bystander exception (Alaska) · Go Syfert
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bystander exception in Alaska

5 Alaska opinions name it 1 courts 1998–2023 1 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Alaska courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (6)

CaseFollowedCited
Mattingly v. Sheldon Jackson Collegegreen
alaska · 1987 · cited in 2 Alaska opinions naming this issue, 1998–1998
2 sentences

1998Under Mattingly v. Sheldon Jackson College, 743 P.2d 356, 365-66 (Alaska 1987), a bystander claim is permissible when a person closely related to a tort victim and in near proximity to the scene of the negligent injury suffers severe and foreseeable emotional distress due to "shock result[ing] more or less contemporaneously with," or "follow[ing] closely on the heels of," the injury's discovery.

1998Under Mattingly v. Sheldon Jackson College, 743 P.2d 356, 365-66 (Alaska 1987), a bystander claim is permissible when a person closely related to a tort victim and in near proximity to the scene of the negligent injury suffers severe and foreseeable emotional distress due to “shock resulting] more or less contemporaneously with,” or “follow[ing] closely on the heels of,” the injury’s discovery.

22
Kallstrom v. United Statesgreen
alaska · 2002 · cited in 2 Alaska opinions naming this issue, 2018–2023
2 sentences

2023“Alaska law permits individuals to recover damages on the basis of emotional distress” due to negligent conduct under limited circumstances.57 Generally, damages are not available without a physical injury, except under two narrow exceptions: the bystander exception and the preexisting duty exception.58 The pre- existing duty exception is narrow.59 A plaintiff can recover only based on a contractual 55 Alakayak, 48 P.3d at 448 (quoting Philbin v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 991 P.2d 1263, 1266 (Alaska 1999)). 56 Id. 57 Schack v. Schack, 414 P.3d 639, 641 (Alaska 2018) (citing Kallstrom v. Unite

2023“Alaska law permits individuals to recover damages on the basis of emotional distress” due to negligent conduct under limited circumstances.57 Generally, damages are not available without a physical injury, except under two narrow exceptions: the bystander exception and the preexisting duty exception.58 The pre- existing duty exception is narrow.59 A plaintiff can recover only based on a contractual 55 Alakayak, 48 P.3d at 448 (quoting Philbin v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 991 P.2d 1263, 1266 (Alaska 1999)). 56 Id. 57 Schack v. Schack, 414 P.3d 639, 641 (Alaska 2018) (citing Kallstrom v. Unite

12
Chizmar v. MacKiegreen
alaska · 1995 · cited in 2 Alaska opinions naming this issue, 2002–2023
2 sentences

2023The superior court correctly noted that the State as jailer has a duty to exercise reasonable care for the protection of a prisoner’s life and health similar to a common carrier because prisoners are “confined and cannot avail themselves of normal opportunities for self-protection.”63 “[W]hen the jailer knows or reasonably should have foreseen that [a] prisoner was “incapacitated, suicidal, or otherwise ‘in danger,’ ” a higher degree of care, the “utmost caution,” is warranted to protect the prisoner from physical harm.64 But “the duty to protect is not limitless — the prison ‘should not be th

2002The bystander exception is not applicable to the present case as Hinsberger is not claiming that he suffered emotional distress from witnessing harm to a close relative. 8 . 896 P.2d 196 (Alaska 1995). 9 .

12
Schack v. Schackgreen
alaska · 2018 · cited in 1 Alaska opinions naming this issue, 2023–2023
1 sentence

2023“Alaska law permits individuals to recover damages on the basis of emotional distress” due to negligent conduct under limited circumstances.57 Generally, damages are not available without a physical injury, except under two narrow exceptions: the bystander exception and the preexisting duty exception.58 The pre- existing duty exception is narrow.59 A plaintiff can recover only based on a contractual 55 Alakayak, 48 P.3d at 448 (quoting Philbin v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 991 P.2d 1263, 1266 (Alaska 1999)). 56 Id. 57 Schack v. Schack, 414 P.3d 639, 641 (Alaska 2018) (citing Kallstrom v. Unite

11
Philbin v. Matanuska-Susitna Boroughgreen
alaska · 1999 · cited in 1 Alaska opinions naming this issue, 2023–2023
2 sentences

2023“Alaska law permits individuals to recover damages on the basis of emotional distress” due to negligent conduct under limited circumstances.57 Generally, damages are not available without a physical injury, except under two narrow exceptions: the bystander exception and the preexisting duty exception.58 The pre- existing duty exception is narrow.59 A plaintiff can recover only based on a contractual 55 Alakayak, 48 P.3d at 448 (quoting Philbin v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 991 P.2d 1263, 1266 (Alaska 1999)). 56 Id. 57 Schack v. Schack, 414 P.3d 639, 641 (Alaska 2018) (citing Kallstrom v. Unite

2023“Alaska law permits individuals to recover damages on the basis of emotional distress” due to negligent conduct under limited circumstances.57 Generally, damages are not available without a physical injury, except under two narrow exceptions: the bystander exception and the preexisting duty exception.58 The pre- existing duty exception is narrow.59 A plaintiff can recover only based on a contractual 55 Alakayak, 48 P.3d at 448 (quoting Philbin v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 991 P.2d 1263, 1266 (Alaska 1999)). 56 Id. 57 Schack v. Schack, 414 P.3d 639, 641 (Alaska 2018) (citing Kallstrom v. Unite

11
Caudle v. Mendelgreen
alaska · 1999 · cited in 1 Alaska opinions naming this issue, 2023–2023
1 sentence

2023The superior court correctly noted that the State as jailer has a duty to exercise reasonable care for the protection of a prisoner’s life and health similar to a common carrier because prisoners are “confined and cannot avail themselves of normal opportunities for self-protection.”63 “[W]hen the jailer knows or reasonably should have foreseen that [a] prisoner was “incapacitated, suicidal, or otherwise ‘in danger,’ ” a higher degree of care, the “utmost caution,” is warranted to protect the prisoner from physical harm.64 But “the duty to protect is not limitless — the prison ‘should not be th

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Alaska. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (3)

CaseCitedYears
Alakayak v. British Columbia Packers, Ltd. green
alaska · 2002
1 sentence

2023“Alaska law permits individuals to recover damages on the basis of emotional distress” due to negligent conduct under limited circumstances.57 Generally, damages are not available without a physical injury, except under two narrow exceptions: the bystander exception and the preexisting duty exception.58 The pre- existing duty exception is narrow.59 A plaintiff can recover only based on a contractual 55 Alakayak, 48 P.3d at 448 (quoting Philbin v. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 991 P.2d 1263, 1266 (Alaska 1999)). 56 Id. 57 Schack v. Schack, 414 P.3d 639, 641 (Alaska 2018) (citing Kallstrom v. Unite

12023–2023
DSW v. Fairbanks No. Star Bor. Sch. Dist. green
alaska · 1981
1 sentence

2023The superior court correctly noted that the State as jailer has a duty to exercise reasonable care for the protection of a prisoner’s life and health similar to a common carrier because prisoners are “confined and cannot avail themselves of normal opportunities for self-protection.”63 “[W]hen the jailer knows or reasonably should have foreseen that [a] prisoner was “incapacitated, suicidal, or otherwise ‘in danger,’ ” a higher degree of care, the “utmost caution,” is warranted to protect the prisoner from physical harm.64 But “the duty to protect is not limitless — the prison ‘should not be th

12023–2023
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Lawrence green
alaska · 2001
1 sentence

2018In such a case, the tortfeasor and the injured relative are not the same person. 26 Kallstrom v. United States , 43 P.3d 162 , 168 (Alaska 2002). 27 26 P.3d 1074 (Alaska 2001) ; see also State Farm Mut.

12018–2018

Where else courts name it

TX 25 (1979–2017) IN 21 (2005–2026) PA 14 (1992–2026) CA 7 (1986–2021) LA 7 (1991–2018) AK 5 (1998–2023) IA 5 (1987–2009) ME 4 (2003–2018) WA 4 (2000–2008) NJ 3 (1986–2021) CT 3 (2000–2002) MI 3 (1998–2023) MO 2 (1974–2008) TN 2 (2011–2012) MD 2 (2008–2026) MS 2 (2023–2024) NC 2 (2017–2019)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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