Opinion ID: 2194643
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Appellants failed to establish a prima facie case of intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Text: The trial court also granted judgment on Mr. Hill's negligent infliction of emotional distress claim and Ms. Hill's loss of consortium cause of action. To establish a prima facie case of negligent infliction of emotional distress, the plaintiff must prove that he was in the zone of danger created by the defendant's negligence and that the distress is serious and verifiable. Sowell v. Hyatt Corp., 623 A.2d 1221, 1224 (D.C.1993); Williams v. Baker 572 A.2d 1062, 1064 (D.C.1990) (en banc); Brown v. Argenbright Sec., Inc., 782 A.2d 752, 759 n. 9 (D.C.2001) (concluding that appellee was not liable for negligent infliction of emotional distress as a result of security guard's alleged sexual touching of minor whom he had stopped on suspicion of shoplifting because there was no evidence that the minor ever feared for her physical safety and the conduct alleged by minor was not negligence but an intentional tort). Because we conclude that appellants failed to establish a prima facie case for negligence, it was proper to grant judgment as a matter of law on this cause of action.