By Steve Porter
The Coloradoan
1998

A Larimer District Court jury decided Tuesday that a Fort Collins psychiatrist must pay $217,373 for damages associated with the breakup of the client’s marriage.

Dr. Christian Hageseth III was sued by Paul Burson, who claimed Hageseth counseled his wife, Laurel, to leave him and that Hageseth developed a sexual relationship with his wife.

A four-man, two-woman jury deliberated about seven hours before bringing in a decision in favor of Paul Burson.

The jury awarded Burson $117,373 in real damages and another $100,000 in punitive damages. The jury decided Burson - who attended several sessions with his wife - was a patient of Hageseth and that the psychiatrist engaged in negligent and outrageous conduct toward Paul Burson.

Hageseth said after the jury’s verdict that he was sorry for the situation.

“I respect the legal process and the jury who heard my case,” he said. “I apologize to those members of the community who have held me in high esteem. Matters of the human heart are not always subject to our highest values.”

Hageseth said he plans to appeal.

“As to legal matters, my attorney plans appeals since it is his opinion of the law that this case should never have come to court,” he said.

Laurel Burson said after the verdict she plans to continue her relationship with Hageseth.

“A goal of therapy is to become whole and well,” she said. “My therapy with Dr. Hageseth ended July 21, 1995. We did not become intimate until almost one year later. He has always been a perfect gentleman and a warm, humorous companion.”

Burson said she disagreed “immensely” with the trial verdict.

“Shouldn’t any woman have the right to choose who to love and who to spend her life with, even if at one time he was her healer?” she said.

Paul Burson was not available for comment after the verdict.

Laurel Burson began her therapy with Hageseth in 1988, court documents indicate. Laurel Burson said divorce proceedings in her six-year marriage to Paul Burson are expected to become final in May.

Added: Jul 23, 2006 5:55 am | Trackback URI |  Email This Post  | Print