Cynthia E. Petersen, Respondent v. the State of Washington, Appellants

Summary

The court affirmed the plaintiff's negligence judgment against the State, holding that the state psychiatrist owed a duty to take reasonable precautions for persons foreseeably endangered by the patient's drug-related mental problems. It further held that the psychiatrist's release decision was not protected by discretionary governmental immunity, and that the evidence supported jury consideration of proximate cause and gross negligence. The court also upheld the challenged evidentiary and instructional rulings but invalidated the statutory cost-bond requirement and remanded for exoneration of the bond.