Court Opinion

ID: 9540994
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:21:28.393728+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:02:05.336293
License: Public Domain

Littlejohn, Chief Justice,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent and would affirm the order of the Circuit Court. In determining whether a summary judgment should have been granted, all of the facts and circumstances should be taken into account. A review of the transcript of the record reveals that the reason the agent for the furniture company did not accept the $42.59 was that there was due in addition $25.00 court costs which had been advanced. To collect $42.59 from which must be deducted $25.00 was obviously an almost empty victory. There is no contention *266that the plaintiff here offered the amount to which the furniture company was entitled.
There was before the Circuit Judge, and in turn before us, the deposition of the plaintiff, Ada Bell, as well as the deposition of the furniture store representative with whom the plaintiff dealt.
The account was patently a troublesome one. If the action of the furniture store’s agent was less than commendable, it was inspired by the less than commendable conduct of plaintiff Bell.
While causes of action based on alleged intentional infliction of emotional distress are now well founded in our law by reason of Ford, Supra, (which I wrote), there is danger that the theory may be abused such that everyone who is disgruntled with another’s conduct will be suing for $100,000 as in this case.
A petty squabble is simply not the kind of a conflict which commands the time and attention of the judge and a jury. In my view, there is no genuine issue of fact and I would affirm the order of the Circuit Judge.
Gregory, J., concurs.