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Torts Keyed to Christie
Catsouras v. Department of the Calif. Highway Patrol
Citation:
181 Cal.App. 4th 856, 104 Cal.Rptr.3d 352 (2010)Facts
On Halloween, Officer O’Donnell and Officer Reich (Defendants) of the California Highway Patrol responded to an automobile accident that killed and decapitated a teenage girl. The Defendants took pictures of the deceased and shared the photos with friends and family. The photos were then circulated on the internet, and members of the public maliciously taunted the Catsouras (Plaintiffs), the parents and sisters of the deceased. The Plaintiffs sued the Defendants and their employer on eight causes of action, including negligence. The Defendants demurred on the grounds that they owed no duty to the Plaintiffs, and the California Highway Patrol filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings.
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