Opinion ID: 2329621
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count III. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

Text: According to the Restatement (Second) of Torts Sec. 46 (1965), liability for this tort is allowed against one who by extreme and outrageous conduct intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress to another. . . . It is clear that the crucial element is extreme and outrageous conduct. Dawson v. Zayre Dept. Stores, 346 Pa.Super. 357, 499 A.2d 648 (1985); Jones v. Nissenbaum Rudolph & Seidner, 244 Pa.Super. 377, 368 A.2d 770 (1976). Further, it is for the court to determine, in the first instance, whether the actor's conduct can reasonably be regarded as so extreme and outrageous as to permit recovery. Dawson, supra ; Restatement (Second) of Torts Sec. 46, comment (h) (1965). Conduct which does not meet the requisites for liability is described in comment (d) of the Restatement (Second) of Torts Sec. 46: The liability clearly does not extend to mere insults, indignities, threats, annoyances, petty oppressions, or other trivialties. The rough edges of our society are still in need of a good deal of filing down, and in the meantime plaintiffs must necessarily be expected and required to be hardened to a certain amount of rough language, and to occasional acts that are definitely inconsiderate and unkind. There is no occasion for the law to intervene in every case where some one's feelings are hurt. There must still be freedom to express an unflattering opinion, and some safety valve must be left through which irascible tempers may blow off relatively harmless steam. The conduct recited in appellant's complaint does not meet the burden of extreme and outrageous. Banging on her room door and being given pornography are surely annoying and possibly even insulting, but annoying and insulting are not extreme and outrageous. A large class may be inconvenient, but inconvenient is not extreme and outrageous. Absent a showing of extreme and outrageous conduct, the directed verdict will be affirmed.