Prosenjit Poddar

This University of California graduate student from India killed Tatiana Tarasoff after he talked about his intention to kill her with a University Health Service psychologist. Her family sued and the resulting court opinions formed the basis for general acceptance of the notion that treating professionals have a duty to protect known intended victims. Poddar's original sentence was overturned, and he was allowed to avoid a second trial by agreeing to return to India. (Tarasoff v. Regents, 17 Cal. 3d 425, 551 P.2d 334, 131 Cal. Rptr. 14 (1976))