Kleber v. Stevens

The defendants move to set aside a jury verdict awarding the plaintiff the sum of $20,000 as compensatory damages. The complaint alleges three causes of action, the first being false imprisonment by reason of an unlawful emergency commitment to Kings Park State Hospital under the presumed authority of section 75 of the Mental Hygiene Law. More particularly, this portion of the Mental Hygiene Law permits an immediate confinement if “he is dangerous by virtue of his mental condition so as to render it necessary for public safety that he be immediately confined * * *. In such case such mentally…