California (11.15.04)

Morohoshi v. Pacific Home, S120903: Today the California Supreme Court held that the agency that arranged care at Pacific Home, a residential care facility, for a mentally disabled man is not vicariously liable for his death. Bobby Morohoshi’s parents received a jury award of about $600,000 because Pacific Home failed to check the diabetic man’s blood sugar one night, resulting in hypoglycemic seizure and death. Appallingly, Pacific Home was uninsured, so the Morohoshis sought to hold Harbor Regional Center responsible. However, the Supreme Court held that Harbor Regional Center wasn’t responsible for the hour-by-hour care that would have prevented Mr. Morohoshi’s death.