Supreme Court of Missouri / Dec 19, 2023
Steven Harner, Respondent, vs. Mercy Hospital Joplin, Appellant.
Steven Harner sued Mercy Hospital Joplin for negligence after he was shot by Kaylea Liska in the hospital's parking lot. Harner alleged Mercy breached its duty to protect him from Liska's criminal acts under the known third person exception. The jury returned a verdict for Harner, but the Missouri Supreme Court reversed, holding that Mercy owed no duty to Harner because Liska's prior actions, known to Mercy, did not indicate she was dangerous as contemplated by the exception. The case was remanded for further proceedings consistent with the ruling.