New York Court of Appeals

Cynthia Johnson v. Jamaica Hospital

July 3, 198462 N.Y.2d 523

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals reversed the Appellate Division and dismissed the parents' complaint, holding that a hospital owes no direct duty to parents for emotional distress caused by negligence resulting in injury to their child. The court affirmed that the complaint failed to state a cause of action because the plaintiffs did not fall within the limited zone‑of‑danger rule for recovery of psychic injury.