Insane persons are commonly held liable for their intentional torts. While there are very few cases, the same rule has been applied to their negligence.
The distinction between the liability of a lunatic or insane person in civil actions for torts committed by him, and in crimi- nal prosecutions, is well defined, and it has always been held, and upon sound reason, that though not punishable criminally, he is liable to a civil action for any tort he may commit."
In claims of negligently inflicted psychiatric illness, the plaintiff's reaction to a traumatic event is usually measured against a standard of normal susceptibility and disposition. This measurement is used to determine the question of whether the defendant should have reasonably foreseen the plaintiff's injury.
So you should say something like: “In order to sue B in negligence for compensation for injury to his leg, A will have to show that: (1) B owed him a duty of care; (2) B breached that duty of care; (3) B's breach caused A to suffer the leg injury for which he wants compensation; and (4) that loss is actionable (that is ...
Kids under the age of 6 cannot legally be negligent. This is simply in recognition of the fact that a child of that age, isn't capable of forming the capacity to act, or of evaluating his or her own actions for reasonableness. However, their caretakers can be liable.
A defendant who is found guilty but mentally ill may be sentenced to mental health treatment, at the conclusion of which the defendant will serve the remainder of their sentence in the same manner as any other defendant.
Intent (defn.): intent to act + P or K that act will result in the harm defined in the tort. Mentally Ill: Can be liable for intentional torts.
Legally speaking, negligence is a failure to use reasonable care under the circumstances. In order to establish negligence, you must be able to prove four “elements”: a duty, a breach of that duty, causation and damages.