Pope v. State case brief

 

• Pope v. State- ∆, who had let a young mother and her 3 month old child stay with her, did not intervene when the woman savagely attacked her child for several hours. ∆ did not even report it to the authorities. The boy died from his injuries and the mother was held incompetent to stand trial.
  • One is not criminally liable for failing to intervene….
  • Those who permit a parent and child to reside with them do not make one responsible for the child. Responsibility remains w/ the parent.
  • Most states have Good Samaritan laws which limit the civil liability of persons who aid crime or accident victims.
    • Few states have laws compelling bystanders to provide aid.