Court Strikes Liability for Adult Son’s Crime

Negligent Supervision / Third-Party Criminal Acts

Court strikes claims against parents for adult son’s fatal stabbing of neighbor, finding no duty to control or warn

This wrongful-death case arises from a tragic killing between neighbors. The decedent was allegedly stabbed to death by the defendants’ adult son during an encounter at the decedent’s home. The plaintiffs sued not only the son but also his parents, arguing the parents knew of their son’s dangerous tendencies and should have controlled him or warned neighbors. On a motion to strike, the court reviewed Connecticut case law and Restatement (Second) of Torts § 302B on when there can be a duty to guard against intentional or criminal acts of others. The court ultimately held that the parents’ alleged omissions—failing to control an adult child or broadcast concerns about his mental health to the neighborhood—did not fit within any recognized duty category. In the court’s words, “The defendant parents did not do anything to create a risk of harm and did not do anything to increase an existing risk of harm, as those concepts are applied in tort law.” The negligence claims against the parents were therefore stricken, underscoring how limited Connecticut law is when it comes to imposing liability on relatives for the violent acts of competent adult family members. Lager v. Andrews, No. FBT-CV-24-6139868-S (Conn. Super. Ct. Nov. 12, 2025).