Torres v. State

The claimant is the widow of Antonio Torres. As the decedent’s next of kin, she sues the State of New York for $51,000 for acts of its employees at the Pilgrim State Hospital, owned and operated by the defendant. She claims (a) $50,000 for her personal suffering and mental anguish resulting from an autopsy and burial, both unauthorized, and (b) $1,000 for the required disinterment and reinterment of the decedent.

On or about January 1, 1958 Antonio became a patient at Bellevue Hospital, owned and operated by the City of New York. The patient was visited there a number of times by the claimant,…