Opinion ID: 2059819
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Background: Causes of Action based on Suicide generally

Text: The gravamen of appellants' complaint is that appellee's negligent representation during trial amounted to legal malpractice, and caused decedent to commit suicide. Generally, suicide has not been recognized as a legitimate basis for recovery in wrongful death cases. This is so because suicide constitutes an independent intervening act so extraordinary as not to have been reasonably foreseeable by the original tortfeasor. See Bleman v. Gold, 431 Pa. 348, 246 A.2d 376 (1968); Mike v. Borough of Aliquippa, 279 Pa.Super. 382, 421 A.2d 251 (1980). See also Annot., 41 A.L.R.4th 351, 352 (1985); 11 A.L.R.2d 751, 757 (1950); W. Prosser, Law of Torts § 44, at 280-81 (4th ed. 1971). There are, however, limited exceptions to this rule. For example, Pennsylvania has recognized suicide as a legitimate basis for wrongful death claims involving hospitals, mental health institutions and mental health professionals, where there is a custodial relationship and the defendant has a recognized duty of care towards the decedent. See Simmons v. Saint Clair Memorial Hospital, 332 Pa.Super. 444, 481 A.2d 870 (1984); Smith v. United States, 437 F.Supp. 1004 (E.D.Pa. 1977). In other cases, where the defendant was not associated with a hospital or mental health institution, courts have required both a clear showing of a duty to prevent the decedent's suicide and a direct causal connection between the alleged negligence and the suicide. See Malloy v. Girard Bank, 292 Pa.Super. 34, 436 A.2d 991 (1981); Freedman v. City of Allentown, 651 F.Supp. 1046 (E.D.Pa. 1987). A third line of cases which have recognized suicide as a basis for recovery involve suits brought under the worker's compensation statute. See Globe Security Sys. Co. v. Workmen's Comp. App. Bd, 103 Pa.Commw. 384, 520 A.2d 545 (1987); SCM Corp. v. Workmen's Comp. App. Bd. (Schulman), 102 Pa.Commw. 536, 518 A.2d 887 (1986). Under this statute, compensation will be granted if a suicide was caused by pain, depression or despair resulting from a work-related injury so severe as to override rational judgment. See Globe Security Sys. Co. v. Workmen's Comp. Bd., supra; SCM Corp. v. Workmen's Comp. Bd. (Schulman), supra; But see McCoy v. Workmen's Comp. App. Bd., 102 Pa.Commw. 436, 518 A.2d 883 (1986).