Kraisinger v. Liggett

Abbott, J.:

This is an appeal by the plaintiffs in a defamation case from a jury verdict which found for them but which did not award either compensatory or punitive damages to any of them.

The defendant, Byron T. Liggett, is a medical doctor who specializes in neurology, and who was employed part-time as a consultant at Larned State Hospital. While so employed, an inmate from the Kansas penal system who was exhibiting signs of paranoia and schizophrenia was transferred to Larned State Hospital and placed under the care of Dr. Liggett. The patient’s condition deteriorated and he was placed in…