In Re: M.B., Appeal of: PA State Police

J-S60014-17
2020 Pa. Super. 27
IN RE: M.B. IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: PENNSYLVANIA STATE
POLICE
No. 366 WDA 2017
Appeal from the Order January 30, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Clearfield County
Civil Division at No(s): 2016-20-MD
BEFORE: OLSON, J., DUBOW, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
OPINION BY OLSON, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 7, 2020
The Pennsylvania State Police (hereinafter “PSP”) appeal from the trial
court’s January 30, 2017 order, which granted M.B. relief from his firearms
disability and expunged the record of M.B.’s involuntary commitment under
50 P.S. § 7302. We vacate and remand for further proceedings consistent
with this opinion.1, 2
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1 On March 20, 2018, we issued an unpublished memorandum and order in
this matter, where we vacated, in part, the trial court’s January 30, 2017
order. In re M.B., 188 A.3d 540 (Pa. Super. 2018) (unpublished
memorandum) at 1-32. Of note, we held that, pursuant to this Court’s en
banc opinion in In re J.M.Y., the trial court had jurisdiction to review the
validity of M.B.’s Section 303 certification and commitment – even though
M.B.’s Section 303 commitment was made final over ten years before M.B.
filed his current petition to expunge. Id. at 26-29; see In re J.M.Y., 179
A.3d 1140 (Pa. Super. 2018) (en banc), reversed by 218 A.3d 404 (Pa.
2019). However, on October 15, 2019, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
reversed our en banc opinion in J.M.Y. and held that, if an individual wishes
to obtain judicial review of his involuntary commitment pursuant to Section
303, the individual is required to “petition the court of common pleas for
review of the certification” within 30 days of the date the certification was
filed. 50 P.S. § 7303(g); 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5571(b); In re J.M.Y., 218 A.3d
404, 418 (Pa. 2019). Thus, on December 3, 2019, the Pennsylvania
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
*Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S60014-17
On June 6, 2016, M.B. filed a “Petition to Vacate and Expunge
Involuntary Civil Commitment” in the Court of Common Pleas of Clearfield
County (hereinafter “M.B.’s Petition” or “the Petition”). Within the Petition,
M.B. averred that, in the fall of 2003, he became depressed due to “the loss
of contact with his former girlfriend, the mother of his newborn son, and his
best friend’s departure for military service.” M.B.’s Petition, 6/6/16, at 2.
Because of his depression, on the night of September 23, 2003, M.B.
consumed alcohol and pills and, while he was heavily intoxicated, he cut his
arms with a knife. Id.; N.T. Hearing, 10/11/16, at 19-20.
(Footnote Continued) _______________________
Supreme Court granted PSP’s petition for allowance of appeal in M.B. and
vacated our March 20, 2018 order “as it relates to the validity of M.B.’s
[Section] 303 certification and commitment.” In re M.B., ___ A.3d ___,
2019 WL 6485125 (Pa. 2019). The Supreme Court then remanded the case
to us for reconsideration in light of J.M.Y. Id.
2 PSP failed to attach its Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b)
statement of errors complained of on appeal to its brief. This omission
violates Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 2111(a)(11) and (d) and,
as a result of this failing, M.B. requests that we dismiss PSP’s appeal. M.B.’s
Brief at 1-2. We also note that, after M.B. filed his brief, PSP filed a “Motion
to Append Concise Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal”
(hereinafter “PSP’s Motion to Append Rule 1925(b) Statement”). We
conclude that, in light of PSP’s Motion to Append Rule 1925(b) Statement,
PSP’s failure to attach the Rule 1925(b) Statement to its brief does not
prevent us from reviewing the merits of the issues raised on appeal. See,
e.g., Hayward v. Hayward, 868 A.2d 554, 557 n.2 (Pa. Super. 2005)
(holding that, “because [the appellant’s] violations of our rules of appellate
procedure . . . do not prevent us from reviewing the merits of the issues
raised, we will address [the merits of appellant’s] claims”). We thus decline
to dismiss this appeal. Further, we grant PSP’s Motion to Append Rule
1925(b) Statement.
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M.B. awoke that night “to people over top of [him] and . . . in an
ambulance.” N.T. Hearing, 10/11/16, at 20. The ambulance took him to
Millcreek Community Hospital, where he was admitted at 12:47 a.m. on
September 24, 2003. M.B.’s Petition, 6/6/16, at 2; N.T. Hearing, 10/11/16,
at 20-21. Doctors at the hospital examined M.B. that morning and moved
him to the fourth floor of the hospital, which was the hospital’s mental
health facility. N.T. Hearing, 10/11/16, at 21-22.
M.B.’s involuntary commitment was initiated by his mother, who
completed an Application for Involuntary Emergency Examination and
Treatment pursuant to Section 302 of the Mental Health Procedures Act
(hereinafter “Section 302 Certification”). M.B.’s Petition, 6/6/16, at 2; N.T.
Hearing, 10/11/16, at 22; see also 50 P.S. § 7302 (hereinafter “Section
302”).3 In the application portion of the Section 302 Certification, M.B.’s
mother wrote:
[M.B.] admitted to taking pills & alcohol. He left a suicide
note for me with blood all over it. He doesn’t feel loved and
has been depressed for approx. 1 yr. He has cut up his
arms with a knife & they are bleeding. Suicide note said
good bye to his best friend & family. He has been drinking
on top of pills & is extremely agitated. Broke up with
____________________________________________
3 Section 302 permits the involuntary emergency treatment of an individual,
where a physician determines “that the person is severely mentally disabled
and in need of emergency treatment.” 50 P.S. § 7302(b). Under Section
302, the patient must be discharged “within 120 hours, unless within such
period . . . a certification for extended involuntary emergency treatment is
filed pursuant to” 50 P.S. § 7303. 50 P.S. § 7302(d).
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girlfriend & she had a baby approx. 6-9 months ago.
Girlfriend doesn’t want anything to do with him.
Section 302 Certification, 9/24/03, at 3.
The Section 302 Certification declares that the county administrator
issued a warrant authorizing M.B.’s emergency examination. As a result, at
12:50 a.m. on September 24, 2003, a physician examined M.B. and attested
that M.B. “is severely mentally disabled and in need of treatment.” Section
302 Certification, 9/24/03, at 5 and 7. Specifically, the “Physician’s
Examination” portion of the Section 302 Certification declares that the
physician made the following observations and findings:
Pt brought by EMS/PSP after becoming violent, cutting
him-self & taking 3 Effexor. Pt states he is depressed and
states he wants to kill himself. Pt also threatened to kill
EMS and PSP Troopers.
...
In my opinion:
[] The patient is severely mentally disabled and in need
of treatment. He should be admitted to a facility
designated by the County Administrator for a period of
treatment not to exceed 120 hours.
...
/s_______________________________
SIGNATURE OF EXAMINING PHYSICIAN
Section 302 Certification, 9/24/03, at 7.
The Section 302 Certification was then filed in the Erie County Court of
Common Pleas. See id. at 1.
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Within M.B.’s Petition, M.B. claimed that he “was held for observation
for three [] days following his involuntary commitment” and then discharged
from the hospital. M.B.’s Petition, 6/6/16, at 2-3. Afterwards, M.B.
participated in and completed outpatient therapy. Id. at 3. M.B. averred
that he “was prescribed [] medication at the hospital, which he took as
prescribed until he completed the prescription” and that he “has not been
prescribed medication [or] required treatment” since that time. Id.
Notwithstanding the Section 302 Certification, M.B.’s Petition declared
that the hospital failed to comply with certain procedural mandates that are
necessary to involuntarily commit an individual under Section 302.
Specifically, M.B. claimed that the hospital failed to advise him of his right to
counsel and failed to provide him with: a Form MH-783-B Explanation of
Warrant; a Form MH-782 Bill of Rights; and, a Form MH-783-A Explanation
of Rights Under Involuntary Emergency Commitment. M.B.’s Petition,
6/6/16, at 2; N.T. Hearing, 10/11/16, at 23-29. As M.B. claimed, 55
Pa.Code § 5100.86 required the hospital to provide him with all of the above
before it could involuntarily commit him under Section 302. M.B.’s Petition,
6/6/16, at 2.
M.B.’s Petition contained four counts. Count One claimed that the
hospital failed to provide him with the procedural safeguards required by 55
Pa.Code § 5100.86. M.B. thus requested that the trial court “vacat[e] and
expung[e his] September 24, 2003 involuntary mental health commitment,
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pursuant to 18 [Pa.C.S.A.] § 6111.1(g)(2) and Article 1, Section 1 of the
Pennsylvania Constitution.” Id. at 4-5.
In Count Two, M.B. alleged that he “was never provided a hearing in
relation to the [Section] 302” commitment and, yet, the Section 302
commitment “putatively stripped [M.B. of his] fundamental right” to possess
a firearm. Id. at 7. M.B. claimed that, “by failing to provide any
opportunity for [him] to be heard . . . , the deprivation of [M.B.’s]
fundamental right to possess firearms for self-defense was arbitrary and
violated his right to due process.” Id. (emphasis omitted). As such, M.B.
claimed that the trial court must expunge his September 24, 2003
involuntary commitment, pursuant to the 14th Amendment to the United
States Constitution. Id. at 7-8.
In his third count, M.B. claimed that his single involuntary commitment
was insufficient to strip him of his right to bear arms under the Second
Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 21 of
the Pennsylvania Constitution. Id. at 8-9. On this basis, M.B. requested
that the trial court expunge the record of his involuntary commitment.
Finally, in Count Four, M.B. requested that the trial court grant him
state relief from his firearm disability, pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105(f).
Id. at 10-11.
PSP answered M.B.’s petition and denied that M.B. was entitled to
relief on any of his claims. See PSP’s Answer, 7/15/16, at 1-8.
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On October 11, 2016, the trial court held a hearing on the matter. At
the beginning of the hearing, PSP introduced into evidence an “Application
for Extended Involuntary Treatment Pursuant to Section 303 of the Mental
Health Procedures Act” (hereinafter “Section 303 Certification”). N.T.
Hearing, 10/11/16, at 6-7; see also 50 P.S. § 7303 (hereinafter “Section
303”).4 According to PSP’s proffer, the Section 303 Certification: named
____________________________________________
4 Section 303 is entitled “Extended involuntary emergency treatment
certified by a judge or mental health review officer--not to exceed twenty
days.” This section authorizes “extended involuntary emergency treatment”
for any person who is being treated under Section 302, whenever the facility
determines – and the judge or mental health review officer agrees – that
“the need for emergency treatment is likely to extend beyond 120 hours.”
See 50 P.S. § 7303(a) and (c). In such event, Section 303 permits
extended involuntary emergency treatment for a term not to exceed “20
days after the filing of the certification.” 50 P.S. § 7303(h).
As this Court has recognized, “commitment under § 7303 indicates a more
serious mental problem [than commitment under § 7302] . . . [and] imposes
major due process requirements.” In re Jacobs, 15 A.3d 509, 511 (Pa.
Super. 2011). The due process requirements imposed by Section 303
include: the court of common pleas must appoint an attorney to represent
the patient during the Section 303 proceedings, unless the patient “can
afford, and desires to have, private representation;” an “informal hearing”
must be conducted by a judge or a mental health review officer within 24
hours after the application for extended involuntary emergency treatment is
filed; during the informal hearing, “[t]he person or his representative shall
have the right to ask questions of the physician and of any other witnesses
and to present any relevant information;” to commit an individual under
Section 303, the judge or mental health review officer must certify “that the
person is severely mentally disabled and in need of continued involuntary
treatment;” and, if the informal hearing was conducted by a mental health
review officer, the patient must be given “the right to petition the court of
common pleas for review of the certification” – and a “hearing shall be held
within 72 hours after the petition is filed.” See 50 P.S. § 7303(a)-(h).
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M.B. as the patient; was filed on September 25, 2003, in the Erie County
Court of Common Pleas; and, declared that the mental health review officer
“finds that the patient [is] severely mentally disabled and is in need of”
inpatient treatment, at Millcreek, “pursuant to the provisions of section 303
of the Mental Health Procedures Act of 1976 for a period of 20 days.”
Section 303 Certification, 9/25/03, at 4.
M.B. challenged the Section 303 Certification at the October 11, 2016
hearing. Initially, M.B. noted that, while his name was spelled correctly on
two of the four pages, his last name was spelled incorrectly on the other two
pages.5 N.T. Hearing, 10/11/16, at 8. As a result, M.B. argued, he was “not
sure that [the Section 303 Certification was] in relation to” him. M.B. thus
objected to the Section 303 Certification on relevancy grounds. See id.
Further, M.B. declared that the Section 303 Certification was issued within
24 hours of the original commitment. Id. at 8-9. M.B. argued that, “[s]ince
the [Section] 302 [commitment] is good for 120 hours, that seems a little
bit suspect, as well as the fact that he was released within 120 hours.” Id.
____________________________________________
5 The record in this matter is sealed. Therefore, we may not disclose M.B.’s
last name or the slightly different name that was used on two of the four
pages of the Section 303 Certification. However, we note that M.B.’s last
name contains six letters and that the divergent name alters the second and
third letters of his last name. In particular, the letters “O-W” are substituted
for “A-U.” See N.T. Hearing, 10/11/16, at 10-11 (the trial court examined
the Section 303 Certification and declared, on the record, that M.B.’s name
appears on two of the four pages and that a divergent name, with the letters
“O-W” substituted for “A-U,” appears on the other two pages).
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at 9. Therefore, M.B. also objected to the Section 303 Certification because
there was a question as to “whether it was executed lawfully.” Id.
Notwithstanding M.B.’s objections, the trial court admitted PSP’s Section 303
Certification into evidence. Id. at 11.
During the hearing, M.B. testified regarding: his depression in the fall
of 2003; his intoxication and self-injury on the night of September 23, 2003;
and, his involuntary commitment at Millcreek Community Hospital, which
began at 12:47 a.m. on September 24, 2003. See id. at 17-22. M.B. also
testified that, to his recollection, during his commitment: he was never
informed of his right to an attorney; he was never provided an attorney; no
hearing ever occurred; and, he never saw the Form MH-783-B Explanation
of Warrant, the Form MH-782 Bill of Rights, or the Form MH-783-A
Explanation of Rights Under Involuntary Emergency Commitment. Id. at
22-27. Further, according to M.B., the first time he discovered “that a 302
petition had been executed in relation to [him]” was in 2012 or 2013, when
PSP denied his application to purchase a firearm. Id. at 22.
M.B. testified that he was released from Millcreek Community Hospital
on September 29, 2003, or five days after his initial commitment. Id. at 29.
Since that time, M.B. testified, he has cultivated a successful career and
lives with his long-time girlfriend and her son. Id. at 30-32. M.B. testified
that, since his release, he: drinks alcohol socially and does not use illegal
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drugs; has not had an irrational desire to harm himself or others; and, has
never been committed to a facility for mental health reasons.6 Id. at 32-33.
Finally, M.B. testified that, on March 25, 2016, he was examined by
psychologist Dr. Michael M. Keil. Dr. Keil later issued a report, where he
opined that M.B. may safely own and possess a firearm without threat to
himself or others. Id. at 33-36; see also Dr. Keil’s Psychological Evaluation
Report, 3/25/16, at 1-5 (admitted into evidence as M.B.’s Exhibit “B”).
With the exception of the Section 303 Certification, PSP did not
introduce any witnesses, documents, or other evidence. The hearing then
concluded.
On January 4, 2017, the trial court entered its initial order in the
matter. The order granted M.B. relief from his firearm disability pursuant to
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105(f), but did not expunge the record of M.B.’s involuntary
commitment. The order declares:
AND NOW, this 4th day of January, 2017, upon consideration
of Petitioner M.B.’s Petition to Vacate and Expunge the
Involuntary Commitment, a hearing on the same, and the
well-reasoned briefs of the parties on their respective
positions, it is the ORDER of this Court that the subject
Petition be and is hereby GRANTED pursuant only to
Petitioner’s Count [Four], which seeks state relief under 18
____________________________________________
6 M.B. testified that, after his release from the hospital, he was arrested one
time (for driving under the influence (“DUI”)). M.B. testified that this DUI
charge was resolved via accelerated rehabilitative disposition and that the
charge was later dismissed and the record of his arrest expunged. N.T.
Hearing, 10/11/16, at 33.
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[Pa.C.S.A.] § 6105(f)(1). Accordingly, M.B.’s right to
possess firearms shall be and is hereby restored; however,
M.B.’s involuntary commitment pursuant to either 50 P.S.
§ 7302 or § 7303 is not expunged.
Trial Court Opinion and Order, 1/4/17, at 4.
On January 13, 2017, M.B. filed a motion for reconsideration and
claimed that the trial court erred when it refused to expunge the record of
his involuntary commitment. M.B.’s Motion for Reconsideration, 1/13/17, at
1-4. That same day, the trial court entered an order expressly granting
reconsideration of its January 4, 2017 order. Trial Court Order, 1/13/17, at
1.
On January 30, 2017, the trial court entered a final Opinion and Order
in the matter. The January 30, 2017 order reads:
AND NOW, this 30th day of January, 2017, upon
reconsideration of M.B.’s Petition to Vacate and Expunge the
Involuntary Commitment, a hearing on the same, and the
well-reasoned briefs of the parties on their respective
positions, it is the ORDER of this Court that the subject
Petition be and is hereby GRANTED pursuant to Petitioner’s
Count [One], which seeks relief under 18 [Pa.C.S.A.]
§ 6111.1(g)(2). Accordingly, M.B.’s involuntary commitment
pursuant to 50 P.S. § 7302 shall be expunged.
The Court hereby reaffirms the provisions of the Opinion
and Order dated January 4, 2017, with the exception of
those portions relating to 18 [Pa.C.S.A.] § 6111.1.
Trial Court Opinion and Order, 1/30/17, at 6.
As is evident from the above, the trial court did not order the record of
the Section 303 Certification expunged. However, within the trial court’s
accompanying opinion, the trial court specifically declared that it “[did] not
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believe M.B. was committed pursuant to” Section 303 and, also, that the
Section 303 Certification was “entirely invalid.” Trial Court Opinion,
1/30/17, at 4-5. The trial court reasoned:
While the [trial c]ourt agrees that lower courts generally
may not review a [Section 303] commitment under 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.1, the [trial c]ourt believes that the
alleged Section 303 commitment in this case was entirely
invalid, and that M.B.’s commitment was done pursuant
only to Section 302. . . .
A number of disparities were revealed during the hearing in
this matter regarding M.B.’s alleged Section 303
commitment. Although [PSP] submitted a putative 303
Petition, said Petition has several different names specified
therein. Moreover, [PSP] produced the putative 303
Petition less than [24] hours before the October [11], 2016
hearing after having acknowledged that [PSP] was told that
no Section 303 Petition existed. Procedurally, M.B. testified
that he never attended a hearing in regards to a Section
303 commitment, nor did M.B. have an attorney appointed
on his behalf. There was no record of the Section 303
proceedings provided to M.B. or to this court. The Section
303 Petition submitted to the court also fails to include any
of the necessary Section 302 forms, as required by 50 P.S.
§ 7303(d)(3). Of further interest, M.B. was released within
[120] hours from his commitment, which is the timeframe
for an involuntary commitment pursuant to Section 302. . .
. Finally, no evidence was presented in support of the fact
that M.B.’s examining doctors were either psychiatrists or
clinical psychologists, as required by 18 [Pa.C.S.A.]
§ 6111.1(k).
Because the record is so devoid of facts necessary to
support a valid 50 P.S. § 7303 commitment, which . . .
demands more procedural safeguards than a Section 302
commitment, the court does not believe M.B. was
committed pursuant to 50 P.S. § 7303. Instead, the court
believes M.B.’s involuntary commitment was pursuant to 50
P.S. § 7302 only.
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Trial Court Opinion and Order, 1/30/17, at 4-5 (some capitalization omitted).
PSP filed a timely notice of appeal. It now raises two claims to this
Court:
[1.] Did the Court of Common Pleas of Clearfield County
exceed its jurisdiction, commit an error of law and abuse its
discretion in disregarding the record of M.B.’s commitment
pursuant to 50 P.S. § 7303?
[2.] Did the trial court commit an error of law by applying
the incorrect standard of review?
PSP’s Brief at 4.7
____________________________________________
7 The trial court ordered PSP to file and serve a concise statement of errors
complained of on appeal, pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate
Procedure 1925(b). PSP complied with the trial court’s order and, within its
Rule 1925(b) statement, PSP listed the two issues currently raised on
appeal. PSP’s Rule 1925(b) Statement, 3/29/17, at 1. Specifically, PSP’s
Rule 1925(b) statement declares:
[1.] The [trial] court committed an error of law, and/or
abused its discretion, in determining that, despite
competent evidence to the contrary, [M.B.] had not been
subject to an involuntary commitment pursuant to 50 P.S.
§ 7303, when the court was without jurisdiction to do so
pursuant to statute and case law, and subsequently ordered
expungement of [M.B.’s] involuntary commitment pursuant
to 50 P.S. § 7302. See: 50 P.S. § 7115 (venue and
location of legal proceedings); see also: 18 [Pa.C.S.A.]
§ 6111.1(e) (challenge to records); [In re Jacobs,] 15
A.3d 509 (Pa. Super. 2011).
[2.] The [trial] court committed an error of law, or abused
its discretion in requiring [PSP] to prove by a clear and
convincing standard of review contrary to the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court’s holding in [In re Vencil,] 152 A.3d 235
(Pa. 2017), that [M.B.’s] involuntary commitment pursuant
to 50 P.S. § 7302 was sufficient as a matter of law.
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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First, PSP claims that the trial court “exceed[ed] its jurisdiction,
commit[ed] an error of law and abuse[d] its discretion in disregarding the
record of M.B.’s commitment pursuant to” Section 303. Id. This claim is
composed of three subparts: first, PSP argues that the Court of Common
Pleas of Clearfield County did not have jurisdiction to interpret the Section
303 Certification and hold that the Section 303 Certification did not pertain
to M.B.; second, PSP argues that, even if the trial court had the authority to
interpret the Section 303 Certification to determine whether the Section 303
Certification applied to M.B., the trial court’s conclusion that it did not
pertain to M.B. constituted an abuse of discretion; and, third, PSP claims
that, “since the Section 303 [Certification] in this case was pertaining to
M.B., the [trial c]ourt did not have jurisdiction to rule that ‘the alleged
Section 303 [Certification in] this case was entirely invalid’ for any reason.”
See PSP’s Brief at 8-12. We will consider the three sub-issues in the order
listed above.
(Footnote Continued) _______________________
PSP’s Rule 1925(b) Statement, 3/29/17, at 1 (some capitalization omitted).
Further, the trial court issued a Rule 1925(a) opinion to this Court, where it
responded to PSP’s claims. We note that, within the trial court’s Rule
1925(a) opinion, the trial court declared that its factual findings were not an
abuse of discretion. Trial Court Opinion, 4/4/17, at 1.
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PSP initially claims that the trial court did not have the power to
interpret the Section 303 Certification to determine whether the Section 303
Certification applied to M.B. PSP argues:
The Court of Common Pleas of Clearfield County was
without jurisdiction to determine that the record presented
by [PSP] evidencing M.B. had been subject to an extended
involuntary commitment under 50 P.S. § 7303[] did not
pertain to M.B. The record was provided to [PSP] by the
Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County,
as pertaining to [M.B.] In holding that “the court does not
believe M.B. was committed pursuant to 50 P.S. § 7303,”
[the trial court] exceeded its jurisdiction because its ruling
impermissibly intrudes on a matter solely within the
jurisdiction of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas as to
its own records and proceedings, and disregarded
competent evidence it had no authority to review.
PSP’s Brief at 8.
PSP has cited no legal precedent or law to support this argument,
other than citing to the broad legal proposition that “every court of record
has a ‘supervisory and protecting charge over its records, and has inherent
power to amend its records.’” PSP’s Brief at 8, citing Commonwealth v.
Smith, 229 A.2d 18, 20 (Pa. Super. 1967).
Simply stated, the trial court in this case had the power to interpret
the Section 303 Certification and conclude that the Section 303 Certification
did not pertain to M.B. Trial Court Opinion, 1/30/17, at 5. To be sure, PSP
introduced the Section 303 Certification into evidence at the hearing and the
trial court was the factfinder in this case. In presiding over the hearing, the
trial court naturally enjoyed the inherent power to resolve evidentiary
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questions and issues of fact – including what evidence was relevant to the
parties and proceedings and what evidence it believed or disbelieved. See,
e.g., Fetzer v. Vishneski, 582 A.2d 23, 25 (Pa. Super. 1990) (“[w]hen
sitting without a jury, the trial court acts as the finder of fact, and the trial
court’s findings have the same force and effect as a jury verdict”). Thus, the
trial court had the power to determine that the Section 303 Certification did
not pertain to M.B., but, rather, that the certification concerned some other
individual. PSP’s argument to the contrary fails.
Next, PSP claims, the trial court’s factual conclusion that the Section
303 Certification did not pertain to M.B. was against the weight of the
evidence.8 PSP’s Brief at 9-12; see also Trial Court Opinion and Order,
____________________________________________
8 Within the trial court’s opinion, the trial court declared that it “[did] not
believe M.B. was committed pursuant to” Section 303 and that the Section
303 Certification was “entirely invalid.” Trial Court Opinion, 1/30/17, at 4-5.
Obviously, “[h]uman language is not a perfect vehicle for conveying thought,
and it frequently happens that words used have a broader or narrower
meaning than that intended by the person using them.” Kennington v.
Hemingway, 57 So. 809, 811 (Miss. 1912). Here, we find some
uncertainty in the trial court’s declaration that it “[did] not believe M.B. was
committed pursuant to” Section 303. Two possible interpretations emerge
from the trial court’s use of these words: 1) the Section 303 Certification
was a valid certification against some person, but the certification did not
concern M.B. and, instead, pertained to some other individual, or 2) the
Section 303 Certification concerned M.B., but the facility and the courts
failed to follow the proper procedure to commit M.B. “pursuant to” Section
303 – and that the Section 303 Certification was thus “entirely invalid.” In
other words, when the trial court declared that it “[did] not believe M.B. was
committed pursuant to” Section 303 and that the Section 303 Certification
was “entirely invalid,” was the trial court giving one reason or two?
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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(Footnote Continued) _______________________
We (like M.B. and PSP) believe that – when the trial court declared that it
“[did] not believe M.B. was committed pursuant to” Section 303 – the trial
court meant that the certification did not concern M.B. and, instead,
pertained to some other individual. See M.B.’s Brief at 7 (“the trial court
found that the putative 303 Petition . . . was not in relation to [M.B.]”);
PSP’s Brief at 8 (arguing that the trial court erred when it concluded that the
Section 303 Certification “did not pertain to M.B.”).
Our conclusion finds support in the fact that the trial court’s opinion
emphasizes that the Section 303 Certification “has several different names
specified therein.” Trial Court Opinion and Order, 1/30/17, at 4-5.
However, and more importantly, we again note that the trial court only
ordered that the record of M.B.’s Section 302 commitment be expunged.
Trial Court Order, 1/30/17, at 1. To be sure, the trial court’s final order in
the matter expressly holds that the record of the Section 303 commitment is
not expunged. This is because the trial court’s initial order of January 4,
2017 declared that “M.B.’s involuntary commitment pursuant to either 50
P.S. § 7302 or § 7303 is not expunged;” the trial court’s final order of
January 30, 2017 then expunged only the Section 302 commitment – and
the final order further declared that, with the exception of the Section 302
expunction, the trial court “reaffirms the provisions of the Opinion and
Order dated January 4, 2017.” Trial Court Order, 1/4/17, at 1 (emphasis
added); Trial Court Order, 1/30/17, at 1 (emphasis added). Therefore, since
the trial court’s final order of January 30, 2017 “reaffirm[ed]” the portion of
its earlier, January 4, 2017 order that refused to expunge the record of the
Section 303 commitment, the record of the Section 303 commitment is not
expunged.
As will be explained later in this opinion, the trial court could not have
expunged the record of the Section 302 commitment if it believed M.B. had
been committed pursuant to Section 303. See In re Jacobs, 15 A.3d at
511 (the appellant was involuntarily committed under Sections 302 and 303
and requested that the trial court expunge the record of his involuntary
commitments; this Court held that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to
review the Section 303 commitment and that, with respect to his Section
302 commitment, the appellant’s claim was “moot because even if he is
entitled to expunction [of his Section 302 commitment], expunction cannot
go forward because appellant was also involuntarily committed under
§ 7303”). Hence, the trial court must have concluded that the Section 303
Certification did not pertain to M.B. – as this was the only way the trial court
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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1/30/17, at 4-5. Although, (as we stated above) the trial court enjoys the
authority, within the context of a proceeding under 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 6111.1(g)(2), to determine whether a Section 303 commitment pertains to
the petitioner, we agree with PSP in this case that the trial court abused its
discretion when it concluded that its factual finding – that the Section 303
Certification did not pertain to M.B. – was not against the weight of the
evidence.
Our examination of PSP’s claim is guided by the settled principles that
govern a weight of the evidence claim. As our Supreme Court has
explained:
A motion for a new trial based on a claim that the verdict is
against the weight of the evidence is addressed to the
discretion of the trial court. A new trial should not be
granted because of a mere conflict in the testimony or
because the judge on the same facts would have arrived at
a different conclusion. Rather, the role of the trial judge is
to determine that notwithstanding all the facts, certain facts
are so clearly of greater weight that to ignore them or to
give them equal weight with all the facts is to deny justice.
It has often been stated that a new trial should be awarded
when the [factfinder’s] verdict is so contrary to the evidence
as to shock one's sense of justice and the award of a new
trial is imperative so that right may be given another
opportunity to prevail.
An appellate court's standard of review when presented with
a weight of the evidence claim is distinct from the standard
of review applied by the trial court:
(Footnote Continued) _______________________
could have expunged the record of M.B.’s Section 302 commitment without
expunging the Section 303 Certification.
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Appellate review of a weight claim is a review of the
exercise of discretion, not of the underlying question
of whether the verdict is against the weight of the
evidence. Because the trial judge has had the
opportunity to hear and see the evidence presented,
an appellate court will give the gravest consideration
to the findings and reasons advanced by the trial
judge when reviewing a trial court's determination
that the verdict is against the weight of the
evidence. One of the least assailable reasons for
granting or denying a new trial is the lower court's
conviction that the verdict was or was not against
the weight of the evidence and that a new trial
should be granted in the interest of justice.
This does not mean that the exercise of discretion by the
trial court in granting or denying a motion for a new trial
based on a challenge to the weight of the evidence is
unfettered. In describing the limits of a trial court's
discretion, [the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has]
explained:
The term discretion imports the exercise of
judgment, wisdom and skill so as to reach a
dispassionate conclusion within the framework of the
law, and is not exercised for the purpose of giving
effect to the will of the judge. Discretion must be
exercised on the foundation of reason, as opposed to
prejudice, personal motivations, caprice or arbitrary
actions. Discretion is abused where the course
pursued represents not merely an error of judgment,
but where the judgment is manifestly unreasonable
or where the law is not applied or where the record
shows that the action is a result of partiality,
prejudice, bias or ill-will.
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Commonwealth v. Clay, 64 A.3d 1049, 1055 (Pa. 2013) (internal citations,
quotations, and emphasis omitted).9
____________________________________________
9 On appeal, M.B. does not claim that PSP waived its weight of the evidence
claim. Nevertheless, we note that the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure
that govern petition practice regulate the procedure in this case. See 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.1(g)(2) (“[a] person who is involuntarily committed
pursuant to section 302 of the Mental Health Procedures Act may petition
the court to review the sufficiency of the evidence upon which the
commitment was based”) (emphasis added); Pa.R.C.P. 206.1-206.7; see
also Clearfield County Local Rule 206.1(a)(2) (“‘petition’ means . . . any
proper matter for which no other specific procedure is authorized or in which
only a Petition is prescribed as the authorized procedure for bringing such
matter before the Court for disposition”); In re K.L.S., 934 A.2d 1244 (Pa.
2007) (“[p]roceedings pursuant to the [Mental Health Procedures Act] are
governed by the rules of petition practice . . . and post-trial motions are not
required to preserve issues for appeal”). Therefore, PSP was not permitted
to file a post-trial motion in this case. See Pa.R.C.P. 227.1 note (“[a]
motion for post-trial relief may not be filed to matters governed exclusively
by the rules of petition practice”).
Since post-trial motions were prohibited, the first time PSP could have
claimed that the trial court’s factual findings were against the weight of the
evidence was in its Rule 1925(b) statement of errors complained of on
appeal. See Criswell v. King, 834 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. 2003) (a weight of
the evidence claim “is a claim which, by definition, ripens only after the
verdict”). Further, PSP, in fact, raised the weight claim in its Rule 1925(b)
statement and the trial court responded to PSP’s weight claim in its opinions.
PSP’s Rule 1925(b) Statement, 3/29/17, at 1; Trial Court Opinion, 4/4/17, at
1; Trial Court Opinion and Order, 1/30/17, at 4-5. Therefore, we conclude
that, since PSP raised the weight claim in its Rule 1925(b) statement and
since the trial court explained its reasoning in its various opinions, PSP
preserved its weight of the evidence claim on appeal. See In re Estate of
Smaling, 80 A.3d 485, 490-493 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en banc) (holding that,
given the optional nature of exceptions in Orphans’ Court proceedings, the
appellant did not waive her weight of the evidence claim when she failed to
file exceptions in the case – and, in fact, first raised the weight of the
evidence claim in her Rule 1925(b) statement; we explained: “by their
nature, [weight of the evidence claims] can only arise after the court issues
its final decision in a matter. . . . [B]y raising her weight claim in a
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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The Section 303 Certification consists of a form that includes
handwritten responses to typed, form questions and headings. We have
underlined the portions of the form that are handwritten. Moreover, we note
that the form includes at least two different handwriting sources: the
introduction, Part I, Part II, and the patient’s name on Part III are written in
(what the trial court found and what appears to be) one individual’s
handwriting; the remainder of Part III, as well as Part IV, are written in
(what the trial court found and what appears to be) a different handwriting
source or sources. See N.T. Hearing, 10/11/16, at 10-11 (trial court
examined the Section 303 Certification and recognized, on the record, the
two different spellings of the patient’s name in the document, as well as the
different handwriting on the form). The Section 303 Certification reads as
follows:
APPLICATION FOR EXTENDED INVOLUNTARY
TREATMENT
(Footnote Continued) _______________________
timely-filed Rule 1925(b) statement, [the appellant] successfully preserved
the issue for appellate review”); see also Commonwealth v. Widmer, 689
A.2d 211, 212-213 (Pa. 1997) (holding: at a time when post-sentence
motions were optional and a “void” existed in the rules as to how a litigant
was to preserve a weight of the evidence challenge following a criminal trial,
the Supreme Court held that the appellant did not waive his weight of the
evidence claim when he raised the claim in his Rule 1925(b) statement and
where the trial court discussed the weight claim in its Rule 1925(a) opinion;
the Supreme Court then “remanded to the trial court to permit [the]
appellant to file a motion for a new trial nunc pro tunc challenging the
weight of the evidence”); In re J.B., 106 A.3d 76 (Pa. 2014) (applying
Widmer’s holding to a juvenile court’s adjudication of delinquency).
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MENTAL HEALTH PROCEDURES ACT OF 1976
(SECTION 303)
NAME OF PATIENT AGE SEX
[M.B.] 20 M
NAME OF COUNTY PROGRAM NAME OF BSU
ERIE MH/ONR ERIE MLT/BSU
NAME OF FACILITY ADMISSION DATE
Millcreek Behav Hlth 9/24/03
...
PART I
REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATION
[M.B.] has acted in such manner as to cause a responsible
party to believe that he/she is severely mentally disabled as
specified in the attached 302 form. He/she was admitted to
Millcreek Behav Hlth for involuntary emergency examination
and treatment on 9/24/03 at 1250 AM under Section 302.
He/she was examined by Dr. Ulus and was found to be in
need of continued treatment. I respectfully request,
therefore, that he/she be certified by the court for extended
involuntary emergency treatment under Section 303.
/s________________________ 9/24/03
(SIGNATURE OF PETITIONER) (DATE)
CEO
(TITLE OF PETITIONER)
PART II
THE PATIENT’S RIGHTS
I affirm that I have informed the patient of the actions I
am taking and have explained to the patient these
procedures and his/her rights as described in Form MH
784-A. I believe that he/she [X] understands . . . these
rights.
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/s________________________________ 9/24/03
(SIGNATURE OF PERSON GIVING RIGHTS) (DATE)
________________________________________________
PART III
PHYSICIAN’S EXAMINATION
I hereby affirm that I have examined [M.B.] on 9/24/03
to determine if he[] continued to be severely mentally ill
and in need of treatment.
RESULTS OF EXAMINATION
FINDINGS: (Describe your findings in detail. . . .)
The pt. has been admitted due to his admitting to suicidal
plans, cutting himself for a while, depression and alcohol
abuse, does not want to stay, he would be a danger for
himself if released before mental stabilization. Expected to
be returned on the unit. . . .
In my opinion: (Check A. or B.)
A. [X] The patient continues to be severely mentally
disabled and in need of treatment.
...
/s__________________________________ 9/24/03
(SIGNATURE OF EXAMINING OR TREATING PHYSICIAN) (DATE)
________________________________________________
PART IV
CERTIFICATION BY THE COURT FOR EXTENDED
INVOLUNTARY EMERGENCY TREATMENT – SECTION
303
In the court of Common Pleas of Erie County. . . .
In re: [M.B. (sic)] . . .
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Certification for Extended Treatment
This 25 day of Sept, 19 2003 after hearing and
consideration of (Details of findings. Include details as to
what type and why treatment is needed. . . .)
Ad: 9/24/03; suicidal; written note w/his blood - cutting
himself; DX – mood disorder n.o.s.; depressed & angry
mood; reclusive; morbid depression; reasonable risk of
suicide if discharged.
The court finds that the patient [X] is . . . severely
mentally disabled and in need of treatment. Accordingly,
the court orders that: . . .
[M.B. (sic)] receive: . . . [X] inpatient treatment
which is the least restrictive treatment setting appropriate
for the patient at Millcreek as a severely mentally disabled
person pursuant to the provisions of section 303 of the
Mental Health Procedures Act of 1976 for a period of 20
days.
...
I have explained to the patient that if his/her conference
was before a Mental Health Review Officer he/she may
petition the court for a review of any decisions reached at
this conference.
...
[] The patient was represented by _______Joe Burt______
(NAME OF ATTORNEY)
__Public Defender___
(ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY)
...
for the court /s__[(illegible)]______
_____MHRO_________
(TITLE)
- 24 -
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Section 303 Certification, 9/25/03, at 1-4.
The last page of the Section 303 Certification contains a time stamp,
which reads:
COMMON PLEAS COURT
ERIE, PA
2003 SEP 25 P 3:52
CLERK OF RECORDS
PROTHONOTARY
Id. at 4.
As noted above, the trial court did not order the record of the Section
303 Certification expunged. However, within the trial court’s accompanying
opinion, the trial court declared that it “[did] not believe M.B. was committed
pursuant to” Section 303 and that the Section 303 Certification was “entirely
invalid.” Trial Court Opinion and Order, 1/30/17, at 4-5. Further, within the
trial court’s opinion, it explained that it arrived at its factual conclusions
because: the Section 303 Certification “has several different names
specified therein;” PSP “produced the putative 303 Petition less than [24]
hours before the October [11], 2016 hearing after having acknowledged that
PSP was told that no Section 303 Petition existed;” and, “M.B. was released
within [120] hours from his commitment, which is the timeframe for an
involuntary commitment pursuant to Section 302.” Trial Court Opinion and
Order, 1/30/17, at 4-5. The trial court also noted several alleged procedural
irregularities with the Section 303 Certification. The trial court found:
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M.B. testified that he never attended a hearing in regards to
a Section 303 commitment, nor did M.B. have an attorney
appointed on his behalf[; t]here was no record of the
Section 303 proceedings provided to M.B. or to [the trial
court; t]he Section 303 Petition submitted to the [trial
c]ourt [] fails to include any of the necessary Section 302
forms, as required by 50 P.S. § 7303(d)(3) . . . [; and,] no
evidence was presented in support of the fact that M.B.’s
examining doctors were either psychiatrists or clinical
psychologists, as required by 18 [Pa.C.S.A.] § 6111.1(k).
Trial Court Opinion and Order, 1/30/17, at 4-5.
We conclude the trial court abused its discretion by concluding that its
factual finding – that the Section 303 Certification did not pertain to M.B. –
was not against the weight of the evidence.
In this case, the trial court concluded that the Section 303 Certification
did not pertain to M.B. because: the Section 303 Certification “has several
different names specified therein;” there were several alleged procedural
irregularities with the Section 303 Certification; and, “M.B. was released
within [120] hours from his commitment, which is the timeframe for an
involuntary commitment pursuant to Section 302.” See Trial Court Opinion
and Order, 1/30/17, at 4-5.10
____________________________________________
10 The trial court also declared that PSP “produced the putative 303 Petition
less than [24] hours before the October [11], 2016 hearing after having
acknowledged that PSP was told that no Section 303 Petition existed.” Trial
Court Opinion and Order, 1/30/17, at 4-5. However, this finding is
irrelevant to the question of whether M.B. was made subject to extended
emergency involuntary treatment under Section 303 and whether a Section
303 Certification was filed against M.B. Indeed, the fact that PSP produced
the Section 303 Certification “less than [24] hours before the October [11],
2016 hearing after having acknowledged that PSP was told that no Section
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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In view of the judgment, wisdom, and skill required in the exercise of
judicial discretion, it was manifestly unreasonable for the trial court to
conclude that the weight of the evidence supported its factual finding that
the Section 303 Certification pertained to some other individual – and not
M.B. Certainly: on two of the four pages of the Section 303 Certification,
M.B. is identified as the patient; on the other two pages of the Section 303
Certification, a slightly different spelling appears where, in M.B.’s six-letter
last name, the second and third letters of his last name are altered from
“A-U” to “O-W;” the Section 303 Certification contains the proper date of
admission (9/24/03), time of admission (12:50 a.m.), and facility
(Millcreek); the Section 303 Certification contains M.B.’s proper age at the
time of admission (20 years old); and, the symptoms and behavior that the
physician noted in the Section 303 Certification were the same symptoms
and behavior that were noted in the Section 302 Certification and that M.B.
admitted to during the October 11, 2016 hearing. Specifically, during the
October 11, 2016 hearing, M.B. admitted that, at the time of his
commitment, he suffered from depression; further, the Section 302
Certification declares that M.B. was involuntarily committed because he took
pills and alcohol, cut himself, and left a bloody suicide note. See N.T.
(Footnote Continued) _______________________
303 Petition existed” is only relevant to the admissibility of the Section 303
Certification – and the trial court specifically admitted the Section 303
Certification into evidence at the hearing. N.T. Hearing, 10/11/16, at 11.
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Hearing, 10/11/16, at 18; Section 302 Certification, 9/24/03, at 3 and 7.
Similarly, the Section 303 Certification declares:
The pt. has been admitted due to his admitting to suicidal
plans, cutting himself for a while, depression and alcohol
abuse, does not want to stay, he would be a danger for
himself if released before mental stabilization. Expected to
be returned on the unit. . . .
...
Ad: 9/24/03; suicidal; written note w/his blood - cutting
himself; DX – mood disorder n.o.s.; depressed & angry
mood; reclusive; morbid depression; [(illegible)] risk of
suicide if discharged.
Section 303 Certification, 9/25/03, at 2-3.
Finally, the trial court noted that “M.B. was released within [120]
hours from his commitment, which is the timeframe for an involuntary
commitment pursuant to Section 302.” Trial Court Opinion and Order,
1/30/17, at 4-5. However, this finding is of limited import to the question of
whether M.B. was made subject to extended emergency involuntary
treatment under Section 303 and whether a Section 303 Certification was
filed against M.B. Certainly, even though the Section 303 Certification
authorized extended involuntary emergency treatment for an additional 20
days, 50 P.S. § 7303(h) demands that a person be discharged “[w]henever
[he] is no longer severely mentally disabled or in need of immediate
treatment and, in any event, within 20 days after the filing of the
certification.” 50 P.S. § 7303(h). Therefore, even if the Section 303
Certification permits extended involuntary emergency treatment for 20 days,
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the facility is required to discharge the patient prior to that date if the facility
determines that “[he] is no longer severely mentally disabled or in need of
immediate treatment.” Id.
Respectfully, the trial court abused its discretion when it concluded
that its factual finding – that the Section 303 Certification did not pertain to
M.B. – was not against the weight of the evidence. See In re J.B., 106
A.3d 76 (Pa. 2014) (“[i]n reviewing a trial court's adjudication of a weight of
the evidence claim, an appellate court determines whether the trial court
abused its discretion based upon review of the record; its role is not to
consider the underlying question in the first instance”) (quotations and
citations omitted); Commonwealth, Dep’t of Gen. Servs. v. U.S. Mineral
Prods. Co., 956 A.2d 967, 973 (Pa. 2008) (“[r]elief [on a weight of the
evidence claim] is available in an appellate court only if it can be said that
the trial court acted capriciously or palpably abused its discretion”). Thus,
we vacate this portion of the trial court’s order and remand for proceedings
consistent with this opinion. Commonwealth v. Widmer, 744 A.2d 745,
751 (Pa. 2000); Anzelone v. Jesperson, 258 A.2d 510 (Pa. 1969).
PSP next argues that, “since the Section 303 [Certification] in this case
was pertaining to M.B., the [trial c]ourt did not have jurisdiction to rule that
‘the alleged Section 303 [Certification in] this case was entirely invalid’ for
any reason.” See PSP’s Brief at 8-12. Again, we note that the trial court did
not order the record of M.B.’s involuntary commitment under Section 303
expunged and M.B. has not appealed this portion of the order.
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Nevertheless, to the extent the trial court rendered a legal conclusion and
declared, in an Opinion and Order, that the Section 303 Certification was
“entirely invalid” and then used this reasoning to expunge M.B.’s involuntary
commitment under Section 302, we agree that the trial court erred.
Expunction of involuntary commitment records is governed by 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.1(g).11 In relevant part, this section declares:
(2) A person who is involuntarily committed pursuant to
section 302 of the Mental Health Procedures Act may
petition the court to review the sufficiency of the evidence
upon which the commitment was based. If the court
determines that the evidence upon which the involuntary
commitment was based was insufficient, the court shall
order that the record of the commitment submitted to the
Pennsylvania State Police be expunged. A petition filed
under this subsection shall toll the 60-day period set forth
under section 6105(a)(2).
(3) The Pennsylvania State Police shall expunge all records
of an involuntary commitment of an individual who is
discharged from a mental health facility based upon the
initial review by the physician occurring within two hours of
arrival under section 302(b) of the Mental Health
Procedures Act and the physician's determination that no
severe mental disability existed pursuant to section 302(b)
of the Mental Health Procedures Act. The physician shall
provide signed confirmation of the determination of the lack
of severe mental disability following the initial examination
____________________________________________
11In Leach v. Commonwealth, 141 A.3d 426 (Pa. 2016), the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court held that Act 192 of 2014 was unconstitutional because the
Act violated the single-subject rule of Article III, Section 3 of the
Pennsylvania Constitution. We note that Act 192 of 2014 partially amended
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.1; however, since the Act is unconstitutional, we have
not included the amendatory language in our quotation of Section 6111.1.
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under section 302(b) of the Mental Health Procedures Act to
the Pennsylvania State Police.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.1(g)(2) and (3).
A review of Section 6111.1(g) reveals that the section only authorizes
the expunction of an involuntary commitment record where the involuntary
commitment was obtained pursuant to Section 302. Indeed, this Court has
expressly held:
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.1(g) provides no opportunity to obtain
expunction of mental health records pursuant to a
commitment under § 7303. . . . [A trial] court ha[s] no
jurisdiction under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.1(g) to review [a
petitioner’s] commitment under § 7303. [Section
6111.1(g)] only imbues the lower court with jurisdiction to
review commitments under § 7302.
In re Jacobs, 15 A.3d 509, 511 (Pa. Super. 2011); see also In re Keyes,
83 A.3d 1016, 1024 (Pa. Super. 2013) (“we are aware of no authority,
statutory or decisional, that provides for the expunction of a mental health
commitment record where the commitment was obtained pursuant to 50
P.S. § 7303”); In re J.M.Y., 218 A.3d at 416 (“[Section 6111.1(g)], by its
terms, empowers a court to entertain a petition testing the sufficiency of the
evidence for a Section 302 commitment; however, it does not authorize a
court to consider whether a certification for involuntary mental health
treatment pursuant to Section 303 was validly entered”).
Thus, Section 6111.1(g) did not provide the trial court with a
jurisdictional avenue to invalidate M.B.’s Section 303 Certification.
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We further observe that 50 P.S. § 7303(g) sets the statutory
procedure for appealing a Section 303 certification where, like here, the
certification was made by a mental health review officer. 50 P.S. § 7303(g)
provides:
(g) Petition to Common Pleas Court.--In all cases in
which the hearing was conducted by a mental health review
officer, a person made subject to treatment pursuant to this
section shall have the right to petition the court of common
pleas for review of the certification. A hearing shall be held
within 72 hours after the petition is filed unless a
continuance is requested by the person's counsel. The
hearing shall include a review of the certification and such
evidence as the court may receive or require. If the court
determines that further involuntary treatment is necessary
and that the procedures prescribed by this act have been
followed, it shall deny the petition. Otherwise, the person
shall be discharged.
50 P.S. § 7303(g).
Moreover, as our Supreme Court has explained, “[i]n proceedings
under the [Mental Health Procedures Act], the case is [] heard by the
[mental health review officer], a law-trained, quasi-judicial officer who
prepares a certification of findings as to the reasons that extended
involuntary treatment is necessary. . . . The certification of a [mental health
review officer] is [] a ‘final adjudication or determination of a local agency or
a Commonwealth agency as to which jurisdiction is vested in the courts of
common pleas.’” In re K.L.S., 934 A.2d 1244, 1247-1248 (Pa. 2007),
quoting Pa.R.C.P. 227.1(g) (internal footnote and some internal quotations
and citations omitted). Therefore, the mental health review officer’s Section
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303 Certification constitutes a “final adjudication or determination” and,
under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5571(b), the time for appealing such determination to
the court of common pleas is statutorily fixed at 30 days. 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 5571(b) (“[e]xcept as otherwise provided . . . , an appeal from a tribunal
or other government unit to a court . . . must be commenced within 30 days
after the entry of the order from which the appeal is taken, in the case of an
interlocutory or final order”); Appeal of Chartiers Valley Sch. Dist., 462
A.2d 673 (Pa. 1983) (holding that “the [30] day period set forth in [42
Pa.C.S.A. § 5571(b)] defines the appeal period of all statutory appeals”).
Indeed, in In re J.M.Y., the Pennsylvania Supreme Court expressly
held:
the certification of the mental health review officer, as a
quasi-judicial officer, constitutes a “final adjudication or
determination” of a local agency or a Commonwealth
agency. Consequently, inasmuch as a mental health review
officer is considered a local agency or Commonwealth
agency, the mental health review officer must be classified
as a government unit . . . and, under Section 5571(b) of the
Judicial Code, “an appeal from a tribunal or other
government unit to a court . . . must be commenced within
30 days after the entry of the order from which the appeal
is taken,” 42 Pa.C.S. § 5571(b). [An individual], therefore,
ha[s] 30 days from the date of the mental health review
officer's Certification to petition the court of common pleas
for review of any due process or other challenges to the
[Section 303] Certification. . . . [N]either the court of
common pleas nor the Superior Court ha[s] jurisdiction to
consider the merits of [] claims [raised in an untimely
petition].
In re J.M.Y., 218 A.3d at 418 (some citations omitted).
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In the case at bar, the Section 303 Certification declares that a hearing
occurred on September 25, 2003 and that, at the conclusion of the hearing,
the mental health review officer concluded that M.B. “is severely mentally
disabled and in need of” inpatient treatment, at Millcreek, “as a severely
mentally disabled person pursuant to the provisions of Section 303 of the
Mental Health Procedures Act of 1976 for a period of 20 days.” Section 303
Certification, 9/25/03, at 4. The Section 303 Certification was then entered
on the docket, in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County, on September
25, 2003. See id.
If M.B. wished to obtain judicial review of his involuntary commitment
pursuant to Section 303, M.B. was required to “petition the court of common
pleas for review of the certification” – and to do so within 30 days of the
date the certification was filed. 50 P.S. § 7303(g); In re J.M.Y., 218 A.3d
at 418. M.B. did not file a petition for review of his Section 303 involuntary
commitment. Further, since a “[trial] court ha[s] no jurisdiction under 18
Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.1(g) to review [a petitioner’s] commitment under § 7303,”
the trial court in this case did not have the power to review M.B.’s
commitment under Section 303 and declare that the commitment was
“entirely invalid.” See Trial Court Opinion and Order, 1/30/17, at 4-5. The
trial court thus erred in doing so.12
____________________________________________
12Within M.B.’s brief to this Court, M.B. claims that, since the trial court
concluded that his Section 303 Certification was “entirely invalid,” he may
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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In its final claim on appeal, PSP argues that the trial court erred when
it expunged the record of M.B.’s involuntary commitment under Section 302,
as the trial court “appl[ied] the incorrect standard of review.” PSP’s Brief at
4. We agree. Thus, we vacate this portion of the trial court’s order.13
(Footnote Continued) _______________________
obtain the expunction of this record. See M.B.’s Brief at 12-15. In support
of this argument, M.B. cites to our Supreme Court’s opinion in Wolfe v.
Beal, where the Supreme Court held: “a person who has been unlawfully
committed to a state mental hospital has a right to the destruction of the
hospital records which were created as a result of the illegal commitment.”
Wolfe v. Beal, 384 A.2d 1187, 1189 (Pa. 1978). However, Wolfe was
decided under the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Act of 1966 – not
the Mental Health Procedures Act of 1976. Moreover, and importantly,
Wolfe merely described an appropriate remedy where an individual
succeeds in a procedurally proper challenge to an involuntary mental health
commitment; the decision did not create an independent action to challenge
an involuntary commitment and Wolfe did not purport to confer jurisdiction
upon a court to review a Section 303 Certification in the absence of (and,
indeed, in contravention of) statutory authority. See also In re Ryan, 784
A.2d 803 (Pa. Super. 2001) (holding that, where the petitioner followed
the procedural steps that were necessary to obtain judicial review of
his involuntary commitment under Section 303, both the trial court and
this Court were permitted to review the Section 303 Certification).
13 In our March 20, 2018 unpublished memorandum and order in this
matter, we held that, when the trial court expunged the record of M.B.’s
involuntary commitment under Section 302, the trial court erred because it
“appl[ied] the incorrect standard of review.” In re M.B., 188 A.3d 540 (Pa.
Super. 2018) (unpublished memorandum) at 29. We thus vacated this
portion of the trial court’s order. Id. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s
December 3, 2019 vacation and remand order did not encompass our
holding with respect to the Section 302 issue. See In re M.B., ___ A.3d
___, 2019 WL 6485125, at 1 (Pa. 2019). Nevertheless, in the interest of
clarity, we restate this portion of our earlier memorandum.
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As noted, Section 6111.1(g)(2) allows an individual who was
involuntarily committed under Section 302 to petition the trial court “to
review the sufficiency of the evidence upon which the commitment was
based.” 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.1(g)(2). Upon review, if the trial court
“determines that the evidence upon which the involuntary commitment was
based was insufficient, the court shall order that the record of the
commitment submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police be expunged.” Id.
The trial court’s final order in this case was entered on January 30,
2017. On January 19, 2017 – which was prior to the entry of the trial
court’s final order – the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided In re Vencil,
152 A.3d 235 (Pa. 2017). The Supreme Court held:
the plain language of section 6111.1(g)(2) requires a court
of common pleas to review [] the sufficiency of the evidence
to support the 302 commitment, limited to the information
available to the physician at the time he or she made the
decision to commit the individual, viewed in the light most
favorable to the physician as the original decision-maker to
determine whether his or her findings are supported by a
preponderance of the evidence.
Id. at 237.
We note that, prior to Vencil, this Court held that PSP was required to
prove the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the involuntary commitment
by “clear and convincing evidence.” See In re Vencil, 120 A.3d 1028,
1036-1038 (Pa. Super. 2015), vacated by In re Vencil, 152 A.3d 235 (Pa.
2017) (Superior Court explaining that Section 6111.1(g)(2) requires a de
novo hearing, where clear and convincing evidence must be presented to
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support the commitment). The Supreme Court’s decision in Vencil thus
lowered the required standard of proof to support Section 302 commitments
from the “clear and convincing evidence” standard to the “preponderance of
the evidence” standard.14
In the case at bar, the trial court’s January 30, 2017 order expunged
the record of M.B.’s Section 302 commitment. In its accompanying opinion,
the trial court explained that PSP “bore the burden of establishing via clear
and convincing evidence that M.B.’s commitment was sufficient and
complied with the Mental Health Procedures Act.” Trial Court Opinion and
Order, 1/30/17, at 2. As explained above, this statement of the law is
incorrect and indicates that the trial court erroneously held PSP to a higher
standard of proof than the law mandates. We are thus required to vacate
the portion of the trial court’s order that expunged the record of M.B.’s
____________________________________________
14Since the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided Vencil while the current
case was pending before the trial court, the trial court was required to apply
Vencil to the case at bar.
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Section 302 commitment.15, 16
PSP’s Motion to Append Rule 1925(b) Statement granted.
____________________________________________
15 An involuntary commitment of M.B. pursuant to Section 303 would
prohibit the trial court from expunging the record of M.B.’s Section 302
commitment. See In re Jacobs, 15 A.3d at 511 (the appellant was
involuntarily committed under Sections 302 and 303 and requested that the
trial court expunge the record of his involuntary commitments; this Court
held that the trial court did not have jurisdiction to review the Section 303
commitment and that, with respect to his Section 302 commitment, the
appellant’s claim was “moot because even if he is entitled to expunction
under § 7302, expunction cannot go forward because appellant was also
involuntarily committed under § 7303”).
16 Within M.B.’s brief to this Court, M.B. claims that the records of his
involuntary commitments under Sections 302 and 303 must be expunged
because Section 302 is facially unconstitutional and Section 303 is
unconstitutional as applied to him. Specifically, M.B. contends that Section
302 facially violates the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution’s
due process clause, as it allows “an involuntary commitment . . . in the
absence of all tenants of due process.” M.B.’s Brief at 21. Likewise, M.B.
claims that “Section 303 is facially unconstitutional, as applied in this
matter, since [M.B.] was never provided a hearing or counsel and any
Section 303 commitment was not perfected in compliance with the [Mental
Health Procedures Act] or its implementing regulations.” Id. at 23. M.B.’s
first claim (that Section 302 is facially unconstitutional under the due
process clause) fails, as this Court has already held that Section 302 is
“constitutionally sound in light of the therapeutic/non-punitive intent and
short duration of the Section 302 procedures.” In re F.C., III, 966 A.2d
1131, 1136-1137 (Pa. Super. 2009), affirmed, 2 A.3d 1201 (Pa. 2010).
M.B.’s second claim (that Section 303 is unconstitutional as applied to him)
is waived, as M.B. was the petitioner in this case and he never raised the
claim in his original petition filed before the trial court. Pa.R.A.P. 302(a)
(“[i]ssues not raised in the lower court are waived and cannot be raised for
the first time on appeal”).
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Order vacated in part.17 Case remanded for proceedings consistent with this
opinion. Jurisdiction relinquished.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/7/2020
____________________________________________
17We note that PSP does not claim that the trial court erred when it granted
M.B. state relief from his firearms disability, pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 6105(f). PSP’s Brief at 4; see also PSP’s Brief at 12 n.4.
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