Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress The Illinois Supreme Court first recognized intentional infliction of emotional distress as a cause of action in Knieriem v. Izzo, 22 Ill. 2d 73 (1961). 217-333-7300 willamfm@illinois.edu 1. In some personal injury cases, attorneys can prove that there was an intentional infliction of emotional distress upon their client. Overview. Elements of Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress. The tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) occurs when one acts abominably or outrageously with intent to cause another to suffer severe emotional distress, such as issuing the threat of future harm.. Prima Facie Case. Intentional emotional distress is a claim that is meant to compensate the plaintiff for the impact of the mental anguish and suffering that he or she experiences after a personal injury accident. The plaintiff argued that the trial court should not have dismissed the claim because it was a triable issue of fact for the jury whether the defendants’ conduct was extreme and outrageous. View … emotional distress, one for intentional infliction of emotional distress and another for negligent infliction of emotional distress. Legal Issues In the News. Illinois Public Media page. The Illinois Supreme Court first recognized negligent infliction of emotional distress as a cause of action in Braun v. Craven. The court Subscribe to our newsletters to get updates about Illinois Public Media's role in giving voice to local arts, education, new ideas, and community needs, sent straight to your inbox. See Fletcher v. Western National Life Insurance Co., 10 Cal.App.3d 376 (1970). In tort law, intentional infliction of emotional distress (“IIED”) refers to when a defendant intentionally or recklessly behaves in a way that is so “extreme and outrageous” that it causes another person to suffer severe emotional distress or trauma. This can be a result of either the Defendant's acts or words. Everyone experiences a degree of emotional distress after any injury; the key is proving that the distress caused by an injury was profound or traumatic enough to merit compensation. When someone else's purposeful action causes you harm, you might have a viable personal injury case. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress is defined as intentionally or recklessly causing another person severe emotional distress through extreme or outrageous acts. The Court then turned to plaintiff’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. The tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress has four elements: (1) the defendant must act intentionally or recklessly; (2) the defendant's conduct must be extreme and outrageous; and (3) the conduct must be the cause (4) of severe emotional distress. These kinds of claims are based on the theory of intentional tort.Injuries resulting from physical acts like assault and battery can form the basis of an intentional tort claim, but emotionally-harmful actions can too. If you need Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress help in Illinois, contact John J. Malm & Associates, P.C., a local practice in Chicago, for legal representation. 1 The Braun court held that a plaintiff seeking to assert a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress was required to allege and prove a contemporaneous physical injury or impact. Illinois Court of Appeal Reverses Dismissal of Plaintiff’s Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claim by Therman Law Offices, LTD. 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