Thompson v. Forest

This case comes to us on an interlocutory appeal, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 8, of the Superior Court’s (McHugh, J.) denial of the defendants’ motion to dismiss those portions of the plaintiffs’ tort action that alleged “willful, wanton and reckless” conduct on the part of the defendant co-employees. For the reasons that follow, we reverse and dismiss the surviving counts.

On August 26, 1986, a patient was admitted to the Franklin Regional Hospital following a diagnosis of acute and chronic alcoholism. During the course of his hospitalization, the patient became agitated and delusional.…