Lawyers Dispute Lindsay Clancy Testimony in $1M Suit

Lawyers for Lindsay Clancy's mental health providers asked a judge Wednesday to dismiss Patrick Clancy's wrongful death lawsuit. Judge Michael Doolin did not immediately rule.

• $1 million suit names Dr. Jennifer Tufts and nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta.
• Aster Mental Health and South Shore Health are also defendants.
• 11-1 jury favoring acquittal ended Lindsay Clancy's murder trial on Sept. 4.
• Lindsay Clancy has filed her own separate lawsuits against the providers.

Why it matters: Massachusetts law limits when mental health professionals can be sued over harm a patient causes. The ruling will decide whether Patrick Clancy's claims can proceed to evidence and trial.

• Howard Cooper, Patrick Clancy's attorney, said Lindsay Clancy told providers she had homicidal ideation.
• Tufts and Jollotta testified at the criminal trial that she denied harmful thoughts.

How 9 sources split on this story

Where they split: The parties dispute whether Lindsay Clancy made an explicit threat to her providers, the threshold state law sets for liability.

What’s next: Doolin will rule later on the defendants' motions to dismiss. Cooper estimated any civil trial is a year to 18 months away.

• Lindsay Clancy's lawyer seeks dismissal of the criminal case on double jeopardy grounds.
• Plymouth DA Timothy Cruz said he will wait on pending motions before deciding on a retrial.
• Will Lindsay Clancy actually testify in the civil case, as Cooper says she will?
• Will prosecutors retry her for the children's deaths?