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You can search the entire site. or go to the recent opinions, or the chronological or subject indices. In the Matter of the Necessity for the Hospitalization of Luciano G. (10/17/2019) sp-7415
Notice: This opinion is subject to correction before publication in the P ACIFIC REPORTER.
Readers are requested to bring errors to the attention of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts,
303 K Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, phone (907) 264-0608, fax (907) 264-0878, email
corrections@akcourts.us.
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
In the Matter of the Necessity )
for the Hospitalization of ) Supreme Court No. S-16654
)
LUCIANO G.
) Superior Court No. 3AN-17-00250 PR
)
) O P I N I O N
)
) No. 7415 - October 17, 2019
Appeal from the Superior Court of the State of Alaska, Third
Judicial District, Anchorage, Erin B. Marston, Judge.
Appearances: Megan R. Webb, Assistant Public Defender,
and Quinlan Steiner, Public Defender, Anchorage, for
Appellant. David T. Jones, Assistant Attorney General,
Anchorage,and JahnaLindemuth,Attorney General,Juneau,
for Appellee State of Alaska.
Before: Stowers, Chief Justice, Winfree, Maassen, Bolger,
and Carney, Justices.
CARNEY, Justice.
STOWERS, Chief Justice, dissenting.
I. INTRODUCTION
A man appeals the court order involuntarily committing him for mental
health treatment. He argues that the court erred in making two findings: (1) that as a
result of his mental illness he posed a risk of harm to others and (2) that there was no less
restrictive alternative to committing him to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API). He
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contends that his conduct did not meet the statutory criteria of "likely to cause serious
harm" and that there was insufficient evidence presented that there was no less restrictive
alternative for his treatment. Because the superior court's findings were supported by
clear and convincing evidence and the superior court properly determined that the man's
conduct met the statutory criteria, we affirm the commitment order.
II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
1
Anchorage airport police took Luciano G.
into emergency custody and
transported him to the psychiatric emergency department at Providence Alaska Medical
2
Center for emergency detention and evaluation. Providence filed a petition for
evaluation the same day; the petition was granted and Luciano was transported to API
for evaluation. A few days later API staff filed a petition to commit him to API for up
3
to 30 days for further treatment.
At a hearing to address API's petition, an airport police officer testified that
Luciano had come to her attention after an airline employee had called to report a man
was acting "irate" at the ticketing counter. She said Luciano had repeatedly refused to
state his destination before eventually naming Arizona, had instantly squared up and
balled his fists when she contacted him, and had continued to clench his fists and tighten
his shoulders even after he had been handcuffed. The officer testified Luciano had both
1 A pseudonym has been used to protect the respondent's privacy.
2
AS47.30.700-.725prescribethecircumstances and proceduresunderwhich
a person may be taken into emergency protective custody for evaluation.
3 See AS 47.30.735. Neither the petition for hospitalization for evaluation
nor the 30-day commitment petition was admitted into evidence at the commitment
hearings. Accordingly, we do not consider as evidence factual assertions in these
petitions that were not testified to at the commitment hearings. See Paula E. v. State,
Dep't of Health & Soc. Servs., Office of Children's Servs ., 276 P.3d 422, 430 (Alaska
2012).
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carry-on bags and luggage to be checked located about 500 feet away from where she
first made contact with him. She noted that one piece of the luggage was a gun case with
no visible lock, which concerned her because "to fly with an airlines [sic] you have to
have a locked, secured case for weapons to go underneath the aircraft." Officers took
Luciano to their office. They took his luggage, including the case, for safekeeping and
performed an inventory search. Inside the case were a rifle, two revolvers, and another
handgun. Three of the guns were loaded. The officer testified: "One revolver had six
bullets inside and it was aligned with the chamber[,] [a]nother revolver had five bullets
inside," and the third handgun had a fully loaded magazine with a bullet in the chamber.
4 in his other
Luciano also had 120 rounds of ammunition and a "load bearing vest"
luggage.
Dr. Anthony Blanford, a psychiatrist at API, was called as an expert
witness; he testified that he had spoken with Luciano four or five times since Luciano's
admission to API. He testified that Luciano appeared to suffer from an unspecified
psychotic disorder. Dr. Blanford stated that people he had interviewed described
Luciano's recent behavior as very odd, especially in the last month, and that Luciano said
that he had suffered a head injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident in the last
month. Dr. Blanford noted Luciano had recently lost his job at the Veterans
Administration (VA).
Dr. Blanfordtestified Luciano had been unwilling to talk to himabout what
happened at the airport other than to minimize the event and state it was just a
misunderstanding. Dr. Blanford informed the court he had spoken to a person at the VA
who described Luciano as engaging in an intense intimidating stare. Dr. Blanford
testified Luciano had stared at him a couple of times and that the stare was "quite
4
The officer testified that a "loadbearing vest" holds ammunition magazines.
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intimidating where [Luciano] would stop cooperating and then just engage in a stare,
without blinking." He testified he interpreted Luciano's stare as a threat. Dr. Blanford
stated, "So when . . . [Luciano] started doing that[,] I actually asked him . . . what was
he trying to do, intimidate[?] And he would say, well, why are you feeling scared, are
you feeling frightened of me[?]" Dr. Blanford opined that Luciano's behavior at the
airport reflected confused thinking and paranoia and that he would expect someone with
Luciano's military background to know how to properly handle guns, including
separating bullets from weapons. Dr. Blanford testified Luciano had told him that if he
were released he wanted to go to Arizona to be near family, but that Luciano had refused
to sign releases of information to enable API staff to confirm he could stay with family
members.
Dr. Blanford stated that Luciano did not believe he had a mental health
problem. Dr. Blanford did not believe Luciano would participate in outpatient treatment
because Luciano "believes he didn't really do anything wrong when he arrived at the
airport, and he didn't threaten anybody." Dr. Blanford testified he expected Luciano's
symptoms would continue if not treated and that his head injury might have made things
worse. On cross-examination Dr. Blanford conceded that Luciano had not made any
verbal threats and that Luciano's behavior "at the worst, [had been] described as
menacing, and intense . . . and not able to engage."
Dr. Blanford also expressed concern that Luciano planned to escape from
API because he demonstrated "elopement behavior," including asking to go outside
frequently and carrying all of his belongings around API in a bag. Dr. Blanford
described two incidents: Luciano attempted to "pull the fire alarm" so that he might
escape, and he was observed in the gym attempting to "leap right up on a wall about six
to eight feet high." Dr. Blanford believed that "[Luciano was capable] of trying to leap
the wall in the yard."
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Luciano testified that after his discharge from the U.S. Army in 2015 he
primarily worked as a security guard before obtaining a position at the VA as a medical
support assistant. He testified that he left his job at the VA because he wanted to take
a vacation. Luciano described the situation at the airport as "just a misunderstanding
between [himself] and the airport clerk and the police." He conceded that his interaction
with the police was "not good" and that he was frustrated by the police putting their
hands on him.
Luciano testified that he was not aware of having any mental health
diagnoses, but that he did have an adjustment disorder he "personally . . . classif[ied] . . .
as a [traumatic brain injury]." He said he had suffered from too many head injuries to
count and that he had not had treatment for many of those injuries. He described
experiencing "[a] huge flash of light" countless times as a result of his head injuries and
confirmed he had recently been in a motor vehicle accident.
Luciano stated he could see a doctor through the VA if he "wanted" to and
agreed he was willing to be "evaluated" by the VA. But when asked whether he would
be willing to take medication if recommended "for adjustment disorder, insomnia, some
of the things [he was] struggling with[,]" he responded, "[P]ersonally . . . I believe . . .
I don't need it." When questioned further by his lawyer, Luciano agreed that he was
willing to see a doctor. But he testified he did not want to be at API and would prefer
to see an outpatient provider.
Luciano stated that he never intended to harm anyone with the guns he had
at the airport and that he did not at any point intend to harm himself. He also stated that
he had not had any desire to harm anyone since he had been at API. He said if he were
released he would go to a doctor's appointment scheduled for the next day and then he
would want to get on a plane to go home. Luciano stated that if he were able to travel
to Arizona, he would probably crash on his brother's couch, but acknowledged that his
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brother was not expecting him.
Oncross-examination Lucianoadmitted thathehadreceivedtraining about
how to handle weapons while he was in the Army, but he stated that this had been his
first time traveling at the airport as a civilian. He denied that his guns were loaded at the
airport. Luciano agreed he had tried to stare down Dr. Blanford, but he could not
remember asking if the doctor felt scared and denied that he had tried to stare down
anyone else at API. He conceded that he had been balling his fists and squaring off to
the officers at the airport, but said that he was not trying to send a message to the
officers.
The magistrate found by clear and convincing evidence that Luciano was
suffering from a mental illness based upon Dr. Blanford's testimony and the adjustment
disorder diagnosis from the VA, and that the mental illness finding was corroborated by
Luciano's current behavior and some of his own testimony. The magistrate stated that
it appeared Luciano had suffered a "psychotic break."
The magistrate then considered "how much of an inference can be drawn
from [Luciano's] showing up at the airport with loaded, unlocked guns and behaving in
the manner that he did." She noted that she was particularly concerned by Luciano's
denial that the weapons were loaded and believed that, given his military training and
background, he would know not to come to the airport with loaded weapons. The
magistrate stated that although she had not heard testimony of verbal threats, both the
police officer and Dr. Blanford - professionals trained to assess these situations -
testified they found Luciano's nonverbal behavior threatening. The magistrate found by
clear and convincing evidence that Luciano was likely to cause harm to others as defined
by the statute. This finding was, in part, based upon Luciano's apparent inability to
assess and remember what was going on. The magistrate determined that there was no
less restrictive alternative to confinement because there did not appear to be any place
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for Luciano to go and because she did not believe that he would follow up on treatment
if released.
The magistrate summarized the testimony of the police officer,
Dr. Blanford, and Luciano in a proposed 30-day commitment order and emphasized the
safety threat Luciano posed by arriving at the airport with loaded weapons. The
proposed order noted that Luciano, by his own admission, was trained in the use of
weapons; the court did not find credible his denial that the weapons were loaded, or that
he had not known it was impermissible to bring unlocked loaded weapons when
5 The order outlined the testimony regarding Luciano's aggressive
traveling by plane.
attitude. The magistrate gave particular weight to testimony by Dr. Blanford and the
officer that they found Luciano's behavior threatening because they "are professionals
trained to assess behavior."
Luciano filed objections to the magistrate's proposed written findings the
next day and requested a de novo hearing before the superior court. A few days later the
superior court held an emergency hearing on Luciano's objections to the proposed 30-
day commitment order.6 The next day the court signed the 30-day commitment order,
adopting the magistrate's proposed written findings.
Luciano appeals.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
" 'Factual findings in involuntary commitment . . . proceedings are
reviewed for clear error,' and we reverse those findings only if we have a 'definite and
5 See 49 C.F.R. § 1540.111 (2018).
6
After the commitment hearing API filed a petition for court approval of
administration of psychotropic medications. It was granted following another hearing
and is not part of this appeal.
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7
firm conviction that a mistake has been made.' " "[W]hether factual findings comport
8
with the requirements of AS 47.30," is a question of law that we review de novo. "[W]e
will review de novo the superior court's decisions and use our independent judgment to
determine whether, based on the underlying factual findings made by the superior court
there was clear and convincing evidence that involuntary [commitment] was in
9
[respondent's] best interests and was the least intrusive available treatment."
IV. DISCUSSION
A. The Superior Court Did Not Err In Finding By Clear And Convincing
Evidence That Luciano Was Likely To Harm Others As A Result Of
His Mental Illness.
Following a hearing, a court "may commit the respondent to a treatment
facility . . . if it finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the respondent is mentally
10
ill and as a result is likely to cause harm to the respondent or others." Evidence is clear
and convincing if it produces "a firm belief or conviction about the existence of a fact to
11
be proved." We have characterized this standard as "evidence that is greater than a
7 In re Hospitalization of Jacob S. , 384 P.3d 758, 763-64 (Alaska 2016)
(quoting Wetherhorn v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst ., 156 P.3d 371, 375 (Alaska 2007)).
8 Wetherhorn, 156 P.3d at 375.
9 In re Hospitalization of Lucy G., ___ P.3d ___, Op. No. 7407 at 19, 2019
WL 4383926, at *8 (Alaska Sept. 13, 2019) (citing Myers v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst.,
138 P.3d 238, 250 (Alaska 2006); see also id. n.53 ("[T]hough the [best interests] answer
must be fully informed by medical advice received with appropriate deference, in the
final analysis the answer must take the form of a legal judgment that hinges not on
medical expertise but on constitutional principles aimed at protecting individual choice."
(quoting Myers, 138 P.3d at 250)).
10 AS 47.30.735(c).
11 In re Hospitalization of Stephen O., 314 P.3d 1185, 1193 (Alaska 2013)
(continued...)
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12
preponderance, but less than proof beyond areasonabledoubt." Arespondentis "likely
to cause harm" if the respondent "poses a substantial risk of harm to others as manifested
by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening harm, and is likely in the near
future to cause physical injury, physical abuse, or substantial property damage to another
13 We have previously stated, "The . . . finding, of 'danger to self or others,' is
person."
concerned with active forms of harm, where the respondent has demonstrated the
affirmative ability or inclination to inflict harm to self or another person."14
Luciano argues that because he had not assaulted or attempted to assault
anyone and had not verbally threatened anyone, the evidence was not sufficient to
support a finding that he was likely to cause harm to himself or others. He focuses on
the fact that there was no evidence that he made any verbal threats.
Luciano cites no legal authority to support his argument that we should
narrowly interpret "threatening harm" to mean only verbal threats. Noticeably absent
15 The plain
from the definition in the controlling statute in this case is the word "verbal."
11 (...continued)
(quoting In re Johnstone, 2 P.3d 1226, 1234 (Alaska 2000)).
12 Id. (quoting Brynna B. v. State, Dep't of Health & Soc. Servs., Div. of
Family & Youth Servs., 88 P.3d 527, 530 n.12 (Alaska 2004)).
13 AS47.30.915(12)(B); E.P. v. Alaska PsychiatricInst.,205 P.3d 1101, 1110
(Alaska 2009) ("In the end, even though the definitional language of AS 47.30.915(10)
(defining 'likely to cause serious harm') is not identical to the commitment language of
AS 47.30.735 (establishing commitment standard of 'likely to cause harm to [self] or
others'), we think the definitional language [is] relevant to interpretation of the
commitment language." (first alteration in original)).
14 Wetherhorn v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst., 156 P.3d 371, 376 (Alaska 2007)).
15 AS 47.30.915(12)(B) (providing that risk of harm to others must be
(continued...)
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language of the statute does not foreclose the superior court from considering and
drawing inferences from nonverbal conduct seen as threatening rather than from just
16
words. Further, Luciano has not pointed to any legislative intent or rule of construction
to support his narrow interpretation.
In addition the commonusage of the word "threat" encompasses more than
verbal threats. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines
17
"threat" as "an expression of an intention to inflict pain, harm, or punishment." It
18
defines "threatening" as "making or implying threats." Neither of these definitions
requires that the expression be verbal for conduct to be considered a threat or
threatening.
Luciano also challenges the inference that the superior court drew from the
evidence presented at the commitment hearing. To address his challenge would require
us to disturb the court's factual findings, and we will not disturb the superior court's
factual findings unless we are left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been
15 (...continued)
evidenced "by recent behavior causing, attempting, or threatening harm") (emphasis
added).
16 Id. While it is true that we do not look only to the plain meaning of a
statute when engaging in statutory interpretation, "[w]here a statute's meaning appears
clear and unambiguous . . . the party asserting a different meaning bears a
correspondingly heavy burden of demonstrating contrary legislative intent." State v.
Fyfe, 370 P.3d 1092, 1095 (Alaska 2016) (alterations in original) (quoting Univ. of
Alaska v. Geistauts , 666 P.2d 424, 428 n.5 (Alaska 1983)).
17 Threat, A MERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
(5th ed. 2016).
18 Threatening, AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE (5th ed. 2016).
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made.19 It appears that the magistrate largely credited the testimony of the officer and
Dr. Blanford over Luciano's testimony, and the superior court endorsed the magistrate's
factual determinations in adopting the proposed commitment order.
Testimony revealed that Luciano had been behaving erratically leading up
to his leaving or being fired from the VA, that he acted irately at the airport with both the
ticket agent and the officer, and that he had loaded weapons in a gun case with no visible
lock. The magistrate did not believe a former soldier like Luciano would be unaware of
how to appropriately secure his weapons as required by regulation for air travel,20 and
noted her concern that he continued to insist that the guns had not been loaded. Based
in part on this determination she also found it was not credible that Luciano, who had
arrived at the airport unticketed, carrying these unsecured and loaded weapons, and
refusing to provide a destination, was there for the benign purpose of travel. Both the
officer and Dr. Blanford testified that they believed Luciano's behavior was threatening,
and the officer characterized his actions of tightening his shoulders, balling his fists, and
squaring up to her as "pre-assault indicators." Dr. Blanford testified that the menacing
behavior continued at API.21
19 In re Hospitalization of Jacob S ., 384 P.3d 758, 765-66 (Alaska 2016).
20 The Transportation Security Administration website states, "You may
transport unloaded firearms in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage only.
Declare the firearm and/or ammunition to the airline when checking your bag at the
ticket counter. The container must completely secure the firearm from being accessed.
Locked cases that can be easily opened are not permitted." Transportation Security
Administration, TRANSPORTING FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION, https://www.tsa.gov/
travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition (last visited August 9, 2018); see also 49
C.F.R. § 1540.111 (2017).
21 The dissent characterizes Luciano's behavior as "ultimately" at page 19, or
"essentially passive," at page 21, in contrast to the assessment of the superior court, and
(continued...)
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The superior court was entitled to consider and credit all of this testimony;
"[c]onflicting evidence is generally insufficient to overturn a fact finding, and we will
not reweigh evidence if the record supports the court's finding."22 Our task on appeal
is rather to determine whether the superior court's findings, so long as they are not
clearly erroneous, are sufficient when taken together to establish by clear and convincing
evidence that Luciano was likely to cause harm to himself or others as a result of his
mental illness.23 We conclude that in this case they are: Luciano's arrival at the airport
with unsecured and loaded firearms and his repeated refusal to name a destination,
coupled with his physically aggressive body language, are enough to generate "a firm
21 (...continued)
of the two professionals on whose assessments the magistrate explicitly relied. But both
the airport policeofficer's testimony and Luciano's own admissions establish that he was
"balling [his] fists and squaring off against" an officer, conduct that goes beyond merely
passive.
22 In re Hospitalization of Jacob S., 384 P.3d at 766. We have repeatedly
emphasized: "We defer to a superior court's credibility determinations, particularly
when they are based upon oral testimony." Id . at 769 n.36 (quoting Hannah B. v. State,
Dep't of Health & Soc. Servs., Office of Children's Servs., 289 P.3d 924, 930 (Alaska
2012)); see also In re Hospitalization of Tracy C., 249 P.3d 1085, 1089 (Alaska 2011);
Pravat P. v. State, Dep't of Health & Soc. Servs., Office of Children's Servs., 249 P.3d
264, 274 (Alaska 2011); Bigley v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst., 208 P.3d 168, 178 (Alaska
2009).
23 See In re Hospitalization of Stephen O., 314 P.3d 1185, 1194 & n.26
(Alaska 2013). The dissent suggests that the court erred by relying on Luciano's
"ultimately passive," page 19, or "essentially passive," page 21, behavior, but as we have
noted, Luciano's physical conduct and body language were not completely passive.
Furthermore, this was not the sole basis for the court's finding; the court also relied, as
it was entitled to do, on its assessment of the officer's and Dr. Blanford's - and
Luciano's - credibility.
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----------------------- Page 13-----------------------
24
conviction or belief" that he posed a substantial risk of harm to himself or others. We
therefore conclude that the superior court's finding that Luciano was likely to harm
himself or others because of his mental illness was supported by clear and convincing
evidence.
B. The Superior Court Did Not Err In Finding By Clear And Convincing
Evidence That There Was No Less Restrictive Alternative To
Confinement.
Luciano also appeals the superior court's finding that there was no less
restrictive alternative to confinement at API. He argues that the evidence was
insufficient to show what alternatives to confinement were considered and by whom, or
why a less restrictive alternative was not viable.
The petitioner in an involuntary commitment proceeding must prove by
clear and convincing evidence that there is no less restrictive alternative to
25
confinement.
The term "least restrictive alternative" means that the treatment facilities
and conditions "are no more harsh, hazardous, or intrusive than necessary to achieve the
treatment objectives of the patient" and "involve no restrictions on physical movement
nor supervised residence or inpatient care except as reasonably necessary for the
administration of treatment or the protection of the patient or others from physical
injury."26
The superior court in this case found that no less restrictive alternative
existed because Luciano did not appear to have anywhere to stay and was unlikely to
follow up with treatment if not committed. The evidence in this case supports these
24 Id. at 1193 (quoting In re Johnstone , 2 P.3d 1226, 1234 (Alaska 2000)).
25 In re Hospitalization of Mark V ., 375 P.3d 51, 58-59 (Alaska 2016).
26 AS 47.30.915(11).
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findings: Luciano himself testified that he had no place to live, and Dr. Blanford stated
that API staff were unable to verify that he would be able to stay with family due to his
refusal to provide a release of information. Although Luciano argues that Dr. Blanford's
failure to contact his treatment providers at the VA should preclude the court from
finding that there was not a less restrictive alternative, the court clearly credited
Dr. Blanford's testimony that Luciano was unlikely to seek treatment if released over
27 Whether his previous providers would
Luciano's equivocal testimony that he would.
have been willing to help him did not matter if Luciano would not seek their help. And
Dr. Blanford testified he did not believe Luciano would participate in outpatient
treatment. Dr. Blanford further testified that he believed Luciano's symptoms would
continue if not treated. Dr. Blanford was also concerned that Luciano continually tried
to leave API.
We have previously affirmed a superior court's finding that there was no
less restrictive alternative based upon similar evidence. In In re Hospitalization of Joan
K. we affirmed the superior court's finding that living with family was not a viable less
restrictive alternative for a respondent because family members were not able to watch
her 24 hours a day and because the respondent changed her mind rapidly about what she
would or would not do if released.28 We emphasized that the record showed that she
"lacked perspective regarding her bipolar disorder" and that she denied having a mental
illness or needing treatment.29 In In re Hospitalization of Mark V. we similarly affirmed
the superior court's less restrictive alternative finding where the record showed that a
27 The dissent disagrees, page 16, but we defer to the magistrate's
determination of credibility. In re Jacob S. , 384 P.3d at 769 n.36.
28 273 P.3d 594, 602 (Alaska 2012).
29 Id.
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respondent's need for medication and his inability to follow an outpatient regimen
30
supported the magistrate's finding that no less restrictive alternative was available.
To disturb the court's finding that there was no less restrictive alternative
available for Luciano's treatment would require us to reweigh conflicting evidence,
which we will not do as it is the province of the trial court to weigh testimony and make
credibility determinations.31 The record supports the superior court's underlying factual
findings that Luciano lacked a place to live and would not seek treatment unless
committed; these findings are sufficient to establish by clear and convincing evidence
that no less restrictive alternative to commitment at API existed.
V. CONCLUSION
We AFFIRM the superior court's commitment order.
30 375 P.3d at 59-60.
31 See In re Hospitalization of Tracy C. , 249 P.3d 1085, 1089 (Alaska 2011)
("We'will grant especially great deference when the trial court's factual findings require
weighing the credibility of witnesses and conflicting oral testimony.' " (quoting Bigley
v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst. , 208 P.3d 168, 178 (Alaska 2009))).
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----------------------- Page 16-----------------------
STOWERS, Chief Justice, dissenting.
I. INTRODUCTION
The superior court ordered Luciano G.'s involuntary commitment to the
Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) because he brought unlocked and loaded weapons to
the airport and because airport and API personnel viewed Luciano's behavior as
threatening. The court did so on the theory that this showed Luciano to be a danger to
others. By affirming this order today, I believe this court dangerously broadens Alaska's
involuntary commitment statute, giving short shrift to Luciano's constitutionally
protected liberty interests.1 Finally, I conclude the superior court failed to adequately
consider less restrictive alternatives to commitment at API. I therefore respectfully
dissent from the court's opinion.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Luciano's Behavior Did Not Meet The Legal Standard Of "Likely To
Cause Serious Harm."
Thefirst question is whether thesuperior court erred in finding that Luciano
was likely to cause harm to others as a result of his mental illness. Luciano argues that
the evidentiary record does not support the superior court's finding, and that it was legal
error to interpret the statutory standard so broadly as to permit involuntary commitment
based on the evidence before the court.
As wehaverepeatedly emphasized,"[t]heUnited States SupremeCourthas
characterized involuntary commitment for a mental disorder as a 'massive curtailment
1 I also conclude that the magistrate judge and the superior court judge were
clearly erroneous in finding that Luciano's behavior implied that he was threatening
harm as that term is used in the commitment statute.
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2
of liberty' that cannot be accomplished without due process of law." "The Supreme
Court has therefore determined that before a person can be involuntarily committed, the
court must find in addition to mental illness either: (1) that the person presents a danger
to self or others; or (2) that the person is 'helpless to avoid the hazards of
3 The two requirements for commitment, which are reflected in Alaska's
freedom . . . .' "
involuntary commitment statute respectively as "likely to cause harm" and "gravely
disabled,"4 derive fromtwo independent state interests. As we explained in Rust v. State,
[a] person who presents a danger to others is committed
under the state's police power. A person who requires care
and treatment is committed through exercise of the state's
parens patriae power. One who poses a danger to himself is
committed under a combination of both powers.[5]
The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized that a person may not be committed for
treatment against his will unless one of these state interests is sufficiently strong to
outweigh the respondent's constitutional right to liberty.6 "The precise wording of these
two additional requirements is left to the states, 'so long as they meet the constitutional
2 Wetherhorn v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst. , 156 P.3d 371, 375-76 (Alaska
2007) (first quoting Humphrey v. Cady , 405 U.S. 504, 509 (1972), then citing Addington
v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418, 425 (1979)), overruled on other grounds by In re Hospitalization
of Naomi B. , 435 P.3d 918 (Alaska 2019); see also In re Hospitalization of Gabriel C. ,
324 P.3d 835, 839 (Alaska 2014); Rust v. State , 582 P.2d 134, 139 (Alaska 1978).
3 Wetherhorn, 156 P.3d at 376 (firstciting O'Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S.
563, 575 (1975), and quoting id. at 574 n.9).
4 AS 47.30.735(c); see AS 47.30.915(9), (12) (definitions).
5 582 P.2d 134, 139 n.16 (emphasis in original); see also Addington, 441
U.S. at 426.
6 See O'Connor, 422 U.S. at 575-76; Addington , 441 U.S. at 426-27.
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7
minimum.' " Accordingly, although this case concerns a question of statutory
interpretation, the correct interpretation of the statute necessarily includes an analysis of
its constitutional limits.
Luciano's commitment was based solely on a theory that he was a danger
to others. As such, the State's parens patriae power is not implicated in this case. The
question before us is whether, on the evidence presented, the State could constitutionally
invoke its police power to confine Luciano against his will by relying on the statutory
standard of "likely to cause harm to others."
A respondent is "likely to cause harm" for the purpose of AS 47.30.730 if
he "poses a substantial risk of harm to others as manifested by recent behavior causing,
attempting, or threatening harm, and is likely in the near future to cause physical injury,
8 There is no
physical abuse, or substantial property damage to another person."
indication in the record that Luciano ever caused harm or attempted to harm anyone.
Thus, the key question is whether, under a clear and convincing evidence standard,
Luciano's behavior was "threatening harm" to an extent that would evidence a
substantial risk of harm to others.
Thecourt points tothefollowing as evidencethat Luciano was "threatening
harm": Luciano lost or left his job at the VA after a period of "behaving erratically"; he
"acted irately at the airport"; his behavior in interactions with airport and API staff were
viewed as "threatening" and "menacing"; and he had weapons in his luggage that were
7 Wetherhorn, 156 P.3d at 376 (quoting Addington , 441 U.S. at 431).
8
AS 47.30.915(12)(B); see E.P. v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst., 205 P.3d 1101,
1110 (Alaska 2009).
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9
loaded and not locked away as TSA regulations require.
The court focuses narrowly on the issue whether the phrase "threatening
10 In doing so,
harm," as it is used in AS 47.30.915(12)(B), is limited to verbal threats.
the court overlooks the fact that Luciano made no threats at all, verbal or otherwise.
During cross-examination, Dr. Blanford was asked whether Luciano had "made any
threats to anyone [at API]." Dr. Blanford appears to have understood the question as
referring to verbal threats, answering, "No, he has not made any verbal threats . . . ." But
Dr. Blanford also continued, explaining that "at the worst, [Luciano is] described as
menacing and intense," "not able to engage," and "[v]ery guarded." (Emphasis added.)
Further, Dr. Blanford testified that he was not aware of Luciano making "threats to
others or indications of desire to harm himself." The court also appears to find a "threat"
11 But although Dr. Blanford
in Luciano's tendency to clench his fists and stare at people.
testified that he interpreted this as a threat, Luciano's behavior was ultimately passive.
Citing the American Heritage dictionary, the court defines a "threat" as "an
expression of an intention to inflict pain, harm, or punishment."12 I find no indication
9 Opinion at 10. I note that it was most certainly unwise for Luciano to enter
the unsecured (i.e., non-sterile) airport area carrying his unlocked rifle case that
contained an unloaded rifle, two loaded revolvers, and another loaded handgun. But he
violated no TSA regulation. It is not until the passenger presents himself for TSA
inspection of his person and accessible property before he enters a sterile area that he is
prohibited from having a weapon on or about his person. See 49 C.F.R. § 1540.111(a),
(c) (2019). There is no evidence in the record that Luciano presented himself for TSA
inspection.
10 Opinion at 10.
11 Opinion at 3, 11.
12 Opinion at 10 (quoting Threat, AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE (5th ed. 2016)).
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in the record of Luciano expressing or even suggesting an intent to inflict pain, harm, or
punishment on anyone. I also find nothing in the record that would materially dispute
Luciano's testimony that he had no intent or desire to harm anyone, either during or after
the incident at the airport.
I do not believe the involuntary commitment statute can be interpreted so
broadly as to encompass Luciano's behavior in this case. In Wetherhorn v. Alaska
Psychiatric Institute, we explained that the "danger to self or others" standard "is
concerned with active forms of harm, where the respondent has demonstrated the
affirmative ability or inclination to inflict harm to self or another person." 13
In Kansas v. Hendricks, the Supreme Court explained that it is
constitutionally permissible for a state "in narrow circumstances [to] provide[] for the
forcible civil detainment of people who are unable to control their behavior and who
thereby pose a danger to the public health and safety."14 The Court's analysis in that case
indicated that a permissible commitment statute is one that "narrows the class of persons
eligible for confinement to those who are unable to control their dangerousness."15
The Ninth Circuit's opinion in Suzuki v. Yuen16 is also relevant here. In that
case, the Ninth Circuit concluded that portions of Hawaii's involuntary commitment
statute were unconstitutional.17 In language similar to Alaska's statute, Hawaii's statute
authorized involuntary hospitalization for a person who "is mentally ill" and who "is
13 156 P.3d 371, 376 (Alaska 2007) (emphasis added).
14 521 U.S. 346, 357 (1997) (emphasis added).
15
Id. at 358, 364 (emphasis added).
16 617 F.2d 173 (1980), aff'g in part Suzuki v. Alba, 438 F. Supp. 1106 (D.
Haw. 1977).
17 Id. at 174.
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18
dangerous to himself or others." The district court had held that the constitutional
standard for involuntary commitment "is that which requires a finding of imminent and
substantial danger as evidenced by a recent overt act, attempt or threat," and had struck
19 The Ninth Circuit
down the statute because it was "ambiguous" as to this standard.
affirmed the district court's ruling, adding that "it is unconstitutional to commit one who
20
does not pose an imminent danger."
In this case, it is clear from the record that Luciano never committed or
attempted an act to cause harm to others, and he did not make any threats - that is, any
expressions of an intent or desire to cause imminent harm. And there is no indication in
the record that Luciano was unable to control his behavior to prevent himself fromacting
violently. On the contrary, Luciano's conduct was essentially passive: he was
withdrawn and "very guarded," and when forced to interact with airport and API staff
he was not "unable to control [his] behavior,"21 but merely tensed up, clenched his fists,
22 Luciano's behavior was concededly unusual, and it is understandable that
and stared.
his behavior would be cause for concern to those who interacted with him. I do not
dispute that it was appropriate for airport police to take Luciano into emergency custody
for evaluation, but I disagree that there was clear and convincing evidence to support
18 Id. at 175 n.2 (quoting Haw. Rev. Stat. § 334-60(b)(1) (1976)).
19 Id. at 178 (quoting Suzuki v. Alba , 438 F. Supp. at 1110).
20 Id. (emphasis added).
21 Kansas v. Hendricks, 521 U.S. 346, 357 (1997).
22 If the reader travels frequently on commercial airlines in the United States,
I hazard a guess the reader has observed passengers standing in line for TSA screening
or going through the TSA screening process tensed up, clenching their fists, and staring.
While such behavior may result in additional TSA screening, it does not warrant
involuntary commitment in a state mental institution.
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----------------------- Page 22-----------------------
involuntarily committing him for up to 30 days at a psychiatric institute.
"Loss of liberty calls for a showing that the individual suffers from
23 I believe that
something more serious than is demonstrated by idiosyncratic behavior."
interpreting Alaska's involuntary commitment statute so broadly as to allow a finding
on the facts of this case that Luciano was "likely to cause harm to . . . others" raises
serious questions about the statute's constitutionality as applied to him. The State
certainly "has authority under its police power to protect the community from the
dangerous tendencies of [those] who are mentally ill,"24 but in order to exercise this
power and confine Luciano against his will, I would hold that the State was required to
show that Luciano had "demonstrated the affirmative ability or inclination to inflict harm
to . . . another person."25 In this case, the State's showing was not sufficient under a clear
and convincing evidence standard to satisfy this requirement.
23 Addington v. Texas , 441 U.S. 418, 427 (1979). As the Supreme Court in
Addington explained:
At one time or another every person exhibits some abnormal
behavior which might be perceived by some as symptomatic
of a mental or emotional disorder, but which is in fact within
a range of conduct that is generally acceptable. Obviously,
such behavior is no basis for compelled treatment and surely
none for confinement. However, there is the possible risk
that a factfinder might decide to commit an individual based
solely on a few isolated instances of unusual conduct.
Id. at 426-27.
24 Id. at 426.
25 Wetherhorn v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst., 156 P.3d 371, 376 (Alaska 2007),
overruled on other grounds by In re Hospitalization of Naomi B., 435 P.3d 918 (Alaska
2019).
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My interpretation of the "likely to cause serious harm" standard is
consistent withhowthat aspect ofAlaska's involuntary commitment statutehastypically
been applied. Our jurisprudence in this area is not well-developed; indeed, we appear
to have heard only four cases involving a commitment order based on a danger to
26 one of which we affirmed, while the other three were dismissed as moot. But
others,
in allfour cases, therespondents' conduct was substantially moreserious than Luciano's.
In In re Jacob S. the respondent was hospitalized after he stopped taking
his medication and his domestic partner grew concerned that he was experiencing
paranoid delusions and acting violently toward their neighbor.27 At a hearing before a
magistrate judge, both the partner and the neighbor testified about Jacob's behavior:
Jacob's neighbor testified that Jacob had filed a restraining
order against her in November 2014 alleging that she was
stalking him, had broken into his house, and had been tasing
him with a "stop gun." The neighbor also testified to her
suspicion that Jacob had thrown a rock through her window
and attempted to set fire to her house with a "Molotov
cocktail" on two separate occasions the previous month.
Jacob's partner testified that she recognized several
bottles from the "Molotov cocktail" incident as having come
from their house. She also testified that Jacob had been doing
"strange things" and then did not remember what he had
done, for example connecting an electric welder to their
house's back door. He had unplugged the telephone then
26 Several other cases have involved commitment orders based on a danger
to self theory. See, e.g. , In re Hospitalization of Daniel G. , 320 P.3d 262, 265 (Alaska
2014); In re Hospitalization of Joan K. , 273 P.3d 594, 599 (Alaska 2012); E.P. v. Alaska
Psychiatric Inst. , 205 P.3d 1101, 1104-06 (Alaska 2009). Because that theory implicates
not only the State's police power but also its parens patriae power, the relevant balance
of interests is different in those cases. And the State did not argue to the superior
court - and does not argue now - that Luciano's illness posed any threat to himself.
27 384 P.3d 758, 762 (Alaska 2016).
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denied doing so. He layered towels, cardboard, newspaper,
and pillows over the house's windows and couch to protect
himself from the neighbor's "tasing." [28]
On appeal, we concluded that the evidence supported a finding that Jacob was a danger
to others. We focused in particular on Jacob's involvement "with both the rock and
'Molotov cocktail' incidents" and his delusions about his neighbor "manifesting in
actions like 'setting dangerous booby traps, taking preemptive activities, or going to
extreme measures to ensure security.' "29
In In re Reid K., the respondent, who had been diagnosed with paranoid
schizophrenia ten years earlier, experienced "delusions and severe command auditory
hallucinations in the form of seven different voices that often instruct him to harm and
kill other people, including members of his family and his home village."30 In 2012, the
year before the events leading to Reid's commitment, Reid tried to kill his brother with
a sword.31 By August 2013 Reid's hallucinations "had intensified and were telling him
to carry out a mass murder, beginning with his family and continuing to each of the 400
residents of his village."32 Reid obtained a firearm specifically for the purpose of
carrying out this killing, but his plan was thwarted because the store Reid visited to buy
ammunition did not have the correct type of bullets in stock.33 At the commitment
hearing, one of Reid's psychiatrists testified "that the only reason Reid did not carry out
28 Id.
29 Id. at 766.
30 357 P.3d 776, 777 (Alaska 2015).
31 Id.
32 Id. at 778.
33 Id.
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34
the planned village killings was because Reid did not have the bullets." The trial court
found Reid to be a danger to others and ordered him involuntarily committed; we
dismissed Reid's subsequent appeal as moot because his period of commitment had
expired.35
In In re Dakota K., another appeal that was dismissed as moot, the
respondent was committed on the basis that he was "likely to cause harm to others" after
subjecting his father to a "reign of terror."36 Over a span of approximately one month,
Dakota had on several occasions "rammed the door [to his father's apartment] with a
heavy metal tool or a cart," had threatened his father with a wrench, had "removed the
key from [his father's] mobility scooter, leaving him immobilized," and had repeatedly
sent text messages to his father "asking [him] whether he wanted to die and saying that
37 While at API for an evaluation, Dakota continued to
[he] did not deserve to live."
behave aggressively: he "threatened to 'shove soap down a staff member's throat' and
warned another that he would cause 'a blood bath on this unit' if he did not receive his
medication."38
In In re Mark V., which was also dismissed as moot on appeal, the
respondent was committed involuntarily on a finding that he was likely to cause serious
harm to others.39 The superior court "relied on the evidence of Mark's recent behavior,
34 Id. at 779.
35
Id. at 779-80.
36
354 P.3d 1068, 1069-70 (Alaska 2015).
37 Id.
38 Id. at 1070.
39
In re Hospitalization of Mark V., 324 P.3d 840, 842-43 (Alaska 2014),
(continued...)
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----------------------- Page 26-----------------------
including evidence that he threatened a physician, [and] punched a [hospital] staff
member."40
The common thread in all four of these cases - although the three
dismissed as moot are of course not binding precedent - is that the respondent in each
case either actively engaged in conduct that actually caused harm, planned or attempted
to cause harm, or expressed a clear intent to cause harm. In other words, the respondents
in those cases "demonstrated the affirmative ability or inclination to inflict harm
to . . . another person."41 By contrast, Luciano did not harm anyone, did not attempt to
harm anyone, and did not make any threats - verbal or otherwise. His behavior may
have been concerning to those interacting with him, but it did not rise to a level that
would justify the State's exercise of its police power to confine him against his will.
B. The Superior Court Did Not Give Due Consideration To Potential
Less-Restrictive Alternatives To Involuntary Commitment.
Luciano also argues that the superior court erred in determining that no less
restrictive facility was available that would adequately serve the State's interest in
protecting Luciano and the public. The involuntary commitment statutes require that a
commitment petition "allege that the evaluation staff has considered but has not found
that there are any less restrictive alternatives available that would adequately protect the
39 (...continued)
overruled on other grounds by In re Hospitalization of Naomi B., 435 P.3d 918 (Alaska
2019).
40 Id. at 843.
41 Wetherhorn v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst., 156 P.3d 371, 376 (Alaska 2007),
overruled on other grounds by In re Hospitalization of Naomi B., 435 P.3d 918 (Alaska
2019).
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42
respondent or others." In In re Mark V. we held that a corresponding finding that no
less restrictive alternative is available is a constitutional prerequisite to involuntary
43 We
commitment and "critical to the protection of the respondent's liberty interests."
also explained that "[t]his is not a secondary concern, nor is it . . . something to be
considered only after the court has decided that the respondent should be committed."44
In this case, Luciano expressed a clear preference for treatment at the VA
over hospitalization at API. Luciano already had a history of treatment at the VA, where
he had previously been evaluated and diagnosed with adjustment disorder. It is clear
from the record that Dr. Blanford and other API staff members were aware of Luciano's
existing relationship with the VA. But Dr. Blanford's testimony revealed that API's
evaluation of Luciano did not include reviewing his mental health records from the VA,
and it did not include speaking to Luciano's medical providers at the VA about his
mental health history, what his treatment had been, or what treatment options might be
available to Luciano at the VA as an alternative to involuntary commitment at a
psychiatric facility.
Themagistratejudge's findingsontherecord donot addresswhattreatment
options might have been available to Luciano at the VA or whether alternative treatment
options would be effective. Rather, the magistrate judge focused entirely on Luciano's
likelihood of complying with outpatient treatment, asserting that when asked "whether
he would be willing to go to treatment, [Luciano] . . . distinguished between whether he
was willing to go and whether he would go." On that basis, the magistrate judge
concluded that "it doesn't sound like [Luciano] was necessarily going to follow up with
42 AS 47.30.730(a)(2).
43 375 P.3d 51, 58-59 (Alaska 2016).
44 Id.
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psychiatric out-patient treatment." But the magistrate judge misstated Luciano's
testimony. Luciano unambiguously testified that he was willing to "seek treatment
through the VA" and that he was "willing to be evaluated by the VA." When asked
whether he was "willing to take medication if [the VA] recommended medication,"
Luciano answered that he did not believe he needed medication, but he again reaffirmed
that he "would go see a doctor," and that if released from API he would be attending a
doctor's appointment at the VA the very next day.
The State had the burden to prove, by clear and convincing evidence , that
therewereno less restrictivealternatives availablethatwould adequately protectLuciano
45 Luciano's testimony that he did not believe he needed medication does
and the public.
raise some questions about whether he would be medication compliant, but this alone
was not sufficient to meet the burden of proof. I reiterate that "a mentally ill person's
belief that [he] is not mentally ill cannot be the measure by which a court finds that there
46 Furthermore, "it is illogical and insufficient for a
are no less restrictive alternatives."
doctor to opine that there are no less restrictive alternatives when the doctor has done
nothing to evaluate any less restrictive alternatives."47 "Under these circumstances,
where the testifying doctor[] utterly failed to make any effort to contact [Luciano's] prior
treating physician . . . to explore less restrictive alternatives, I believe the doctor['s]
45 Id. ; see also Bigley v. Alaska Psychiatric Inst. , 208 P.3d 168, 185 (Alaska
2009) (holding in the involuntary medication context that "the court was required to
evaluate whether [the respondent's] proposed alternative would be feasible and effective
in promoting the same compelling state interests that justified API's proposed treatment"
(emphasis added)).
46 In re Hospitalization of Joan K., 273 P.3d 594, 606 (Alaska 2012)
(Stowers, J., dissenting).
47 Id. (emphasis in original).
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----------------------- Page 29-----------------------
conclusory opinions are insufficient under any standard of proof to support the superior
court's finding that no less restrictive option was available." 48
III. CONCLUSION
I conclude that the evidence on record was insufficient under a clear and
convincing evidence standard to support a finding that Luciano was a danger to others
and subject to involuntary commitment. Additionally, I conclude that the superior court
clearly erred in failing to give due consideration to potential alternatives to involuntary
commitment. For these reasons, I would reverse and vacate the superior court's order
involuntarily committing Luciano for mental health treatment, and I respectfully dissent
from the court's opinion.
48 Id. at 607.
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