Opinion ID: 2595616
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Jury Verdictnegligent infliction of emotional distress.

Text: When it appears to the reviewing court that the verdict is either not supported by substantial and competent evidenceor is against the clear weight of the evidence or, in other words, if upon its review of the evidence in the record the reviewing court determines that reasonable minds could not differ on issues of factthen those issues become questions of law upon which the court may freely rule. Boel v. Stewart Title Guar. Co., 137 Idaho 9, 12, 43 P.3d 768, 771 (2002). What remains in this case is the claim for the negligent infliction of emotional distress. The initial act of misadvising Sorensen of her retirement/employment rights did not cause her emotional distress. It was the subsequent act of attempting to correct that misinformation. Sorensen testified about insomnia, anxiety, headaches and gastric problems. The fundamental problem in this claim is that Sorensen was an employee at will who could be terminated at any time with or without cause absent a violation of public policy. No violation of public policy is implicated in this case. She had no guarantee of part-time employment while she received retirement benefits. She cannot obtain emotional distress damages for being offered the option of leaving employment for four months when St. Al's could simply terminate her with no explanation. It appears that after the mistake was discovered she was actually offered more than she was ever entitled to  retirement and a job after a four-month break in employment with St. Al's. She cannot convert an employment at will into a guarantee of employment and obtain emotional distress damages for being told she needed to terminate employment with St. Al's for four months to continue receiving early retirement benefits.