Calhoun County Department of Human Resources v. Wesley Frye, as guardian and conservator of Dorothy Ann Wilkinson, an incapacitated person (Appeal from Calhoun Circuit Court: CV-10-37)

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REL: 06/24/2011 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2010-2011 2100403 Calhoun County Department o f Human Resources v. Wesley Frye, as guardian and c o n s e r v a t o r o f Dorothy Ann W i l k i n s o n , an i n c a p a c i t a t e d person Appeal from Calhoun C i r c u i t (CV-10-37) Court 2100404 Calhoun County Department o f Human Resources v. Wesley Frye, as guardian and c o n s e r v a t o r o f Velma H a r r i s , an i n c a p a c i t a t e d person Appeal from Calhoun C i r c u i t (CV-10-122) Court 2100403; 2100404 MOORE, J u d g e . In case no. 2100403, t h e Calhoun County Department o f Human R e s o u r c e s ("DHR") a p p e a l s f r o m a j u d g m e n t o f t h e C a l h o u n Circuit Court ("the t r i a l c o u r t " ) awarding Wesley Frye, a l a w y e r who h a d b e e n a p p o i n t e d a s t h e g u a r d i a n a n d c o n s e r v a t o r o f D o r o t h y Ann W i l k i n s o n , an i n c a p a c i t a t e d p e r s o n , payment f o r his " t i m e , e f f o r t , a n d e x p e n s e s " i n c i v i l a c t i o n number CV-10- 37; the t r i a l case c o u r t t a x e d t h e amount as " c o s t s " t o DHR. no. 2100404, DHR a p p e a l s from a judgment o f t h e t r i a l c o u r t a w a r d i n g F r y e , who h a d b e e n a p p o i n t e d and conservator o f Velma In Harris, as t h e g u a r d i a n an i n c a p a c i t a t e d person, payment f o r s e r v i c e s a n d e x p e n s e s p r o v i d e d b y h i m t o H a r r i s ; the trial court taxed those f e e s a n d e x p e n s e s as " c o s t s " t o DHR. Case no. 2100403 On February 3, 2 0 1 0 , DHR p e t i t i o n e d the t r i a l court t o i n i t i a t e a g u a r d i a n s h i p and c o n s e r v a t o r s h i p o f W i l k i n s o n . asserted t h a t , because Wilkinson was i n n e e d guardian, relative, protect of mental and p h y s i c a l i n f i r m i t i e s , o f p r o t e c t i o n and t h a t o r other a p p r o p r i a t e person and s u p e r v i s e her. The t r i a l 2 DHR court she h a d no available to appointed a 2100403; 2100404 g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m t o r e p r e s e n t W i l k i n s o n ' s i n t e r e s t d u r i n g t h e proceedings. A f t e r a h e a r i n g , the t r i a l p e t i t i o n and, on A p r i l 13, 2010, guardian conservator. and indicated that the costs a p p o i n t e d F r y e as W i l k i n s o n ' s In of a g a i n s t W i l k i n s o n ' s e s t a t e . The to i t s order, the t h a t the p r e v i o u s l y a p p o i n t e d c o u r t g r a n t e d DHR's proceeding the trial would court be taxed t r i a l court further indicated guardian ad l i t e m was a f e e o f $202.50 f o r s e r v i c e s r e n d e r e d , entitled t o be t a x e d a g a i n s t Wilkinson's estate. On September 29, 2010, Frye moved the trial court to a p p r o v e payment t o him o f $6,706 i n f e e s and e x p e n s e s , w h i c h , he incurred asserted, guardian and indicating spent he had conservator. t h a t he engaged was He in his submitted seeking i n , among o t h e r s , role as billing payment f o r t h e telephone Wilkinson's statements time he had discussions with e m p l o y e e s a t W i l k i n s o n ' s n u r s i n g home and t h e r o u t i n e h a n d l i n g of her bills Wilkinson's and other day-to-day matters involving affairs. On t h a t same d a t e , t h e t r i a l c o u r t g r a n t e d F r y e ' s m o t i o n , t a x i n g c o s t s t o DHR 2010, i n t h e amount o f $6,706. On October 14, F r y e s u b m i t t e d a r e q u e s t t o t h e t r i a l c o u r t f o r an a w a r d 3 2100403; of 2100404 additional litem's f u n d s w i t h w h i c h he c o u l d p a y t h e g u a r d i a n a d bill represented for $202.50 to the t r i a l there are i n s u f f i c i e n t pay for services c o u r t t h a t he rendered; had been requested f e e s b y DHR. trial "informed assets i n Miss Wilkinson's estate to t h e f e e o f $202.50 o r d e r e d by t h i s C o u r t . " Frye Frye t h a t the t r i a l As a r e s u l t , c o u r t o r d e r payment of those On O c t o b e r 20, 2010, " f o r g o o d c a u s e shown," t h e c o u r t o r d e r e d DHR t o p a y t h e g u a r d i a n a d l i t e m ' s f e e o f $202.50. On O c t o b e r 25, 2010, DHR moved t h e t r i a l amend, o r v a c a t e i t s o r d e r s r e q u i r i n g DHR court to alter, t o pay F r y e ' s fees and e x p e n s e s a n d t h e $202.50 t o t h e g u a r d i a n a d l i t e m . motion filed was deemed denied by o p e r a t i o n of law. DHR That timely i t s n o t i c e of appeal w i t h t h i s c o u r t . Case no. 2100404 On M a r c h 28, initiate After DHR petitioned the t r i a l court to a g u a r d i a n s h i p and c o n s e r v a t o r s h i p o f Velma H a r r i s . appointing interests a of H a r r i s ultimately Harris's 2010, granted guardian ad litem to d u r i n g the proceedings, DHR's petition g u a r d i a n and c o n s e r v a t o r . 4 and represent the t r i a l appointed the court Frye In i t s order, the as trial 2100403; 2100404 c o u r t awarded the g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m a f e e o f $793.75 and the c o u r t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a f e e o f $1,062.50 f o r t h e s e r v i c e s t h e y had of rendered; this "[a]t the t r i a l proceeding such time shall as [DHR] be taxed a g a i n s t [DHR]" but [Harris's estate] expenses hereby taxed reimburse c o u r t a l s o i n d i c a t e d t h a t "the is a g a i n s t [DHR], then for such able to that, pay said Estate costs." costs the shall Letters of g u a r d i a n s h i p / c o n s e r v a t o r s h i p were i s s u e d t o F r y e on A p r i l 20, 2010. On June 10, awarding the and 2010, guardian ad trial litem court entered an additional another fee of order $943.75 t h e c o u r t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e an a d d i t i o n a l f e e o f $1,300. that order, the trial continued proceedings time court stated: s h a l l be "The a g a i n s t [DHR], then such costs." The guardianship/conservator On court to Frye such the expenses hereby shall reimburse [DHR] also reissued letters on June 18, of 2010. payment f o r t h e t i m e and e f f o r t he had e x p e n d e d i n h i s r o l e as and Frye At these as guardian 2010, of In $5,740 Harris's S e p t e m b e r 29, said Estate trial costs t a x e d a g a i n s t [DHR]. as [ H a r r i s ' s e s t a t e ] i s a b l e t o pay taxed for the sought to o b t a i n conservator. 5 He submitted itemized 2 1 0 0 4 0 3 ; 2100404 billing statements t i m e he h a d s p e n t Harris's care i n d i c a t i n g t h a t he was s e e k i n g payment f o r a d d r e s s i n g , among o t h e r s , i s s u e s r e g a r d i n g living facility t o be p r o v i d e d and f a m i l y v i s i t a t i o n , to Harris, O c t o b e r 26, 2010, t h e t r i a l and H a r r i s ' s f i n a n c e s . court granted Frye's payment, t a x i n g $5,740 t o DHR as c o s t s . alter, amend, or vacate DHR On motion f o r DHR t i m e l y moved t o t h a t o r d e r ; t h a t m o t i o n was d e n i e d by o p e r a t i o n o f law. appeal. the medical timely f i l e d deemed i t s n o t i c e of 1 Analysis DHR a s s e r t s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n t a x i n g t h e f e e s o f t h e g u a r d i a n a n d c o n s e r v a t o r a g a i n s t DHR. and expenses proceedings f o r conservators and g u a r d i a n s Payment o f f e e s i n protective i s g o v e r n e d b y A l a . Code 1975, § 26-2A-142, w h i c h p r o v i d e s as f o l l o w s : " ( a ) I f n o t o t h e r w i s e r e a s o n a b l y compensated f o r services rendered, any court representative, attorney, physician, conservator, or special c o n s e r v a t o r a p p o i n t e d i n a p r o t e c t i v e p r o c e e d i n g and any a t t o r n e y whose s e r v i c e s r e s u l t e d i n a p r o t e c t i v e o r d e r o r i n an o r d e r t h a t was b e n e f i c i a l t o a p r o t e c t e d person's e s t a t e i s e n t i t l e d t o reasonable U p o n m o t i o n o f DHR, t h i s c o u r t c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e two c a s e s for purposes of a p p e l l a t e review. F r y e has n o t f a v o r e d t h i s court with a b r i e f i n e i t h e r appeal. 1 6 2 1 0 0 4 0 3 ; 2100404 c o m p e n s a t i o n f r o m t h e e s t a t e . The c o n s e r v a t o r s h a l l be a l l o w e d f r o m t h e e s t a t e o f t h e p r o t e c t i v e p e r s o n a l l r e a s o n a b l e premiums p a i d on h i s o r h e r b o n d a n d reimbursement o f any c o u r t c o s t s p a i d . " ( b ) I f n o t o t h e r w i s e r e a s o n a b l y compensated f o r services rendered, any court representative, a t t o r n e y , p h y s i c i a n a p p o i n t e d i n a g u a r d i a n s h i p , and any attorney whose services resulted in a guardianship order o r i n an o r d e r that was b e n e f i c i a l t o a ward i s e n t i t l e d t o reasonable compensation from t h e e s t a t e . The g u a r d i a n may be r e i m b u r s e d from t h e e s t a t e o f t h e ward f o r any c o u r t costs paid. " ( c ) E x c e p t when t h e p e t i t i o n e r i s r e l a t e d b y b l o o d o r m a r r i a g e t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l who i s t h e subject of the proceeding, i f the assets of the estate in a protective proceeding or i n a guardianship proceeding are not s u f f i c i e n t to p r o v i d e reasonable compensation and pay c o u r t c o s t s as permitted i n subsections ( a ) and ( b ) , t h e compensation o f any g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m , court r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , o r p h y s i c i a n appointed by t h e c o u r t and c o u r t c o s t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e p e t i t i o n o r m o t i o n may be t a x e d b y t h e c o u r t w i t h r e g a r d t o a n y p a r t i c u l a r p e t i t i o n or motion presented t o the court to the p e t i t i o n e r as a d d i t i o n a l costs t o the petitioner." In Harris, State Department 857 So. 2d 818 o f Human Resources ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 2 ) , a d d r e s s e d t h e method b y w h i c h c o n s e r v a t o r s p r o t e c t i v e proceedings Estate of Department Harris, o f Human v. E s t a t e Resources 7 court court and g u a r d i a n s i n may o b t a i n payment o f t h e i r the probate this of ordered ("the S t a t e fees. the DHR") In State t o pay 2100403; 2100404 a t t o r n e y f e e s and o v e r h e a d e x p e n s e s f o r t h e c o n s e r v a t o r pay the guardian 819-20. On trial the The of a that at 820. contract, none This conservator's "costs" case, t h a t the f e e as of to 2d So. at t h e mechanisms by w h i c h a fees or by those e.g., "special by statute, equity" mechanisms court also concluded expenses the State conservator were DHR at c o u l d not a " p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y , " and c o u l d n o t be 857 applied by and to a i n v o l v i n g an a d u l t i n c a p a c i t a t e d p e r s o n . claimed taxable fees. to appealed. award a t t o r n e y p r o t e c t i v e proceeding Id. attorney t h i s court reviewed c o u r t may concluded litem's S t a t e DHR appeal, terms ad and that none properly the be of considered conclusion a w a r d e d an t h a t the the of the attorney guardian ad a w a r d e d a f e e u n d e r R u l e 1 7 ( d ) , A l a . R. litem Civ. P. ( a d d r e s s i n g an a w a r d o f f e e s i n c a s e s i n w h i c h a p p o i n t m e n t o f a guardian As the ad l i t e m i s r e q u i r e d ) . a result, Uniform this Guardianship seq., to those persons appointed should be court determine the a w a r d e d and I d . at concluded Act, Ala. method by t h a t i t must l o o k Code 1975, which as c o n s e r v a t o r f r o m what s o u r c e 8 820-21. § payment and 26-2A-1 et of to guardian those fees to fees ad litem should be 2100403; 2100404 paid. Estate of Harris, 857 So. 2d at 821. This stated: " S e c t i o n 2 6 - 2 A - 1 4 2 ( a ) , A l a . Code 1975, ... p r o v i d e s t h a t 'any c o u r t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , a t t o r n e y , p h y s i c i a n , c o n s e r v a t o r , or s p e c i a l c o n s e r v a t o r a p p o i n t e d i n a protective proceeding and any attorney whose s e r v i c e s r e s u l t e d i n a p r o t e c t i v e order ... is entitled to reasonable compensation from the estate.' (Emphasis added.) S e c t i o n 26-2A-142(a) a l s o p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e e s t a t e o f t h e p e r s o n t o be p r o t e c t e d s h a l l r e i m b u r s e the c o n s e r v a t o r f o r bond premiums and c o u r t c o s t s . Id. "We f i n d t h e f a c t s o f t h i s c a s e t o be c l o s e l y a n a l o g o u s t o t h e f a c t s p r e s e n t e d i n I n r e C.H., 723 So. 2d 1277 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1 9 9 8 ) . In t h a t case, the p r o b a t e c o u r t e n t e r e d a judgment a d j u d i c a t i n g a m i n o r t o be d e p e n d e n t , t r a n s f e r r i n g c u s t o d y o f t h e m i n o r t o t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f M e n t a l H e a l t h and M e n t a l R e t a r d a t i o n and t a x i n g t h e [ g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m ] f e e a g a i n s t t h e D e p a r t m e n t . On a p p e a l , t h i s c o u r t h e l d t h a t t h e p r o b a t e c o u r t had no l e g a l b a s i s f o r t a x i n g t h e [ g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m ] f e e a g a i n s t t h e D e p a r t m e n t , n o t i n g t h a t the a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e , § 15-12-21(e), Ala. Code 1975, provides a procedure for the [ g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m ] t o f o l l o w t o o b t a i n payment and t h a t the s t a t u t e p r o v i d e s t h a t the s t a t e t r e a s u r e r pay t h e f e e . I n r e C.H., 723 So. 2d a t 1279. "We conclude t h a t the p r o b a t e c o u r t e r r e d i n d i r e c t i n g DHR t o pay t h e f e e s f o r t h e [ g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m ] and t h e c o n s e r v a t o r b e c a u s e § 2 6 - 2 A - 1 4 2 ( a ) g o v e r n s t h e payment o f f e e s f o r a [ g u a r d i a n ad litem] and a conservator and a l s o governs the r e i m b u r s e m e n t o f c o u r t c o s t s and b o n d premiums. As we have n o t e d , t h a t s t a t u t e p r o v i d e s t h a t t h o s e f e e s are p r o p e r l y p a i d from the e s t a t e of the person t o be p r o t e c t e d . " 9 court 2100403; 2100404 Estate o f H a r r i s , 857 So. 2d a t 8 2 1 - 2 2 . Although § 26-2A-142 was 2 amended i n 2006 after the o p i n i o n i n E s t a t e o f H a r r i s was i s s u e d , we c o n c l u d e t h a t amendment d i d n o t m a t e r i a l l y a l t e r t h e r e a s o n i n g Harris as i t applies conservator's court court" may (c) p r o v i d e s person representative, be t a x e d not representative, before to pay Frye's o n l y t h a t , when t h e i s insufficient to provide (a) a n d ( b ) , " t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n o f any g u a r d i a n litem, did obligation c o m p e n s a t i o n o r t o p a y c o u r t c o s t s as p e r m i t t e d i n subsections Frye Subsection of the p r o t e c t e d reasonable DHR's of Estate of o r g u a r d i a n ' s f e e s i n e i t h e r c a s e no. 2100403 o r c a s e no. 2100404. estate to that or p h y s i c i a n by t h e t o t h e p e t i t i o n e r as a d d i t i o n a l c o s t s . serve as a guardian or a p h y s i c i a n this court. appointed ad ad i n either litem, a of the cases court now Thus, t h e 2006 amendment h a s no b e a r i n g on t h e payment o f F r y e ' s requested fees. The 2006 amendment t o § 26-2A-142, h o w e v e r , d i d a u t h o r i z e the trial court t o t a x t h e payment o f a g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m ' s A l t h o u g h § 26-2A-142 was amended i n 2006 a f t e r t h e o p i n i o n i n E s t a t e o f H a r r i s was i s s u e d , t h a t amendment d i d not a l t e r the substance of s u b s e c t i o n s (a) a n d (b) t h e r e i n . The 2006 amendment, h o w e v e r , a d d e d s u b s e c t i o n (c) t o § 26-2A142. 2 10 2100403; fee to 2100404 a petitioner when insufficient t o pay those no. contains 2100403 Wilkinson's litem's the assets fees. some indication taxing $202.50 aspect of the t r i a l court i n fees that are i n case the assets of t o pay the guardian ad was w i t h i n t o DHR, the estate Because t h e r e c o r d e s t a t e were i n s u f f i c i e n t f e e , the t r i a l of i t s discretion i n the p e t i t i o n e r . Thus, that c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t i n c a s e no. 2100403 must be a f f i r m e d . The 2006 amendment t o § 26-2A-142 also allows a trial court t o t a x "court c o s t s " t o the p e t i t i o n e r i n the event the assets of the estate guardianship fees i n a protective proceeding awarded t o F r y e , 2100404 r e p r e s e n t e d working on costs. are i n s u f f i c i e n t f o r an attorney's 12-21-144 introduced So. time had been had spent appointed. i s not equivalent to C f ^ , e . g . , A l a . Code 1975, §§ 12-19-131 a n d 12-19-134 (allowing taxation of witness § he The 2100403 a n d compensation f o r the time Frye t o which or i n a t o p a y them. h o w e v e r , i n c a s e numbers the matters Compensation proceeding (allowing f e e s as c o s t s ) ; A l a . Code 1975, taxation into evidence at t r i a l ) ; 2d 33, 34-35 of costs Ex p a r t e of depositions S t r i c k l a n d , 401 ( A l a . 1981) ( a l l o w i n g t a x a t i o n o f c o s t s o f 11 2100403; 2100404 d e p o s i t i o n s not used a t t r i a l ) ; Ltd. v. First (travel Nat'l expenses, Bank, copying Lewis, Wilson, 455 So. costs, 2d and f i l i n g taxed as c o s t s ) ; and S m i t h v. S m i t h (Ala. 1985) We, (survey 23 ( A l a . 1983) e x p e n s e s may (482 So. 2d 1172, e x p e n s e s may be t a x e d be 1175 as c o s t s ) . t h e r e f o r e , conclude t h a t the t r i a l court exceeded i t s discretion i n taxing c a s e no. 2100403 guardian, of 20, Lewis & Jones, fees t o DHR as " c o s t s " and c a s e no. 2100404. As F r y e must s e e k payment o f h i s f e e s the p r o t e c t e d Harris. Frye's See person, A l a . Code i . e . , the estates 1975, § i n both conservator and from the e s t a t e of Wilkinson 26-2A-142(a) and § and 26-2A- 142(b). We a f f i r m that p o r t i o n of the t r i a l c a s e no. 2100403 o r d e r i n g DHR fee of $202.50; we, court's t o pay the g u a r d i a n however, reverse that j u d g m e n t i n c a s e no. 2100403 o r d e r i n g DHR as c o s t s . no. We a l s o r e v e r s e the t r i a l 2100404, i n w h i c h t h e t r i a l $5,740 as costs. The causes proceedings consistent with t h i s 12 judgment i n ad l i t e m ' s portion t o pay Frye of the $6,706 c o u r t ' s judgment i n case court ordered are DHR t o p a y F r y e remanded opinion. for further 2100403; 2100404 2100403 -- AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED I N PART; REMANDED. 2100404 REVERSED AND REMANDED. Thompson, P . J . , a n d P i t t m a n a n d B r y a n , J J . , c o n c u r . Thomas, J . , concurs specially. 13 AND 2100403; 2100404 THOMAS, J u d g e , c o n c u r r i n g specially. I c o n c u r f u l l y i n the main o p i n i o n . I write specially to p o i n t o u t t h e i n e q u i t a b l e r e s u l t c r e a t e d by t h e c u r r e n t s t a t e of the law guardians regarding the compensation of i n c a p a c i t a t e d of conservators and persons. S e c t i o n 2 6 - 2 A - 1 4 2 ( c ) , A l a . Code 1975, provides that "if the assets of the estate in a protective proceeding or i n a g u a r d i a n s h i p p r o c e e d i n g are not s u f f i c i e n t to provide reasonable c o m p e n s a t i o n and pay c o u r t c o s t s as p e r m i t t e d i n s u b s e c t i o n s (a) and (b), t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n o f any g u a r d i a n ad litem, c o u r t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , o r p h y s i c i a n a p p o i n t e d by t h e c o u r t and c o u r t c o s t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e p e t i t i o n o r m o t i o n may be t a x e d by t h e c o u r t w i t h r e g a r d t o any p a r t i c u l a r p e t i t i o n o r m o t i o n p r e s e n t e d t o t h e c o u r t t o t h e p e t i t i o n e r as a d d i t i o n a l c o s t s t o t h e petitioner." Conservators list and guardians are notably absent from o f p e r s o n s i n § 2 6 - 2 A - 1 4 2 ( c ) whose c o m p e n s a t i o n can taxed t o t h e p e t i t i o n e r when t h e a s s e t s protected person compensation. are insufficient Thus, i n a c a s e such to as of the e s t a t e of provide this one, the be the reasonable where the e s t a t e of the p r o t e c t e d p e r s o n i s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o compensate the g u a r d i a n are left or conservator, without any means the persons a c t i n g i n those of being r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of the p r o t e c t e d person. 14 compensated roles for their Such a r e s u l t could 2100403; 2100404 act to discourage role individuals from s e e k i n g of conservator or guardian, p o t e n t i a l l y or accepting the leaving persons i n need of p r o t e c t i o n w i t h o u t p r o p e r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . Accordingly, 142(c) to provide conservators cases I urge where insufficient, the l e g i s l a t u r e for and g u a r d i a n s the estate the reasonable t o be t a x e d of the providing f o r their t o amend § 26-2Acompensation of to the p e t i t i o n e r i n protected compensation person is i n t h e same manner as t h e c u r r e n t s t a t u t e p r o v i d e s f o r t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n o f guardians ad l i t e m , c o u r t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , and p h y s i c i a n s . 15

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