New York Court of Appeals

Bessie D. Williams, as Executrix of Albert Williams, Deceased, Respondent v. State of New York, Appellant

June 2, 1955308 N.Y. 548

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals reversed the Appellate Division and the Court of Claims, holding that the State of New York owed no duty to protect Albert Williams from the escaped convict and therefore could not be held liable for Williams' death. The Court found that the State's negligence was not the proximate cause of the fatal hemorrhage because the risk was not reasonably foreseeable. The judgment for the plaintiff was dismissed.