Jury can't decide if doc has any liability in care of man who killed his wife

MORRISTOWN -- A civil jury was dismissed Monday after not reaching a verdict in a lawsuit stemming from a 2011 killing in Chester Township, the Daily Record reported. Two children of the late Charlotte Moran argued that Lawrence Antonucci did not...

Jury can't decide if doc has any liability in care of man who killed his wife

MORRISTOWN -- A civil jury was dismissed Monday after not reaching a verdict in a lawsuit stemming from a 2011 killing in Chester Township, the Daily Record reported.

Two children of the late Charlotte Moran argued that Lawrence Antonucci did not properly treat his longtime patient, Leo Moran Sr., prior to Moran fatally bludgeoning his wife of 54 years with a baseball bat.

The children charged in their lawsuit that Antonucci, a physician, prescribed anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications rather than referring him to a psychiatrist, the newspaper reported.

Antonucci's attorney said he is planning to seek a dismissal of the charges, the newspaper reported, arguing that the medications were properly prescribed and that Moran Sr. refused to see any other doctors.

Moran Sr. has Alzheimer's Disease and vascular dementia and remains at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital.

A murder charge against him was dismissed in 2013 when he was deemed incompetent to stand trial.

Separately, in a 7-1 vote, the jury ruled that Saint Clare's Medical Center, also a defendant, had not deviated from accepted standards in their treatment of Moran Sr., the Daily Record reported.

Verdicts of either 8-0 or 7-1 had been required.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

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