Family of Trenton Psychiatric Hospital escapee who killed himself owed $600,000, judge rules
January 14, 2009 Death, Fraud, Hospital, News, Patient escapes, Psychiatry, unhappy patients No Commentsby Susan Livio/The Star-Ledger
Tuesday January 13, 2009, 7:12 PM
The state of New Jersey must pay $600,000 to the family of Michael Janicki who escaped from and then killed himself on the grounds of the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital nearly four years ago, a judge ruled late today.
The Janicki family brought a wrongful death case because, they argued, their son was not provided with proper treatment and supervision at the public hospital, located in Trenton and Ewing.
“This thing has come full circle. Justice was done. A right was wronged and these people are going to make the best of it,” said Paul Daly of Lawrenceville, the Janicki family attorney, said after the ruling. “It’s a shame he is not not here. They would rather have Michael.”
Superior Court Judge F. Patrick McManimon in Trenton said the South Brunswick family was entitled to $400,000 to compensate Cheryl Janicki, Michael’s mother, for the loss of companionship, advice and household help her son would have provided, Daly said. He also awarded $200,000 for the pain and suffering Michael Janicki endured when he slashed his wrist with a plastic knife and bled to death over the course of an unknown number of hours, he said.