The answer to the age old question: "Can you sue someone for giving you an STD?" Apparently you can, and a Manhattan businesswoman is suing her wealthy ex-lover for giving her herpes.
Many in New York may not know who Michael Brown is, but apparently he is well known in Houston social circles where he used to be a successful hand surgeon before losing his medical license for drug use several years ago, reports the New York Post.
Between his medical practice and self-published books about safaris, Brown appears to have made lots of money, including enough money to charter a private plane and ski in Aspen.
In fact, it was in Aspen where Brown met the unidentified Manhattan businesswoman he allegedly gave herpes to. In a romance that developed over the summer and ended the day after Christmas, the longest-lasting gift that Brown may have given the woman was the STD, reports the Post.
Now the businesswoman has sued Brown for staying silent about his STD. Her lawyer says, "if you've got a disease and you don't tell your partner, it's illegal."
So can you sue someone for giving you an STD? The answer is yes, however, whether you prevail will depend upon the facts.
Generally, if you punch someone, you can be liable for battery for intentionally touching someone and causing injury. Similarly, if you know you are contagious with a disease, you could arguably be held liable for personal injuries if you knowingly have the disease and have sex with someone without telling them about it. Like with a punch, someone can be severely injured (or even die) from an STD.
Former Houston doctor Michael Brown is probably more comfortable talking to New York City medical malpractice lawyers than he is personal injury lawyers. But the ex-doctor better get himself a good New York City personal injury lawyer soon.
Related Resources:
- Woman sues Texas hand surgeon Michael Glyn Browne, claiming the convicted wife beater gave her herpes (New York Daily News)
- Injuries A to Z (FindLaw)
- Man Wants $1M from Mother-In-Law for Infertility Rumors (FindLaw's New York Personal Injury Law Blog)
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