Torts – Infant’s Liability for Battery – Parent’s Liability for Child’s

Plaintiff, a baby sitter, suffered injuries when she was pushed violently to the floor by her four-year-old charge. Plaintiff brought an action against the child alleging battery and negligence, and against the parents alleging negligence in failing to warn plaintiff of the boy’s habit of violently attacking people. The lower court sustained demurrers to all three counts. On appeal, held, reversed on the first and third counts. An infant may be charged with battery, and a parent may be negligent in failing to warn of an infant’s violent tendencies. Ellis v. D’Angelo, 116 Cal. App. (2d) 310, 253 P. (2d) 675 (1953).