insanity

An unsound, deranged, delirious, or distracted condition of mind. Manley v Staples, 62 Vt 153, 19 A 983. A condition of mind so impaired in function, or so deranged, as to induce a deviation from normal conduct in the person so afflicted. 29 Am J Rev ed Ins Per § 2. Such a degree of mental incapacity as renders one unable to understand and deal with the common affairs of life. Lewis v Lewis, 199 SC 490, 20 SE2d 107. Such impairment of the mind as renders it impossible for one to understand the nature and consequences of his acts, or the character of a transaction in question. 29 Am J Rev ed Ins Per § 2. A sickness. Robillard v Societe St. Jean Baptiste De Centreville, 21 RI 348, 43 A 635. A physical disease, consisting of a diseased or disordered condition or malformation of the organs or tissues, through which the mind receives impressions, and operates, and by which the will and judgment are impaired, and conduct rendered irrational. Blackstone v Standard Life & Acci. Ins. Co. 74 Mich 592, 42 NW 156. Defense in criminal case. Incapacity to form a guilty intention. People v Schmidt, 216 NY 324, 110 NE 945. Mental disease or mental defect producing the unlawful act. 21 Am J2d Crim L § 39. Such a condition of mind and want of reason as to act from irresistible impulse. 21 Am J2d Crim L § 36. Want of substantial capacity, as a result of mental disease or defect, to appreciate the criminality or wrongfulness of conduct or to conform conduct to the requirements of law. American Law Institute Model Penal Code, proposed official draft § 4.01(1). Such defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the nature and quality of the act, or if the accused did know it, that he did not know that what he was doing was wrong; such being the definition of the celebrated M'Naghten Case, 10 Clark & F 200, 8 Eng Reprint 718. Sometimes tested, in homicide cases, according to the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. 26 Am J1st Homi §§ 78, 79. Inability to understand the nature and quality of the act or inability to distinguish right from wrong in respect to the act. 21 Am J2d Crim L § 34. At time of trial for crime. The want of capacity to comprehend one's position, to understand the nature and object of the proceedings, to conduct his defense in a rational manner, and to co-operate with his counsel to the end that any available defense may be interposed. People v Burson, 11 Ill 2d 360, 143 NE2d 939. At the time punishment for crime to be imposed, particularly the execution of the death penalty. The want of sufficient intelligence to understand the nature of the proceedings, what the trial was for, the purpose of punishment, the impending fate, or of sufficient understanding to know any fact which might exist making punishment unjust or unlawful, or of intelligence requisite to convey such information to attorneys or the court. 21 Am J2d Crim L § 76. As a condition which operates to prevent or suspend the running of a statute of limitations. Such a mental impairment as renders one incompetent to manage his own affairs and endangers his person or property. Brown v Smith, 119 Colo 469, 205 P2d 239, 9 ALR2d 961. As a matter of avoidance of the effect of an exception in a life insurance policy of death by suicide. An impairment of the reasoning faculties so far that one is not able to understand the moral character, the general nature, the consequences and effect of an act he is about to commit, or is impelled to the act by an impulse which he is not able to resist. 29A Am J Reved Ins § 1144. See idiocy; imbecility; inquest in lunacy; non compos mentis; right and wrong test; total mental disability; wild beast test.