Palmer v. New York State Department of Mental Hygiene

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

Order of the Appellate Division affirmed, without costs. Although the time limit for challenges to involuntary commitment to a mental hospital does not begin to run until there has been "actual personal service of notice” on the patient, that rule was established in and is applicable to cases in which the patient seeks to prove that he is not, in fact, mentally ill or in need of commitment (see Matter of Coates, 9 NY2d 242, 252, app dsmd 368 US 34; cf. People ex rel. Stock v *960Terrence, 11 NY2d 362, app dsmd 371 US 206). Plaintiff, committed 25 years ago and…