[DOWNLOAD] "Psychiatric Institute Washington v. James" by District of Columbia Court of Appeals. # Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Psychiatric Institute Washington v. James
- Author : District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
- Release Date : January 20, 1986
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 71 KB
Description
TERRY, Associate Judge: On August 12, 1981, thirteen-year-old Daniel Allen was admitted to the Psychiatric Institute of Washington (the Institute), a private psychiatric hospital. One month later, on September 12, an Institute employee walked into Daniel's room and found him lying on the floor unconscious, with a belt around his neck. Efforts to revive him were unavailing. He was taken to Georgetown University Hospital, where he died without regaining consciousness. Daniel's parents, James and Bonita Allen, brought this action against the Institute and Dr. Judith Forgotson, the psychiatrist in charge of Daniel's treatment there, alleging that his death was a direct and proximate result of their negligence. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Dr. Forgotson, but it found the Institute liable to the Allens and to Daniel's estate in the amount of $270,000. On appeal from the judgment entered on that verdict, the Institute contends that there was insufficient evidence to permit the case to go to the jury, that the court erred in refusing to give certain jury instructions, and that counsel for the Allens made improper comments during his closing argument which deprived the Institute of a fair trial. We find no reversible error and accordingly affirm the judgment.