Opinion ID: 1822312
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Threats to Take Legal Action

Text: Eddy testified that beginning in the fall of 1996, when Langeslag was hired, through her tenure at KYMN, she frequently threatened to sue him. He stated that Langeslag made these threats about anything and insignificant things. When asked how he handled these threats, Eddy replied that he attempted to avoid doing anything that could cause Langeslag to initiate a lawsuit. Eddy also testified that fear of a lawsuit prevented him from terminating Langeslag. Although Langeslag denied threatening Eddy with lawsuits, Eddy's apprehension that Langeslag would bring a lawsuit against him was not unfounded as she ultimately brought the lawsuit involved here. KYMN employees testified that Langeslag stated that Eddy would be financially destroyed by her lawsuit and that she knew how to manipulate the court system. Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Eddy, Langeslag's frequent threats to bring a lawsuit do not qualify as extreme and outrageous conduct. While Langeslag's conduct was unconventional, annoying and may have been intended to harass, threatening to bring a lawsuit in and of itself is not so atrocious that it passes the boundaries of decency. Hubbard, 330 N.W.2d at 439 (citation omitted). In fact, an individual's right to bring a nonfrivolous lawsuit is protected under the Minnesota Constitution. Minn. Const. art. I., § 8. (Every person is entitled to a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries or wrongs which he may receive to his person, property or character, and to obtain justice freely and without purchase, completely and without denial, promptly and without delay, conformable to the laws.). Eddy is, in effect, asking this court to create a cause of action against those who threaten to bring litigation. However, Langeslag had a constitutionally protected right to peacefully bring a nonfrivolous lawsuit: Action taken to inform Eddy that she intended to do so does not constitute extreme and outrageous behavior. [7] The district court erred in submitting this claim to the jury.