Polmatier v. Russ
Connecticut Supreme Court
537 A.2d 468 (1988)
Relevant factsFree
Russ (defendant), suffering from severe paranoid schizophrenia with delusions and hallucinations, beat his father-in-law Arthur with a beer bottle, retrieved a rifle and ammunition, and shot and killed him; a criminal jury found Russ not guilty by reason of insanity. Arthur's widow, Dorothy Polmatier (plaintiff), sued Russ for wrongful death, and the trial court, relying on the same psychiatric testimony, found for her.
IssueFree
Whether a defendant who suffers from a mental disease or disorder at the time of committing a battery or killing is subject to civil liability if the acts performed were voluntary movements likely to result in negative consequences.