Opinion ID: 1372176
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Necessity for Custodial Relationship

Text: The rule that a custodial relationship must exist is stated in Restatement of Torts (Second), § 315: There is no duty so to control the conduct of a third person as to prevent him from causing physical harm to another unless (a) a special relation exists between the actor and the third person which imposes a duty upon the actor to control the third person's conduct, or (b) a special relation exists between the actor and the other which gives to the other a right to protection. The type of special relation contemplated by Section 315 is further defined in Section 319, which reads: One who takes charge of a third person whom he knows or should know to be likely to cause bodily harm to others if not controlled is under a duty to exercise reasonable care to control the third person to prevent him from doing such harm. It is the custodial relationship which gives rise to the duty. Absent this relationship, no duty exists to control the conduct of the criminal actor.