State v. Sandsness

OPINION

EASTAUGH, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Darrel Whitaker shot and killed Richard Sandsness seven weeks after the State of Alaska released Whitaker, a seventeen-year-old juvenile offender, from eustody. Sandsness's widow and daughter sued the state for negligence, alleging that it knew Whitaker had dangerous propensities. Denying summary judgment to the state, the superior court held that the state, in deciding whether to ask a court to extend Whitaker's state commitment, owed an actionable duty to exercise due care. We reverse. Imposing this duty would conflict with the state's goal of…