Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: suicide

While there are questions of proof of causation that might preclude a criminal conviction for involuntary manslaughter, charges could certainly be brought requiring the defendant to post bail and retain an attorney. If the defendant has to rely on the public defender, more than likely there would be a guilty plea.

The person who provided the drugs can be sued civilly by the heirs of the individual. The heirs would be likely to win the lawsuit; of course, many if not most meth users don't have money or assets worth suing over. The drug dealer who supplied the person who supplied the victim can also be named in the lawsuit. Normally there is a two year legal time limit for filing such a lawsuit.