Convicted Killer Barred From Suing His Mental Health Providers

Health-care providers in Indiana can’t be held liable for damages to a mentally-ill man who alleged that their negligent care led to his conviction for killing his grandfather, the state’s high court said.

Zachary Miller’s plea of guilty but mentally ill to voluntary manslaughter barred his lawsuit because it established that he, not the providers, was legally responsibility for the killing, the Indiana Supreme Court said Thursday.

Deciding an issue of first impression in the state, the court held that guilty pleas have the same conclusory effect as trial verdicts. Justice Mark S. Massa wrote the majority opinion, joined by ...