Yolo County Public Guardian v. O.R. CA3 ( 2023 )


Menu:
  • Filed 6/29/23 Yolo County Public Guardian v. O.R. CA3
    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
    California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
    publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
    or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
    IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
    THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
    (Yolo)
    ----
    Conservatorship of the Person and Estate of O.R.                                              C097074
    YOLO COUNTY PUBLIC GUARDIAN,                                                   (Super. Ct. No. MH-2018-014)
    Petitioner and Respondent,
    v.
    O.R.,
    Objector and Appellant.
    Appointed counsel for appellant O.R. filed an opening brief under
    Conservatorship of Ben C. (2007) 
    40 Cal.4th 529
     (Ben C.) setting forth the facts of the
    case. O.R. was advised by counsel of the nature of the opening brief, as well as her right
    to file a supplemental brief. O.R. did not file a supplemental brief.
    We will dismiss the appeal. (Ben C., 
    supra,
     40 Cal.4th. at p. 544.)
    1
    BACKGROUND
    On April 26, 2018, the trial court ordered a one-year conservatorship for O.R.
    under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS Act) (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 5000 et seq.).
    The trial court subsequently extended the conservatorship a number of times.
    On April 28, 2022, the Yolo County Public Guardian (Public Guardian) sought
    another renewal of O.R.’s conservatorship, along with a temporary extension pending
    trial.
    At trial, the Public Guardian called Dr. Alison Steffensen, who testified as an
    expert. O.R. refused to speak with Dr. Steffensen, but the doctor reviewed records from
    North Valley Behavioral Health, Yolo County Health and Human Services (HHSA), the
    Public Guardian, Canyon Manor (a previous placement), and Crestwood (O.R.’s
    placement at the time). Dr. Steffensen also interviewed O.R.’s psychiatrist, a nurse
    practitioner at Crestwood, and an HHSA clinician about O.R.’s diagnosis, behavior, and
    history. Dr. Steffensen opined that O.R. was experiencing “schizoaffective disorder and
    amphetamine use disorder.”
    In the prior quarter, O.R. had experienced hallucinations. Although she had been
    maintained in a locked facility, she left her placement without authorization more than
    once. After one incident, O.R. complained she was pregnant with a robot and that people
    were trying to kill her. O.R. has used methamphetamine after leaving her placement and
    the drug increases her delusions. Dr. Steffensen said O.R. is unable to care for herself
    and has poor insight into her mental illness. According to Dr. Steffensen, O.R. should be
    maintained in a locked facility to keep her safe.
    O.R. admitted she has a substance abuse problem but testified she can care for
    herself and she would continue taking her prescribed medication. She said staff at her
    previous placement drugged her with elephant darts.
    The trial court renewed the conservatorship.
    2
    DISCUSSION
    In Ben C., the California Supreme Court concluded that the procedures referenced
    in People v. Wende (1979) 
    25 Cal.3d 436
     and Anders v. California (1967) 
    386 U.S. 738
    are not required in the appeal of a conservatorship under the LPS Act. (Ben C., supra,
    40 Cal.4th at pp. 536-537.) Here we decline to review the record for error.
    DISPOSITION
    The appeal is dismissed.
    /S/
    MAURO, Acting P. J.
    We concur:
    /S/
    KRAUSE, J.
    /S/
    EARL, J.
    3
    

Document Info

Docket Number: C097074

Filed Date: 6/29/2023

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 6/29/2023