PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s highest court has ruled that parents of a 25-year-old woman who committed suicide while living at their house were not legally obligated to prevent her from killing herself.
In Tuesday’s unanimous ruling, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that James and Jadzia Davies of Norway did not have a legal duty to prevent their daughter Kristin Cummings from harming herself.
Cummings shot herself with her father’s gun in 2008 at her parents’ home two days after visiting a local hospital for depression. After her death, her husband sued his in-laws on behalf of his two children.
A lower court judge ruled there was no evidence the parents should be liable for the suicide.
The justices agreed, saying the parents were neither medical professionals nor law enforcement officials
Leave a loaded gun out with someone with mental heath issues is unresponsible . Not criminal but not a good Idea.
Did I miss something in the story…no where in it,did it say they left a loaded gun anywhere..just sayin
“Attorney Edward L. Dilworth III, representing the estate of the
25-year-old Cummings, argued before the state’s highest court Tuesday
that parents James and Jadzia Davie are at fault because they left a
loaded gun in reach of their reportedly suicidal daughter on the October
2008 day when she used it to kill herself.”
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/01/10/news/portland/holding-parents-at-fault-for-grown-daughters-suicide-may-do-more-harm-justices-say/
Thanks…I stand corrected..guess thats what the lil underlined things are…kinda like little Paul Harveys…sweet
Irresponsible…
Amazing that some folks can be so insensitive.
Good I’m Glad.. responsibile for adult childern is a far stretch… who brought this charge up anyway.. vote them out.
It was a civil case, not a criminal one. No one was charged, just sued.
You have to be kiddin me…great son-in-law there.
The parents’ homeowners’ insurance covered the claim and the parents likely wanted a settlement for their grandchildren but couldn’t force the insurer to accept liability.
Instead of making assumptions, all of which are wrong, you should look up the history and facts of this case.
Who was the insurance carrier, what was the amount of the insurance coverage, and what amount of damages was the plaintiff claiming?
I agree. What is his responsibility in her suicide? Why was she depressed?
Suing on behalf of the children my foot!
The claim would have been defended by the parents’ homeowner’s insurance company. This never would have cost the parents a dime.
it is this kind of thinking that has put our country into a state it is in now.so we can figure you cheat and take advantage at every turn caring only for what you can gain mr chenard.
Really – How much money was the plaintiff and his lawyer seeking and what was the amount of the insurance coverage? If you don’t know the answer to the question, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Insurance coverage aside, I’m sure the parents suffered some aggravation and anguish in being sued and exposed to a phoney case accusing them of causing their daughter’s death.
How about holding the husband liable.
That was my question, too.
Why should the parents be held responsible for the actions of an Adult child. Suicide is a mental health issue. Was she taking any anti-depressants or any other make me feel good happy pills. If a minor child were to commit suicide after arriving at school and leaving and not being missed, do you think the school would beheld responsible. The teachers union would pay for school and teacher’s leagal fees. and in most cases the there is a cap of $100,000.00 for the entity which is the school system.