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NewsLos Angeles MagazineOctober 28, 2026Los Angeles County

Patrick Clancy’s Attorneys Oppose Dismissal of Wrongful-Death Lawsuit Against Medical Providers

Photo: Los Angeles Magazine

Attorneys argued in Norfolk Superior Court over whether to dismiss a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Patrick Clancy against the psychiatric providers who treated his wife before she killed their three children. The defendants maintain that state law did not require them to protect the children because the patient never explicitly stated an intent to harm them, while the plaintiff’s attorneys contend the providers ignored critical warning signs.

Legal SystemMental HealthWrongful DeathHealthcare
Read the full story at Los Angeles Magazine

Why It Matters

The outcome of the hearing will determine whether a proceeds toward trial or is dismissed, setting legal boundaries for when mental health providers can be held civilly liable for a patient's subsequent violent actions.

Key Facts

  • Patrick Clancy's attorneys argued against the dismissal of a wrongful-death lawsuit during a Wednesday hearing in Norfolk Superior Court.
  • The lawsuit targets psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Tufts, psychiatric nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta, Aster Mental Health Inc., and South Shore Health System Inc.
  • The legal action was filed in January on behalf of Patrick Clancy and the estates of his three deceased children: Cora, Dawson, and Callan.
  • The children died following an incident on Jan. 24, 2023, inside the family's Duxbury home.
  • The lawsuit accuses medical providers of improperly prescribing multiple medications, failing to coordinate care, and overlooking deteriorating mental health warning signs.
  • The defense argues that Massachusetts law did not require providers to protect the children because the patient never explicitly stated an intent to kill or seriously injure them.
  • The defendants deny any wrongdoing in the matter.
  • Lindsay Clancy's separate murder trial previously ended in a mistrial.

Who's Mentioned

PersonTimothy Sweetland“Attorney representing Rebecca Jollotta and South Shore Health”locationMassachusetts“State where the court and incident are located”PersonDr. Jennifer Tufts“Named psychiatrist defendant”PersonRebecca Jollotta“Named psychiatric nurse practitioner defendant”locationDuxbury“Town where the family home and incident occurred”PersonCora“Deceased 5-year-old child”OrganizationSouth Shore Health System Inc.“Named corporate defendant”PersonDawson“Deceased 3-year-old child”PersonCallan“Deceased 8-month-old child”PersonPatrick Clancy“Former husband who filed the wrongful-death lawsuit”OrganizationAster Mental Health Inc.“Named corporate defendant”locationNorfolk Superior Court“Massachusetts court where the hearing took place”PersonLindsay Clancy“Patient and mother who killed her three children”