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Zittrain Torts Playlist Spring 2018

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Appellant, v. Eleanor T. Johnson, et al., Appellees.

"The Suicide in the Subway Station"

Should the last clear chance doctrine extend liability to situations where the injured party voluntarily committed suicide?

The decedent jumped from a subway station platform into the path of an oncoming WMATA train. She jumped of her own volition and with the intent to commit suicide. At trial, the jury found that the WMATA--as the train operator--had the last clear to save decedent's life, and was therefore liable for her death.