People v. Dominguez CA5

FACTS

Testimony of Terri Scher, LCSW Terri Scher testified to the following: She is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). At the time of trial, she had been employed in that capacity for five months by a Veterans Administration hospital. Prior to that, she had been employed for seven years as an LCSW by a conditional-release program known as CONREP, where her duties included group and individual psychotherapy of persons suffering from mental disorders, including persons with schizoaffective disorder with a bipolar component. As an LCSW, she is qualified to make mental health diagnoses. In April 2012, in response to a report to CONREP from appellant’s husband that appellant, who was on outpatient status, was “acting strange,” Scher went to appellant’s home where she found appellant outside, using a hose to “water[] the couch down to clean it.” The kitchen chairs had been “destroyed,” and appellant explained she had “broke[n] them up with her fist” and was “going to remodel” them. Appellant’s baby was crying, and appellant said she (appellant) was tired and “couldn’t handle the baby crying.” Appellant, at Scher’s request, showed Scher her medication and Scher,

2 observing that…