Connie Christie v. Las Encinas Hospital
Published: Dec. 7, 2004 | Result Date: Sep. 17, 2004 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: GC030042 Bench Decision – $0
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Pasadena
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Craig S. Dummit
(Dummit, Buchholz & Trapp)
Facts
Connie Christie, 47, voluntarily checked herself into the chemical dependency unit at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena on July 31, 2002. On Aug. 18, she told hospital staff that she needed to leave immediately because of a family emergency. Hospital staff commenced the discharge procedure but it was delayed for three hours. After Christie allegedly became agitated and disruptive, hospital staff restrained and sedated Christie. After a hospital nurse evaluated her under Welfare & Institutions Code section 5150 and deemed Christie to be a danger to herself and others, she was involuntarily detained, evaluated and treated for 72 hours.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff demand $150,000. The defendant offered $12,500.
Injuries
Christie claimed unspecified damages for facial bruises and for emotional distress.
Other Information
The case was bifurcated on the issue of probable cause for Welfare & Institution Code section 5150 hold. After a three-day bench trial, Judge Edward Simpson ruled that probable cause for the hold existed, thus giving the hospital and its employees immunity. Judge Simpson then applied that immunity to find in favor of the hospital.
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