Also known as: unsound minds · of unsound mind · mental incapacity · insanity
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A condition of mental deficiency or insanity. In tort, the condition does not relieve an adult actor from liability for conduct that falls below the standard of a reasonable person under like circumstances.
Ugo Uberti, who suffers from untreated bipolar disorder, orders drastic cuts in safety inspections at his bus company despite staff warnings. A bus later crashes and injures passengers. Ugo is held liable because his mental condition does not lower the objective reasonable-person standard of care.
Uma Upadhyay is indicted for theft. After discovery closes she files a written notice asserting an insanity defense based on recent hospitalization. The court denies the late filing for lack of good cause, so Uma cannot rely on the defense at trial.
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Ulric Unger is charged with assault. He presents evidence of longstanding delusions and seeks an insanity acquittal. The court evaluates whether his condition meets the jurisdiction's test for mental disease or defect excluding responsibility.
Umar Underwood stands trial for murder. He moves to introduce expert testimony about his PTSD to rebut the required mental state. The court rules on whether the evidence is admissible during the guilt phase.
Ulysses Usher, who has early-stage dementia, leaves a package on a train platform. The package explodes and injures a distant passenger. The court assesses whether Ulysses's mental condition affects the determination of duty or proximate cause.
Ulrike Ulrich is detained by officers who later face a federal civil rights suit. She claims her unsound mind at the time of the encounter supports a finding of unconstitutional conduct. The court examines whether the officers' actions violated clearly established rights.
No. Unless the actor is a child, insanity or other mental deficiency does not relieve the actor from liability for conduct that does not conform to the standard of a reasonable person under like circumstances. The objective standard remains unchanged for adults.
Supporting sources
A defendant who fails to notify the government in writing within the time provided for pretrial motions cannot rely on an insanity defense. The court may allow a late filing only for good cause.
Supporting sources
Expert psychiatric evidence is typically required, especially when the alleged incapacity is temporary or situational. Lay observations of distress or emotional breakdown are insufficient by themselves to establish legal incapacity.
Supporting sources
…(C. A. 5th Cir.), against state officials administering a local WPA project for refusing to employ the plaintiff and instituting insanity proceedings against him, Love v. Chandler , 124 F. 2d 785 (C. A. 8th Cir.), against adversaries and judge in a state civil judicial proceeding where egregious error resulting in holding…