Ajirogi v. State

*516OPINION OF THE COURT BY

KIDWELL, J.

This case involves one of society’s most baffling problems: that of the borderline mental patient. Plaintiffsappellees seek to recover from the State for injuries resulting from an escapade by such an individual (hereafter referred to as T). In a bench trial, the trial court found that the State had been negligent in permitting T to escape from the State hospital for the mentally ill (hereafter the State hospital) and was liable for the injuries subsequently caused, by his operation of a stolen car. The State appealed from a judgment awarding damages to…