Author: Karen Velie

San Luis Obispo County’s claim that it is not responsible for the brutal attacks of women at its mental health facility on Johnson Avenue was thrown out by a judge on Feb. 8.

Superior Court Judge Dodie Harman ruled against the county’s request that a suit does not have merit under the county’s claim it is not responsible if patients assault each other.

“This is the first time this type of case has gone this far,” attorney Jim McKiernan said “I think any law suit like this will cause public entities to rethink their responsibility for patients in their care, and that’s the way it should be otherwise it is totally Kafkaesque.”