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In the Matter of the Guardianship and Conservatorship of Robert Hites, Jr.
Robert Hites, Jr., Ward-Appellant
Attorney for Appellant
Magadalena Reese
Attorney for Appellee
Judy Johnson
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Story County, Bethany J. Currie, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered by Potterfield, P.J., Greer, J., and Blane, S.J. Opinion by Blane, S.J. (6 pages)
A ward appeals from the district court’s appointment of his parents as co-guardians and co-conservators. He argues there was insufficient evidence to establish the need for a guardianship or conservatorship. In the alternative, he argues the court should have established a limited guardianship. OPINION HOLDS: The ward’s untreated acute paranoid schizophrenia, refusal to acknowledge his mental illness, and refusal to take medication show his decision-making is impaired enough to warrant guardianship and conservatorship. A limited guardianship is not appropriate here because of the severity of the illness and the ward’s lack of rational engagement with his mental-health condition. We find no error in the court’s order appointing the parents as guardians and conservators.
