Legal Question in Civil Litigation in New York

Can you be sued for emotional distress among other things if you call the police on a friend who has been telling you such things like that they want to kill themselves/commit suicide/nothing matters anymore/all they can think about is death, for a few days in a row? I had been caring for such person for a number of days because of their recent injury and did not feel safe leaving them alone, and did not know where else to turn. I had no access to a suicide hotline number, and this friend convinced the doctor that I was "naive and overreacting" and was released after only a few hours.

Thanks for any help, I am not certain if this is the right area of law to put this under. I do not have the means to pay for a lawyer/attorney at this point. I feel as though because I was acting with good intentions, that my friend does not have much of a case, but I am still worried. At least I know that I did everything I could, I would have felt horrible if I said nothing and something happened to said friend.


Asked on 4/06/14, 1:18 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Kevin Connolly Kevin J. Connolly

You can be sued because Baskin-Robbins doesn't have beef-flavored sorbet. Or because you didn't bring home a flying pig for him to play with.

You did nothing wrong.

Don't worry. Get the hell away from that negative user. If you get sued, I would be honored to sue him back. No fee except one third of what you recover and if you like, I'll send him a nastygram on your behalf.

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Answered on 4/06/14, 4:08 pm


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