Opinion ID: 1058736
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Severity of Resulting Emotional Distress

Text: Finally, we hold that Almy adequately alleged that she suffered severe emotional distress. Almy asserted that the conduct of Grisham, Alan, and Donna caused her to suffer from several debilitating conditions, including depression, nervousness, and an inability to sleep, which ultimately caused a complete disintegration of virtually every aspect of her life. She allegedly was unable to manage her mother's financial affairs, to carry out her family duties, or to perform her various charitable endeavors. Also relevant are Almy's allegations that due to her major depressive disorder caused by the defendants' false accusations, she was required to undergo extensive therapy from Dr. Alexander. [5] We hold that these allegations are materially different from the allegations of severe emotional distress in Russo, which we held were inadequate to survive a demurrer. Unlike the plaintiff in Russo, Almy alleged that she was required to seek professional counseling because of her depression occasioned by the defendants' misconduct. We likewise conclude that Almy's allegations of severe emotional distress exceed those alleged by the plaintiff in Harris v. Kreutzer, 271 Va. 188, 624 S.E.2d 24 (2006). While both Almy and the plaintiff in Harris alleged that they required counseling and suffered from severe psychological trauma, depression, humiliation, and injury to reputation, Almy additionally alleged that the defendants' actions rendered her functionally incapable of carrying out any of her work or family responsibilities. See id. at 204-05, 624 S.E.2d at 34. According to Almy, her emotional distress reached such a level of severity that [e]very aspect of [her] life [was] fundamentally and severely altered, such that she had trouble even walking out of the front door. As a result, Almy's motion for judgment sufficiently alleges emotional distress so severe that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it. See id. at 205, 624 S.E.2d at 34 (citing Russo, 241 Va. at 28, 400 S.E.2d at 163). Thus, we hold that Almy's factual allegations describing her severe emotional distress are adequate to survive a demurrer on this fourth and final element of the tort.
We next consider Almy's conspiracy allegations. We decide the question whether the tort of conspiracy to intentionally inflict emotional distress should be recognized as a cause of action in this Commonwealth. We begin our analysis with the observation that, in Virginia, a common law claim of civil conspiracy generally requires proof that the underlying tort was committed. See Commercial Bus. Sys. v. Halifax Corp., 253 Va. 292, 300, 484 S.E.2d 892, 896 (1997). This general rule reflects the view of a majority of states that have considered the question. See, e.g., Macomber v. Travelers Prop. & Cas. Corp., 277 Conn. 617, 894 A.2d 240, 254-55 (2006); Paul v. Howard Univ., 754 A.2d 297, 310 n. 27 (D.C.2000); Alexander & Alexander Inc. v. B. Dixon Evander & Assocs., 336 Md. 635, 650 A.2d 260, 265 (1994); Jones v. BP Oil Co., 632 So.2d 435, 439 (Ala.1993); Middlesex Concrete Prods. & Excav. Corp. v. Carteret Indus. Ass'n, 37 N.J. 507, 181 A.2d 774, 779 (1962); Cook v. Robinson, 216 Ga. 328, 116 S.E.2d 742, 744-45 (1960). The gist of the civil action of conspiracy is the damage caused by the acts committed in pursuance of the formed conspiracy and not the mere combination of two or more persons to accomplish an unlawful purpose or use an unlawful means. Cater-Corp, Inc. v. Catering Concepts, Inc., 246 Va. 22, 28, 431 S.E.2d 277, 281-82 (1993) (quoting Gallop v. Sharp, 179 Va. 335, 338, 19 S.E.2d 84, 86 (1942)); accord, Commercial Business Sys. v. BellSouth Servs., 249 Va. 39, 48, 453 S.E.2d 261, 267 (1995). As stated above, a claim for intentional infliction of severe emotional distress requires proof of severe emotional distress proximately caused by a defendant's outrageous conduct that is intentional or reckless. See Harris, 271 Va. at 203, 624 S.E.2d at 33; Delk, 259 Va. at 136, 523 S.E.2d at 833; Jordan, 255 Va. at 499, 500 S.E.2d at 219; Womack, 215 Va. at 342, 210 S.E.2d at 148. Thus, under the common law in Virginia, a conspiracy claim based on this underlying tort would include these same elements of proof. See Halifax, 253 Va. at 300, 484 S.E.2d at 896. As we already have observed, the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress is not favored in the law. See Harris, 271 Va. at 204, 624 S.E.2d at 33; Russo, 241 Va. at 26, 400 S.E.2d at 162; Ruth, 237 Va. at 373, 377 S.E.2d at 416. A primary reason for the tort's disfavored status is that because the prohibited conduct cannot be defined objectively, clear guidance is lacking, both to those wishing to avoid committing the tort, and to those who must evaluate whether certain alleged conduct satisfies all elements of the tort. See Russo, 241 Va. at 26, 400 S.E.2d at 162. If we were to recognize a conspiracy claim based on an agreement to commit this tort, the difficulties resulting from this absence of clear guidance would be compounded. Courts and juries would be faced with the amorphous task of determining whether parties have entered into an agreement to engage in conduct that cannot be defined objectively. See id. Determinations of this nature would invite great uncertainty and speculation on the part of the fact finder. We also observe that, in Virginia, a plaintiff can allege joint liability of parties who acted in concert to commit the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress without the need to assert a claim of conspiracy. The case before us plainly illustrates this point. Accordingly, upon consideration of these several factors, we hold that a plaintiff may not assert a cause of action in Virginia for civil conspiracy to intentionally inflict severe emotional distress.