Liability for a Person's Suicide

Traditionally, courts refused to hold a person or entity liable for a person's suicide. Suicide was considered an illegal, deliberate and intentional act that broke the chain of causation between any negligent or intentional conduct and the suicide.

Federal Laws Regarding Recreational boating accident

Federal law will apply to a recreational boating accident when a lawsuit is brought in a federal district court based upon the federal court's admiralty or diversity of citizenship jurisdiction. A federal court's admiralty jurisdiction exists when the accident occurred on the high seas or on navigable waters. The high seas are waters that are within the jurisdiction of another country. Navigable waters are waters that are used in interstate or foreign commerce. Diversity of citizenship jurisdiction exists when the parties to the lawsuit are from different states.

Intoxication As a Defense to Negligence

Intoxication is not a defense to negligence. A person who is intoxicated when he commits a negligent act will be held to the same standard as a person who is not intoxicated. The actions of an intoxicated person will not be judged by the standard of a reasonably prudent intoxicated person.

Tort Action for Dangerous Employment of a Minor Child

A person who employs a minor child in a dangerous occupation may be liable to the child's parent for harm that is sustained by the child. An occupation is considered to be dangerous if it involves a risk of death or serious bodily harm because of the age and inexperience of the child. The occupation does not have to be dangerous for an adult in order for the employer to be liable to the parent.

Tort Action for Sale of Habit-Forming Drug to a Minor Child

A person who unlawfully sells or supplies a habit-forming drug to a minor child may be liable to the child's parent for damages. The person is liable to the parent if the parent incurred a loss of the child's services or if the parent incurred medical expenses on behalf of the child as a result of the sale of the habit-forming drug.