Question

The coroner asked a photographer to work on an autopsy training video. The photographer got permission to work on an art project using bodies in the morgue, often with props. For example, one photo showed a dollhouse ladder placed against a body’s open skull. Another corpse had sheet music on her body, a snail near her groin, and other items placed in her hand and mouth. He took 317 photos over six months. A photo-developing studio reported the photos to the police and the case gained wide publicity. Relatives of the deceased sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Are they likely to be successful? Why?

Answer 1

Yes, I would say. Relatives would be successful in the case. From the excerpt it looks like the photographer has taken permission from hospital or other authority and not from the deceased family and relatives.

With the awareness of psychological problems and validating its suffering in the current world, it is likely that they would succeed in the case.

One example of such case in India - A person sued a fairness cream company, claiming that it did not make him fair after years of using it and this has caused him mentally disturbed. He won the case and the company had to pay him huge sum of money as compensation for his mental distress.

The same line of reasoning can be applied in the given case too, and they may likely go and win the case.