Involuntary Retention Appropriate—Respondent Suffered from Developmental Disability Which Originated Before the Age of 22

The Third Department reversed Supreme Court, finding the petitioner demonstrated respondent suffered from developmental disabilities justifying involuntary retention in a mental health facility:

Pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law article 15, when a facility seeks to retain an individual against his or her will, such retention may occur when the person has an alleged developmental disability that, as is relevant here, can be attributed to mental retardation that originated before he or she turned 22 years of age, has existed on a continuous basis and has severely limited his or her ability to function in society (see Mental Hygiene Law §§ 1.03 [22]; 15.01, 15.27 [a]). Further, the individual will be subject to involuntary care and treatment if it is “essential to his [or her] welfare, and . . . his [or her] judgment is so impaired that he [or she] is unable to understand the need for such care and treatment” (Mental Hygiene Law § 15.01; see Matter of Robert OO., 57 AD3d 1304, 1305 [2008]…). Our authority to review factual findings made in retention cases of this nature is as broad as that of the trial court … and “we may make our own findings of fact if ‘no fair interpretation of the evidence . . . can support the [court’s] determination'” … . Matter of William T., 2015 NY Slip Op 01857, 3rd Dept 3-5-15