In re Boyles, 38 N.C. App. 389

ARNOLD, Judge.

N.C. G.S. § 122-58.11 sets out the procedures for involuntary commitment rehearings. As this ‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‍was not the first rehearing, subsection (e) applies: “Fifteen days before the end of the . . . commitment period . . . the chief of medical services of the ‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‍facility *390shall . . . evaluate the condition of each respondent, and if he determines that a respondent is in continued need of hospitalization . . . shall so notify the ‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‍respondent, his counsel, and the clerk of superior court. . . Respondent contends that this 15-day period has the effect of a statute of limitations, so that a ‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‍proceeding brought on less notice must be dismissed. We disagree. Dismissal is too drastic, and unless respondent can show some prejudice the proper action would be ‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‍to continue the proceeding until ample notice has been given.

Affirmed.

Judges VAUGHN and WEBB concur.

Case Details

Case Name: In re Boyles

Court Name: Court of Appeals of North Carolina

Date Published: Oct 17, 1978

Citations: 38 N.C. App. 389; 247 S.E.2d 785; 1978 N.C. App. LEXIS 2194; No. 7821DC473

Docket Number: No. 7821DC473

Court Abbreviation: N.C. Ct. App.