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Intentional infliction of emotional distress

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on point referring to the negligent operation of a railroad. Even with intentional conduct, absent material damage, claims for emotional harm were similarly barred. "Mental pain or anxiety, the law cannot value, and does not pretend to redress, when the unlawful act causes that alone. Though where a material damage occurs, and is connected with it, it is impossible a jury, in estimating it, should altogether overlook the feelings of the party interested." Courts had been reluctant to accept a tort for emotional harm for fear of opening a "wide door" to frivolous claims.
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The emotional distress suffered by the plaintiffs must be "severe". This standard is quantified by the intensity, duration, and any physical manifestations of the distress. A lack of productivity or a mental disorder, documented by a mental health professional, is typically required here, although
892:
According to the first doctrine articulated by common law courts, a plaintiff could not recover for physical injury from fright alone absent a physical impact from an external source ("shock without impact"), even if the fright was proven to have resulted from a defendant's negligence, with the case
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Some general factors that will persuade that the conduct was extreme and outrageous (1) there was a pattern of conduct, not just an isolated incident; (2) the plaintiff was vulnerable and the defendant knew it; (3) the defendant was in a position of power; (4) racial epithets were used; and (5) the
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a NIED claim even though a reasonable neutral observer could conclude that the defendant's behavior was probably intentional. This is usually because the defendant may have some kind of insurance coverage (like homeowners' insurance or automobile liability insurance). As a matter of public policy,
989:
The conduct must be heinous and beyond the standards of civilized decency or utterly intolerable in a civilized society. Whether the conduct is illegal does not determine whether it meets this standard. IIED is also known as the tort of "outrage", due to a classic formulation of the standard: the
888:
was not imminent. A common case would be a future threat of harm that would not constitute common law assault but would nevertheless cause emotional harm to the recipient. IIED was created to guard against this kind of emotional abuse, thereby allowing a victim of emotional distress to receive
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that allows individuals to recover for severe emotional distress caused by another individual who intentionally or recklessly inflicted emotional distress by behaving in an "extreme and outrageous" way. Some courts and commentators have substituted
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systems (such as in the United States) that allow plaintiffs to plead multiple alternative theories that may overlap or even contradict each other, a plaintiff will usually bring an action for both intentional infliction of emotional distress and
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The actions of the defendant must have actually caused the plaintiff's emotional distress beyond the bounds of decency. IIED can be done through speech or action; if emotional stress, must manifest physically.
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acquaintances' testimony about a change in behavior could be persuasive. Extreme sadness, anxiety, or anger in conjunction with a personal injury (though not necessarily) may also qualify for compensation.
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insurers are barred from covering intentional torts like IIED, but may be liable for NIED committed by their policyholders, and therefore are targeted indirectly in this fashion as
908:(1890) cases. In England, the idea that physical/mental shock without impact from an external source should be a bar to recovery was first questioned at the Queen's Bench in 1084: 1280: 1182:
Lord Wensleydale, Lynch v. Knight (1861) 9 HLC 577 at 598; 11 ER 854, where a married woman unsuccessful sought redress for "slanderous imputation of unchastity"
1034: 225: 1169:(1888) 13 AC 222 (woman barred from recovery due to shock despite suffering a miscarriage); for a similar decision in New York in the same month, see 160: 897: 1145:"Religiously Motivated "Outrageous" Conduct: Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress as a Weapon Against 'Other People's Faiths'" 832: 551: 1284: 341: 1067: 557: 331: 1144: 889:
compensation in situations where he or she would otherwise be barred from compensation under the common law form.
1328: 1037:(NIED). This is just in case the plaintiff later discovers that it is impossible to prove at trial the necessary 646: 495: 1227: 934: 679: 663: 230: 190: 1083:
ad that described Falwell as having lost his virginity to his mother in an outhouse. The Court ruled that the
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In the following year, the Queen's Bench formally recognised the tort, for the first time, in the case of
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courts which repudiated the English railroad decision and recognised liability for "nervous shock" in the
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IIED was created in tort law to address a problem that would arise when applying the common law form of
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offensive. A reckless disregard for the likelihood of causing emotional distress is sufficient.
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Plaintiff suffers severe emotional distress as a result of defendant's conduct.
17: 884:. The common law tort of assault did not allow for liability when a threat of 857: 806: 750: 653: 605: 275: 216: 142: 34: 1041:; even then, the jury may still be able to rule for them on the NIED claim. 784: 950:
court noted the willful nature of the act as a direct cause of the harm.
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protected such parodies of public figures from civil liability.
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There are some reported cases in which a plaintiff will bring
1204:(1895) 26 LR (Ir) 428; also citing an unreported decision in 1281:"Emotional Distress and Defamation in Personal Injury Cases" 926:
has been subsequently approved by both the Court of Appeal (
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to feel extremely offended, shocked, and/or outraged.
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Byrne v. Great Southern and Western R. Co. of Ireland
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Mitchell v. Rochester Railway Co. 151 NY 107 (1896)
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Defendant's conduct was extreme and outrageous; and
1071:involved an IIED claim brought by the evangelist 965:Defendant's act is the cause of the distress; and 959:Defendant acted intentionally or recklessly; and 826: 8: 846:Intentional infliction of emotional distress 86:Intentional infliction of emotional distress 1167:Victorian Railways Commissioners v. Coultas 990:conduct must be such that it would cause a 1115: 1113: 1035:negligent infliction of emotional distress 833: 819: 226:Negligent infliction of emotional distress 29: 1202:Bell v. Great Northern Railway of Ireland 1109: 946:and the Irish courts as precedent, the 748: 692: 633: 575: 508: 448: 407: 382: 349: 260: 215: 127: 94: 59: 41: 1263: 1261: 7: 1283:. Slappey & Sadd. Archived from 1171:Lehman v. Brooklyn City Railroad Co. 977:It is not necessary that an act be 25: 1306:Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell 910:Pugh v. London etc. Railroad Co. 800: 998:defendant owed the plaintiff a 896:A change first occurred in the 552:Ex turpi causa non oritur actio 1057:First Amendment considerations 985:Extreme and outrageous conduct 932:2 KB 316) and House of Lords ( 920:[1897] EWHC 1 (QB) 1: 1270:, 998 S.W.2d 605 (Tex. 1999). 1149:William & Mary Law Review 662:(term used for torts in some 1268:GTE Southwest, Inc. v. Bruce 876:Rationale for classification 872:, but the tort is the same. 1255:, 706 A.2d 685 (N.J. 1998). 1173:, 47 Hun (N.Y.) 355 (1888). 973:Intentional or reckless act 558:Joint and several liability 1350: 332:Comparative responsibility 1075:against the publisher of 647:Non-economic damages caps 1143:Hayden, Paul T. (1993), 935:Wainwright v Home Office 680:Private attorney general 634:Other topics in tort law 262:Principles of negligence 191:Alienation of affections 852:; sometimes called the 545:Volenti non fit injuria 370:Ultrahazardous activity 337:Contributory negligence 942:, 2 AC 406). Citing 940:[2003] UKHL 53 563:Market share liability 496:Shopkeeper's privilege 474:Statute of limitations 317:Restitutio ad integrum 166:Intrusion on seclusion 61:Trespass to the person 1308:, 485 U.S. 46 (1988). 1165:For English law, see 1120:Cusimano, Gregory S. 675:Conflict of tort laws 441:Tortious interference 196:Criminal conversation 183:Malicious prosecution 173:Breach of confidence 915:Wilkinson v Downton 668:mixed legal systems 538:Respondeat superior 532:Vicarious liability 491:Defence of property 428:Insurance bad faith 342:Attractive nuisance 161:Invasion of privacy 1287:on 29 October 2015 1068:Hustler v. Falwell 1063:U.S. Supreme Court 1024:Pleading practices 568:Transferred intent 459:Assumption of risk 423:Restraint of trade 399:Rylands v Fletcher 231:Employment-related 80:False imprisonment 27:Tort in common law 1253:Taylor v. Metzger 1122:"Tort of Outrage" 992:reasonable person 929:Janvier v Sweeney 843: 842: 716:England and Wales 671: 522:Last clear chance 517:Intentional torts 501:Neutral reportage 484:Defense of others 432: 365:Product liability 311:Res ipsa loquitur 298:Reasonable person 206:Breach of promise 55: 16:(Redirected from 1341: 1329:Emotional issues 1309: 1303: 1297: 1296: 1294: 1292: 1277: 1271: 1265: 1256: 1250: 1244: 1243: 1241: 1239: 1224: 1218: 1215: 1209: 1198: 1192: 1189: 1183: 1180: 1174: 1163: 1157: 1156: 1140: 1134: 1133: 1131: 1129: 1117: 1098:Snyder v. Phelps 1077:Hustler Magazine 835: 828: 821: 805: 804: 661: 430: 293:Standard of care 178:Abuse of process 88: 49: 30: 21: 1349: 1348: 1344: 1343: 1342: 1340: 1339: 1338: 1314: 1313: 1312: 1304: 1300: 1290: 1288: 1279: 1278: 1274: 1266: 1259: 1251: 1247: 1237: 1235: 1234:. 2 August 2011 1226: 1225: 1221: 1216: 1212: 1199: 1195: 1190: 1186: 1181: 1177: 1164: 1160: 1142: 1141: 1137: 1127: 1125: 1119: 1118: 1111: 1107: 1093: 1085:First Amendment 1059: 1030:civil procedure 1026: 1017: 1008: 987: 975: 956: 878: 854:tort of outrage 839: 799: 693:By jurisdiction 393:Public nuisance 322:Rescue doctrine 305:Proximate cause 217:Negligent torts 129:Dignitary torts 84: 28: 23: 22: 18:Tort of outrage 15: 12: 11: 5: 1347: 1345: 1337: 1336: 1331: 1326: 1316: 1315: 1311: 1310: 1298: 1272: 1257: 1245: 1232:trucounsel.com 1219: 1210: 1193: 1184: 1175: 1158: 1135: 1108: 1106: 1103: 1102: 1101: 1092: 1089: 1058: 1055: 1025: 1022: 1016: 1013: 1007: 1004: 1000:fiduciary duty 986: 983: 974: 971: 970: 969: 966: 963: 960: 955: 952: 877: 874: 841: 840: 838: 837: 830: 823: 815: 812: 811: 810: 809: 807:Law portal 794: 793: 792: 791: 778: 773: 768: 763: 755: 754: 746: 745: 744: 743: 738: 733: 728: 723: 721:European Union 718: 713: 708: 703: 695: 694: 690: 689: 688: 687: 682: 677: 672: 656: 651: 650: 649: 636: 635: 631: 630: 629: 628: 623: 618: 613: 608: 603: 602: 601: 596: 591: 578: 577: 573: 572: 571: 570: 565: 560: 555: 548: 541: 534: 529: 527:Eggshell skull 524: 519: 511: 510: 506: 505: 504: 503: 498: 493: 488: 487: 486: 476: 471: 466: 461: 453: 452: 446: 445: 444: 443: 438: 433: 431:(American law) 425: 420: 412: 411: 409:Economic torts 405: 404: 403: 402: 395: 387: 386: 380: 379: 378: 377: 372: 367: 359: 358: 347: 346: 345: 344: 339: 334: 329: 327:Duty to rescue 324: 319: 314: 307: 302: 301: 300: 290: 289: 288: 283: 278: 265: 264: 258: 257: 256: 255: 254: 253: 248: 238: 233: 228: 220: 219: 213: 212: 211: 210: 209: 208: 203: 198: 193: 185: 180: 175: 170: 169: 168: 158: 153: 152: 151: 148: 140: 132: 131: 125: 124: 123: 122: 117: 116: 115: 110: 97: 96: 95:Property torts 92: 91: 90: 89: 82: 77: 72: 64: 63: 57: 56: 46: 45: 39: 38: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1346: 1335: 1332: 1330: 1327: 1325: 1322: 1321: 1319: 1307: 1302: 1299: 1286: 1282: 1276: 1273: 1269: 1264: 1262: 1258: 1254: 1249: 1246: 1233: 1229: 1223: 1220: 1214: 1211: 1207: 1203: 1197: 1194: 1188: 1185: 1179: 1176: 1172: 1168: 1162: 1159: 1154: 1150: 1146: 1139: 1136: 1123: 1116: 1114: 1110: 1104: 1100: 1099: 1095: 1094: 1090: 1088: 1086: 1082: 1078: 1074: 1073:Jerry Falwell 1070: 1069: 1064: 1056: 1054: 1052: 1047: 1042: 1040: 1036: 1031: 1023: 1021: 1015:Qualification 1014: 1012: 1005: 1003: 1001: 995: 993: 984: 982: 980: 979:intentionally 972: 967: 964: 961: 958: 957: 953: 951: 949: 945: 941: 937: 936: 931: 930: 925: 921: 917: 916: 911: 907: 903: 899: 894: 890: 887: 883: 875: 873: 871: 867: 862: 859: 855: 851: 847: 836: 831: 829: 824: 822: 817: 816: 814: 813: 808: 803: 798: 797: 796: 795: 790: 786: 782: 779: 777: 774: 772: 769: 767: 764: 762: 759: 758: 757: 756: 752: 747: 742: 741:United States 739: 737: 734: 732: 729: 727: 724: 722: 719: 717: 714: 712: 709: 707: 704: 702: 699: 698: 697: 696: 691: 686: 683: 681: 678: 676: 673: 669: 665: 660: 657: 655: 652: 648: 645: 644: 643: 640: 639: 638: 637: 632: 627: 624: 622: 619: 617: 614: 612: 609: 607: 604: 600: 597: 595: 592: 590: 587: 586: 585: 582: 581: 580: 579: 574: 569: 566: 564: 561: 559: 556: 554: 553: 549: 547: 546: 542: 540: 539: 535: 533: 530: 528: 525: 523: 520: 518: 515: 514: 513: 512: 507: 502: 499: 497: 494: 492: 489: 485: 482: 481: 480: 477: 475: 472: 470: 467: 465: 462: 460: 457: 456: 455: 454: 451: 447: 442: 439: 437: 434: 429: 426: 424: 421: 419: 416: 415: 414: 413: 410: 406: 401: 400: 396: 394: 391: 390: 389: 388: 385: 381: 376: 373: 371: 368: 366: 363: 362: 361: 360: 356: 352: 348: 343: 340: 338: 335: 333: 330: 328: 325: 323: 320: 318: 315: 313: 312: 308: 306: 303: 299: 296: 295: 294: 291: 287: 284: 282: 279: 277: 274: 273: 272: 269: 268: 267: 266: 263: 259: 252: 249: 247: 244: 243: 242: 239: 237: 234: 232: 229: 227: 224: 223: 222: 221: 218: 214: 207: 204: 202: 199: 197: 194: 192: 189: 188: 187:Sexual torts 186: 184: 181: 179: 176: 174: 171: 167: 164: 163: 162: 159: 157: 154: 149: 146: 145: 144: 141: 139: 138:Appropriation 136: 135: 134: 133: 130: 126: 121: 118: 114: 111: 109: 106: 105: 104: 101: 100: 99: 98: 93: 87: 83: 81: 78: 76: 73: 71: 68: 67: 66: 65: 62: 58: 53: 48: 47: 44: 40: 36: 32: 31: 19: 1305: 1301: 1289:. 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LexisNexis 1096: 1066: 1060: 1051:deep pockets 1045: 1043: 1027: 1018: 1009: 996: 988: 978: 976: 947: 943: 933: 927: 923: 913: 909: 905: 901: 895: 891: 879: 869: 865: 853: 849: 845: 844: 766:Criminal law 685:Class action 550: 543: 536: 479:Self-defense 397: 375:Deep pockets 309: 271:Duty of care 85: 33:Part of the 904:(1884) and 642:Tort reform 276:Trespassers 241:Malpractice 236:Entrustment 156:False light 1318:Categories 1105:References 858:common law 751:common law 654:Quasi-tort 606:Injunction 599:Incidental 418:Conspiracy 143:Defamation 120:Conversion 35:common law 1334:Suffering 1006:Causation 948:Wilkinson 924:Wilkinson 870:emotional 761:Contracts 701:Australia 509:Liability 469:Necessity 357:liability 281:Licensees 201:Seduction 1324:Tort law 1238:16 April 1217:2 QB 248 1155:(3): 579 1091:See also 954:Elements 776:Property 771:Evidence 621:Replevin 589:Punitive 576:Remedies 450:Defences 384:Nuisance 355:absolute 286:Invitees 113:chattels 103:Trespass 43:Tort law 1291:26 July 1128:26 July 886:battery 882:assault 856:) is a 789:estates 616:Detinue 611:Tracing 594:Special 584:Damages 464:Consent 251:medical 147:Slander 75:Battery 70:Assault 52:Outline 1081:parody 1079:for a 1039:intent 866:mental 787:, and 785:trusts 749:Other 736:Taiwan 706:Canada 659:Delict 626:Trover 351:Strict 37:series 1065:case 938: 918: 902:Byrne 898:Irish 781:Wills 753:areas 731:Japan 726:India 711:China 664:civil 436:Fraud 246:legal 150:Libel 1293:2015 1240:2018 1200:see 1130:2015 1061:The 1046:only 944:Pugh 906:Bell 868:for 861:tort 850:IIED 666:and 353:and 108:land 1028:In 1320:: 1260:^ 1230:. 1153:34 1151:, 1147:, 1112:^ 1053:. 1002:. 783:, 1295:. 1242:. 1208:. 1132:. 848:( 834:e 827:t 820:v 670:) 54:) 50:( 20:)

Index

Tort of outrage
common law
Tort law
Outline
Trespass to the person
Assault
Battery
False imprisonment
Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Trespass
land
chattels
Conversion
Dignitary torts
Appropriation
Defamation
False light
Invasion of privacy
Intrusion on seclusion
Breach of confidence
Abuse of process
Malicious prosecution
Alienation of affections
Criminal conversation
Seduction
Breach of promise
Negligent torts
Negligent infliction of emotional distress
Employment-related
Entrustment

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