

However, the factual distinctions of these cases from the current case do not

demonstrate that the Supreme Court intended this test to apply in this context.

      In Ingram, the court considered a guardian’s responsibilities in determining

a course of medical treatment for an incapacitated person diagnosed with throat

cancer. 102 Wn.2d at 832. The court first considered whether the appointed

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No. 78258-4-1/10

guardian was required to seek court approval under former ROW 11.92.040(3)

(1984), recodified as ROW 11.92.043(1)(f), before consenting to a proposed

laryngectomy. jçj~ at 836. That statute required a guardian to act in the ward’s best

interests to provide timely, informed consent to necessary medical procedures, but

specified certain procedures for which the guardian could not provide consent

before petitioning the court. j~ at 836—37 (citing former ROW 11 .92.040(3)). The

court found that ‘[t]he apparent intent of the statutory exclusions to the guardian’s

powers is to require court approval before the guardian may consent to highly

intrusive, irreversible medical treatment.” kJ. at 837.    Once the guardian had

petitioned the court for approval, the substituted judgment analysis applied to its

substantive treatment decision. Id. at 838.

       More recently, Raven considered whether a guardian was neglectful when

she declined to place her ward in a nursing home facility based on a good-faith

determination that the ward, when competent, had consistently refused to be

placed in a nursing home. Raven, 177 Wn.2d at 809, 811. When discussing the

guardian’s duties in determining a health care plan, the court looked to a statute

specifically governing informed consent for patients who are not competent. ki. at

819. The statute specified that a person authorized to provide informed consent

on behalf of an incapacitated person “must first determine in good faith that that

patient, if competent, would consent to the proposed health care.” ki. (emphasis

omitted) (citing ROW 7.70.065(1)(c)). The court noted that the statute’s “substitute

judgment provision requires the guardian to determine what the ward would want

if competent. If that determination cannot be made, then the guardian may act in

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No. 78258-4-Ill 1

the ward’s best interests.” jç[~ at 821. Although Raven uses Ingram to illustrate the

substitute judgment analysis, the informed consent statute is the controlling

authority requiring the court to apply that standard.

       Absent a statute mandating use of the substituted judgment standard for a

circumstance as highly intrusive and irreversible as surgical removal of an organ,

there does not seem to be a basis to depart from the best interests standard

specified by RCW 11.88.120(1)(a). The court did not err in applying the best

interests standard when considering the motion to modify the guardianship order.

II.    Statutory and Constitutional Rights

       Casey challenges the following findings of fact and conclusions of law from

the 2018 order:

              E. It is in Casey Ursich’s best interest to spend time with both
      her father and her mother and the residential schedule outlined
      below is in her best interests.
              F. The Court specifically inquired and all parties agreed that
      Casey Ursich has improved significantly since the July 17, 2017
      Order Granting Motion to Modify, Appointing Gregory Ursich as
      Guardian and Appointing Guardian ad Litem. This is the most
      significant fact bearing on the Court’s decision and will guide any
      future decisions of this Court.
              G. The Guardian, Gregory Ursich, has acted in Casey Ursich’s
      best interest since the July 17, 2017 Order Granting Motion to
      Modify, Appointing Gregory Ursich as Guardian and Appointing
      Guardian ad Litem was entered.

She also assigns error to the section of the order detailing her parents’

responsibilities regarding management of her housing.

      Throughout this guardianship action, the parties have agreed on paper, if

not always by their actions, that continued contact with both of her parents is in

Casey’s best interests.    Kathy agreed at the hearing that Casey had shown

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No. 78258-4-1/12

improvement since the modification of the guardianship. Casey does not provide

any argument that Gregory did not act in her best interests from the time of the

2017 order modifying the guardianship to the 2018 order confirming the

modification. Casey appears to be challenging whether the residential schedule

in the order is in her best interests and whether the court appropriately relied on

her improvement as the most significant fact bearing on its determination.

       Casey argues that the residential schedule violated her statutory and

constitutional rights to autonomy and association and that the court’s failure to give

appropriate weight to her preferences violated her right to procedural due process.

       A. Right to Autonomy and Association

       The Washington State Legislature has recognized that some people with

incapacities require the help of a guardian to exercise their rights and provide for

their basic needs. RCW 11.88.005. However, the legislature’s intent in enacting

statutes governing guardianships is to “protect the liberty and autonomy of all

people of this state, and to enable them to exercise their rights under the law to

the maximum extent, consistent with the capacity of each person.” k~.               A

guardianship should restrict an incapacitated person’s liberty and autonomy “only

to the minimum extent necessary to adequately provide for their own health or

safety.” ~

       An incapacitated person retains the right to associate with persons of their

choosing. RCW 11.92.195(1). This right includes the right to freely communicate

and interact with other persons via in-person visits, or telephonic or electronic

means. j4~ “A guardian or limited guardian may not restrict an incapacitated

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No. 78258-4-1/13

person’s right to communicate, visit, interact, or otherwise associate with persons

of the incapacitated person’s choosing,” unless the court authorizes such a

restriction, a protection order forbids the contact, or the guardian has good cause

to believe the contact would cause harm to their ward. RCW 11.92.195(2).

      A guardianship by its nature entails some limitation on an incapacitated

person’s liberty and autonomy for their own protection and assistance.            An

incapacitated person’s expressed wishes and best interests are not necessarily

the same. Johnson, 112 Wn. App. at 389. The trial court found that Casey had

suffered actual harm when residing primarily with her mother. This finding was

supported by substantial evidence showing the she had stopped attending school

and participating in her usual physical activities, become isolated from her friends

and family, and expressed suicidal ideation. The court also found that Casey’s

condition had improved in the time she was residing primarily with her father. This

finding was supported by substantial evidence and agreed to by both of her

parents.

       Casey argues that the GAL’s determination that Casey would not be

harmed by residing primarily with her mother shows that the court abused its

discretion. However, the court is not bound by the recommendations of a GAL.

Fernando v. Nieswandt, 87 Wn. App. 103, 107, 940 P.2d 1380 (1997).                 A

reasonable person could disagree with the GAL’s conclusion that Casey would

likely not be harmed by residing primarily with her mother, and find that this living

situation would not be in Casey’s best interests.

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No. 78258-4-1/14

       Gregory argues that the trial court did not infringe on Casey’s rights because

“the residential schedule outlined in the 2018 Order is carefully crafted to restrict

not Casey, but her parents, by establishing a default schedule that Gregory and

Kathy are to make best efforts to follow without improperly influencing Casey.” The

language of the residential provision, which specifically instructs Casey’s parents

in how to manage Casey’s housing but does not direct Casey herself, supports this

argument. The 2018 order also provides that all of Casey’s “authorities, duties,

rights, and obligations” enumerated in the 2016 agreed order, the 2017 order

modifying the guardianship, and another order clarifying the 2017 order remain

unchanged to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the 2018 order.

Therefore, the provision of the 2017 order establishing a procedure for Casey to

change her housing arrangement remains in effect.

       The trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the residential

schedule in which Casey would reside primarily with her father was in her best

interests and restricted her rights only to the extent necessary to protect her health

and safety.

       B. Procedural Due Process

       Casey argues that the court violated her constitutional right to procedural

due process because it failed to give appropriate weight to her expressed

preferences. We review constitutional challenges de novo. City of Redmond v.

Moore, 151 Wn.2d 664, 668, 91 P.3d 875 (2004). No state shall deprive a person

of life, liberty, or property without, at a minimum, notice and an opportunity to be

heard. Cornelius, 181 Wn. App. at 530 (citing Amunrud v. Bd. of Appeals, 158

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No. 78258-4-1/15

Wn.2d 208, 216, 143 P.3d 571 (2006); Soundqarden v. Eikenberrv, 123 Wn.2d

750, 768, 871 P.2d 1050 (1994)).         Notice to the party must be reasonably

calculated to inform the party of the pending action and of the opportunity to object.

State v. Dolson, 138 Wn.2d 773, 777, 982 P.2d 100 (1999).                The party’s

opportunity to be heard must be meaningful in time and manner. Cornelius, 181

Wn. App. at 530.

       Assuming that Casey has a liberty interest in determining her residence, her

procedural due process rights were not violated. She appears to have received

notice of all pleadings filed and hearings scheduled through her own independent

counsel. She filed a number of responsive pleadings during the pendency of the

motion to modify the guardianship expressing her preferences and objections, and

the court indicated that it had reviewed these documents. Casey does not appear

to argue that she was denied appropriate notice and opportunity to be heard. She

does not provide any authority suggesting that the court’s failure to decide the

issue in accordance with her wishes constituted a denial of due process. This

claim has no merit.

Ill.   Motion for Reconsideration

       Casey assigns error to the court’s denial of her motion for reconsideration

of the 2018 order confirming the guardianship modification. She contends that the

court’s inaccurate comment that it had increased Casey’s residential time with

Kathy shows that the court abused its discretion in imposing the residential

schedule in the 2018 order. Casey provides no further argument that the court

erred in denying the motion for reconsideration. “Passing treatment of an issue or

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No. 78258-4-1/16

lack of reasoned argument is insufficient to merit judicial consideration.” Holland v.

City of Tacoma, 90 Wn. App. 533, 538, 954 P.2d 290 (1998) (citing State v.

Johnson, 119 Wn.2d 167, 171, 829 P.2d 1082 (1992)); RAP 10.3(a)(6). We

decline to review the denial of the motion for reconsideration on any separate

grounds.

      Although the court’s comment that it had increased Casey’s time with Kathy

by not decreasing it was perhaps unartfully phrased, it appears the court intended

to demonstrate that it had considered the input of Casey, Kathy, and the GAL, and

not simply taken Gregory’s assertions at face value. This statement does not

indicate that the court’s decision was manifestly unreasonable. The court did not

err in denying the motion for reconsideration.

      Affirmed.

WE CONCUR:

                                                  4%v~ ~9~%

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