In the matter of the guardianship and protective placement of Aaron B.
Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Sept. 15, 2009. Appeal No. 2008AP2653
Ultimately, the hearing on the remaining issues in Margaret’s motion and the Watts hearing was held over the course of two days, on October 21 and October 28, 2008. During the hearing, Margaret testified about Aaron’s need for care and her beliefs concerning the proper funding for that care. Testimony and documentation from Margaret contained detailed examples of Aaron’s violent rages:
- Aaron refused to go up some stairs in a group home. When a staff member went to physically move him, Aaron hit the staff member in the face.
- When a shirt had not been washed as promised, Aaron said he was angry; the staff member walked away. In response, Aaron threw a television set and had to be restrained.
- While living in Margaret’s home, Aaron attempted to use a knife on himself, turned over a bookcase, and ran into the street. He was taken to the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex.
- While living in Margaret’s home, Aaron broke furniture and dishes, attacked Margaret, ran into the street and fell, hurting himself.
- At times, Aaron is incontinent. At night it takes forty-five minutes to an hour and a half to get him up, take him to the bathroom and change the linen.
- Aaron once tackled Margaret outside on the sidewalk. He pulled out a chunk of her hair. He bit her arm twice and drew blood. Neighbors rescued her. Aaron was taken to the Mental Health Complex.
- Aaron got angry one night. Margaret woke up at 11:30 and he was standing over her bed holding scissors. He said he was thinking about stabbing her because she used a mean voice when she tucked him in.
- A caregiver blocked Aaron from trying to throw himself down some stairs. In response, Aaron bit him.
Margaret testified that based on her concerns for Aaron’s safety, she believed that there needed to be two people to supervise Aaron at all times, paid at a rate she considered necessary to obtain appropriate caregivers, and that the County should pay her for her caregiving services as the needed second person.
