Torts I, Pages 442–443

Hegel v. Langsam

Court of Common Pleas of Ohio, 1971

Facts:

Plaintiff attended defendant's university as a minor and became a drug user through criminal friends she met there.

Issue:

Does a university have a duty to ensure its students' behave properly in their personal lives and to return to their dorms in a timely manner?

Plaintiff's Argument:

Defendant allowed plaintiff to become involved in these activities and to be absent from her dormitory and failed to return her to her parents' custody.

Reasoning:

University attendees are assumed to be mature enough to regulate their own lives.

Rule/Holding:

A university has no duty to regulate the private lives of their students, to control their comings and goings, or to supervise their associations.

Judgment:

Judgment on the pleadings granted.

Takeaway:

If one starts to rescue, he has a duty to act like a reasonably prudent person would.