Court Opinion

ID: 9725501
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:50:21.936762+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:15.947565
License: Public Domain

White, J.,
concurring.
I agree with the conclusion reached by the majority. The evidence indicates that the emotional distress inflicted upon the plaintiff in this unfortunate situation was not shown to be severe, and that absent such proof the plaintiff cannot recover.
The majority opinion is unclear as to whether or not it would find that there was sufficient evidence for a jury to find that the conduct was outrageous. I believe it was outrageous.
The evidence shows that a woman was burned by the negligent acts of a Texaco station employee. She was *72compelled to remove her outer garments which were saturated with hot radiator fluid. She requested something to cover herself and was given a filthy fender skirt to cover her partial nakedness. While attempting to leave the premises to secure medical treatment while naturally upset, hysterical, and in pain, the woman found that a station attendant had removed the ignition coil from her automobile and he would not restore it unless she surrendered the fender cover, thus leaving her partially clad on a major thoroughfare in Omaha, Nebraska. Finally, she suffered the indignity of being forced to bargain for a used shirt. This conduct cannot be characterized as anything less than outrageous under any standard of civilized human behavior. The conduct was inexcusable, brutal, indifferent, and uncaring.
Krivosha, C.J., joins in this concurrence.