I am being threatened with a lawsuit citing personal injury or personal assault for an incident in early 2005.
My ex-room mate had been showing some erratic behavior (suspected mental health issues) and a couple other friends and I had taken him to the county mental health clinic. He entered the clinic on his own - we did not force him. He was kept for observation over night and let go the following day - probably no clear diagnosis. A couple of months later he left the country (returned to his native country - India) where his family checked him into a hospital - he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had to undergo an extended stay in the hospital followed by counseling and a regimen of drugs. He returned back to California in March 2007 and things seemed normal till a few months back when apparently he stopped taking his medication. There is a distinct possibility that he is in relapse.

Now, he is sending me threatening emails and left some voice mails which I haven't answered. Is there any basis for such a lawsuit ? Is it still within the statute of limitations, which I thought was 1 year?

Joe and I were room-mates 1997-1999 and had minimal contact between 2003 and 2005. My location is Santa Clara county (CA).