Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jul 29, 2025
J.N., a Minor, by and through his Next Friend, Colleen Nentwig and Colleen Nentwig, Individually, Appellants, and Ryne Dobson, Plaintiff, v. Dr. Dale Anderson, Respondent.
J.N. and Colleen Nentwig sued Dr. Dale Anderson for wrongful death, alleging medical negligence after Ryne Dobson killed his stepfather, Kevin Nentwig. Appellants claimed Dr. Anderson failed to warn of Dobson's danger or negligently prescribed medication. On appeal, Appellants argued the trial court erred by not instructing the jury on a novel theory of duty for psychiatrists to third parties regarding medication-induced harm. The appellate court affirmed the judgment for Dr. Anderson, declining to recognize this new duty because Dobson's violent conduct was not reasonably foreseeable.