Court Opinion

ID: 9764010
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 03:07:10.966069+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:52.368484
License: Public Domain

TAFT, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent in part to the judgment. I would hold that Standard Fruit established as a matter of law: (1) Marshall’s conduct was not extreme and outrageous; and (2) a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress does not apply to the facts of this case where the tortfeasor’s conduct was not directed at the plaintiff.
The Texas Supreme Court in Twyman v. Twyman, 855 S.W.2d 619 (Tex.1993), expressly adopted the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress as set out in section 46 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts. Twyman, 855 S.W.2d at 622. The court outlined four elements constituting the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress: (1) the defendant acted intentionally or recklessly; (2) the conduct was extreme and outrageous; (3) the actions of the defendant caused the plaintiff emotional distress; and (4) the emotional distress suffered by the plaintiff was severe. Id. at 621.
Directed At
Addressing appellees’ general attack that Johnson is not the direct victim of a tort, we must determine whether intentional infliction of emotional distress embraces the fact situation in this case. In the absence of Texas case law on point, I agree with the majority that we must look to the source of this new tort, section 46 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts:
(1) One who by extreme and outrageous conduct intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress to another is subject to liability for such emotional distress, and if bodily harm results from it, for such bodily harm.
(2) Where such conduct is directed at a third person, the actor is subject to liability if he intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress
(a) to a member of such person’s immediate family who is present at the time, whether or not such distress results in bodily harm, or
(b) to any other person who is present at the time, if such distress results in bodily harm.
RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 46 (1965) (emphasis added).
Section 46 contemplates two types of plaintiffs suffering from emotional distress caused by the conduct of the defendant. Section 46(1) contemplates a plaintiff who is the direct victim of the tort, i.e., the direct object of the defendant’s intentional or reckless conduct. The direct victim, under section 46(1), may receive compensation for his severe emotional distress regardless of a physical manifestation. If the plaintiff experiences a physical manifestation, he may be compensated for that, as well. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46(1) (1965).
Section 46(2) contemplates a bystander theory where one may receive compensation for his emotional distress caused by witnessing the requisite conduct inflicted upon a third person. In this instance, the conduct must first be directed at a particular third *641person. Then, if the plaintiff is an immediate family member of the third person, present at the time the extreme or outrageous conduct is directed at the third person, the plaintiff may receive compensation solely for emotional distress regardless of a physical manifestation. Restatement (Second) of TORTS § 46(2)(a) (1965). If the plaintiff is not an immediate family member, the plaintiff must incur a physical manifestation from the emotional distress in order to be compensated. Restatement (Seoond) of ToRts § 46(2)(b) (1965).
Subsections (1) and (2) of section 46 were obviously intended to be read together. Subsection (2) implicitly incorporates the description of conduct from subsection (1). “Such” conduct in subsection (2) necessarily refers to “extreme and outrageous” conduct in subsection (1). Because of the interdependence of the two subsections, it follows that conduct causing severe emotional distress “to another” in subsection (1) means conduct “directed at” that other person, just as the conduct is “directed at” a third party in subsection (2). That subsection (1) contemplates conduct “directed at” another is further shown by the fact that all of the illustrations provided in the Restatement involve conduct directed at a particular individual. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46 cmts. d-1 illus. 1-22 (1965).
Therefore, from the context of the Restatement, I believe the language “to another” in section 46(1) contemplates an act that is “directed at” another and, thus, the conduct of the actor must be directed at a particular individual1 for that individual to be compensated for emotional distress under section 46(1). To hold otherwise would not only create inconsistency between the subsections, it would produce, an actual conflict between subsections (1) and (2)(b). Subsection (2)(b) requires a bystander to suffer bodily harm resulting from severe emotional distress. If “to another” in subsection (1) included others present, in addition to the particular persons) to whom the extreme and outrageous conduct was directed, then a bystander could recover solely for emotional distress without the necessity of showing bodily harm as required by subsection (2)(b).
Furthermore, a perusal of over 35 Texas cases citing Twyman as authority for their intentional infliction of emotional distress claim reveals that all involve conduct directed at another, i.e., interpersonal conduct between the parties.2 Finally, Johnson cites no *642case authorizing liability for intentional infliction of emotional distress in the absence of such interpersonal conduct. Thus, determining that “to another” means “directed at another,” I would next determine whether Marshall’s conduct was directed at Johnson.
Again, lacking Texas authority on point, I reviewed other jurisdictions for a resolution of this issue and found a factually similar case which is helpful. In Dornfeld v. Oberg, 503 N.W.2d 115, 119 (Minn.1993), the Supreme Court of Minnesota addressed the issue of whether reckless conduct was directed at a particular person for the purposes of sustaining an intentional infliction of emotional distress cause of action.
The facts in Domfeld are as follows. Don Dornfeld and his wife, Barbara, were driving home on a highway at approximately 11:00 p.m. when their car had a flat tire. Mr. Dornfeld pulled the car onto the shoulder of the highway, turned on the car’s emergency flashers, and proceeded to change the rear, driver’s-side tire. Mrs. Dornfeld remained in the car.
While changing the tire, Mr. Dornfeld was struck by a car driven by Scott Oberg. Oberg’s car dragged Mr. Dornfeld over 200 feet, leaving him in a roadside ditch. Oberg claimed that he never saw the Dornfeld car prior to impact. Mr. Dornfeld was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mrs. Dornfeld, who remained in the car, felt the impact but did not see Oberg’s vehicle or the collision. After the collision, Mrs. Dornfeld got out of the car and asked where her husband was. Witnesses and police officers said her husband had been found in a ditch and that he was dead. She suffered no significant physical injuries as a result of the collision; however, she claimed that she began to suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Subsequently, Mrs. Dornfeld sued Oberg for intentional infliction of emotional distress under a “reckless” analysis.
The Minnesota court analyzed the Restatement and determined that one is liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress under a “reckless” analysis when the actor intends the act, but does not intend the harm resulting from the act. Dornfeld v. Oberg, 503 N.W.2d 115, 118-19 (Minn.1993) (citing Restatement (Second) of ToRTS § 500 cmt. f (1965)), (defining “recklessness” as an intentional act with unintended consequences). Furthermore, the court determined that the express language of section 46(2) contemplates that an actor’s conduct must be “directed at” a particular third person. Dorn-*643feld, 503 N.W.2d at 119. Thus, the court reasoned that in order to hold Oberg hable for intentional (reckless) infliction of emotional distress, his conduct had to be intentionally “directed at” a particular person. Id, In disallowing Mrs. Dornfeld’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, the court concluded that “[m]ere reckless driving is directed, if at all, only at the driving community generally rather than at a particular individual, and, therefore, such conduct would be insufficient to give rise to a claim for intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress.”3 Id.
Although the Minnesota court’s issue involved section 46(2) rather than section 46(1), the Minnesota court’s reasoning is applicable to the reckless driving of the character involved here which was not directed at any particular individual. Thus, because I would construe the language “to another” in section 46(1) to mean “directed at another,” and because Marshall’s conduct was not directed at Johnson, or any other particular individual, Johnson’s cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress should fail. Therefore, under the facts of this case, I would hold that intentional/reckless infliction of emotional distress does not apply as a matter of law.
Extreme or Outrageous
Even if intentional/reckless infliction of emotional distress included the fact situation in this case, I would hold that Marshall’s conduct does not rise to the level of extreme or outrageous conduct. See Twyman, 855 S.W.2d at 621. Initially it is a question of law whether conduct is so extreme or outrageous to permit recovery for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Wornick Co. v. Casas, 856 S.W.2d 732, 734 (Tex.1993); Sebesta v. Kent Elec. Corp., 886 S.W.2d 459, 462 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ refd). Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Johnson, I assume Marshall was driving 15 miles per hour over the speed limit while very tired and fell asleep at the wheel of an 18 wheeler with a loaded trailer.
Extreme or outrageous conduct is worse than criminal or malicious conduct; it is beyond all bounds of decency, not merely offensive, deplorable or even unbearable, but utterly intolerable in a civilized community. See Twyman, 855 S.W.2d at 621. Driving while tired and falling asleep at the wheel, even the wheel of an eighteen wheeler, is not the type of conduct which would arouse the resentment of an average member of the community to exclaim “outrageous.” See generally id. (outlining standard).
In addition, holding that driving while tired is outrageous would certainly lead to the conclusion that the act of drunk driving is outrageous. I do not believe the supreme court intended every drunk driving accident to give rise to a separate tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress for victims and bystanders. I would decline to expand this tort as the majority has.
Conclusion
Because I would hold, as a matter of law, that neither negligent infliction of emotional distress nor intentional/reckless infliction of emotional distress is available under the facts of this case, I would overrule Johnson’s point of error and affirm the trial court’s summary judgment. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent to the reversal in part of the trial court’s summary judgment.
SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION
PER CURIAM.
We supplement our opinion in this cause number issued August 29,1997, to reflect the en banc vote of the Court. Tex. R. App. P. 41.2,49.7.
On Justice Nuchia’s motion for en banc consideration, Chief Justice Schneider and Justices Mirabal, O’Connor, Wilson, and An-dell voted to deny en banc consideration.
Justices Cohen, Hedges, Taft, and Nuehia voted to grant en banc consideration.

. I do not mean by this that the conduct would not be covered if it were directed at a particular group of individuals. What I see to be the gist of the tort of intentional/reckless infliction of emotional distress is a conscious effort to cause emotional distress in others.

: See Randall’s Food Markets, Inc., v. Johnson, 891 S.W.2d 640 (Tex.1995) (employer’s questioning of employee); Natividad v. Alexsis, Inc., 875 S.W.2d 695 (Tex.1994) (claims adjuster’s rude conduct toward insured worker); Massey v. Massey, 867 S.W.2d 766 (Tex.1993) (husband's alleged outrageous conduct directed at his wife); State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. S.S., 858 S.W.2d 374 (Tex.1993) (defendant's conduct of transmitting sexual disease to plaintiff); Wornick Co. v. Casas, 856 S.W.2d 732 (Tex.1993). (employer’s conduct in having security guard escort terminated employee from premises); Boyles v. Kerr, 855 S.W.2d 593 (Tex.1993) (boyfriend's conduct in videotaping sexual acts with girlfriend); DeMoranville v. Specialty Retailers, Inc., 909 S.W.2d 90 (Tex.App. — Houston [14th Dist.] 1995), rev’d in part, 933 S.W.2d 490, 39 Tex.Sup.Ct.J. 638 (1996) (supervisor’s alleged age discrimination against employee); George Grubbs Enterprises v. Bien, 881 S.W.2d 843 (Tex.App. — Fort Worth 1994), rev’d on other grounds, 900 S.W.2d 337 (Tex.1995) (customer’s alleged mistreatment by automobile dealership during negotiations); Wieler v. United Savings Ass’n of Texas, 887 S.W.2d 155 (Tex.App. — Texarkana 1994), writ denied per curiam, 907 S.W.2d 454 (Tex.1995) (mortgagee’s conduct toward mortgagor); Villasenor v. Villasenor, 911 S.W.2d 411 (Tex.App.— San Antonio 1995, no writ) (wife’s conduct toward husband); Turner v. Roadway Express, Inc., 911 S.W.2d 224 (Tex.App. — Fort Worth 1995, writ denied) (employer's accusations of theft against employee); Straus v. Kirby Court Corp., 909 S.W.2d 105 (Tex.App. — Houston [14th Dist.] 1995, no writ) (landlord’s conduct in evicting tenant); Free v. American Home Assur. Co., 902 S.W.2d 51 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, no writ) (employer’s alleged defamatory comments about former employee); Beiser v. Tomball Hosp. Auth., 902 S.W.2d 721 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, writ denied) (employer’s conduct in terminating employee); Lee v. Levi Strauss & Co., 897 S.W.2d 501 (Tex.App. — El Paso 1995, no writ) (clothing manufacture’s interference with employment contracts of two employees); Bhalli v. Methodist Hosp., 896 S.W.2d 207 (Tex.App.— Houston [1st Dist.] 1995, writ denied) (employer’s conduct toward employee); Newton v. Newton, 895 S.W.2d 503 (Tex.App. — Fort Worth 1995, no writ) (husband’s conduct toward his *642wife); Nayef v. Arabian American Oil Co., 895 S.W.2d 825 (Tex.App. — Corpus Christi 1995, no writ) (employer’s conduct toward employee); Cote v. Rivera, 894 S.W.2d 536 (Tex.App. — Austin 1995, no writ) (employer's termination of an at-will employee); Carr v. Mobile Video Tapes, Inc., 893 S.W.2d 613 (Tex.App. — Corpus Christi 1994, no writ) (television station’s preparing and broadcasting story about arrest warrant of horse owner for cruelty to animals); Metzger v. Sebek, 892 S.W.2d 20 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ denied) (defendant’s conduct in allegedly falsely accusing plaintiff as child abuser); Wyatt v. Kroger, 891 S.W.2d 749 (Tex.App. — Fort Worth 1994, writ denied) (grocery store’s conduct in handling appellant’s complaint); Washington v. Knight, 887 S.W.2d 211 (Tex.App.— Texarkana 1994, writ denied) (bystander theory; conduct directed at third party); Sebesta v. Kent Electronics Corp., 886 S.W.2d 459 (Tex.App.— Houston [1st Dist.] 1994, writ denied) (employer's conduct in terminating employee); Behringer v. Behringer, 884 S.W.2d 839 (Tex.App. — Fort Worth 1994, writ denied) (wife’s conduct toward husband); Shaheen v. Motion Industries, 880 S.W.2d 88 (Tex.App. — Corpus Christi 1994, writ denied) (employer’s conduct in discharging employee); Regan v. Lee, 879 S.W.2d 133 (Tex. App. — Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, no writ) (driver's use of vulgar language at another driver during traffic altercation); Waddell v. Kaiser Foundation, 877 S.W.2d 341 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1994, writ denied) (healthcare provider’s denial of participant's benefits); Stites v. Gillum, 872 S.W.2d 786 (Tex.App. — Fort Worth 1994, writ denied); Reeves v. Western Co. of N. Am., 867 S.W.2d 385 (Tex.App. — San Antonio 1993, writ denied) (employer's conduct toward prospective employee); Garcia v. Andrews, 867 S.W.2d 409 (Tex.App. — Corpus Christi 1993, no writ) (manager allegedly sexually harassed employee); Tarleton State University v. Rosiere, 867 S.W.2d 948 (Tex.App. — Eastland 1993, dism. agr.) (president of state university refused to recommend tenure for professor); Motsenbocker v. Potts, 863 S.W.2d 126 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1993, no writ) (employer’s modification of employee’s health insurance); Qualicare of East Texas, Inc. v. Runnels, 863 S.W.2d 220 (Tex.App. — Eastland 1993, no writ) (employer’s conduct toward employee); Haryanto v. Saeed, 860 S.W.2d 913 (Tex.App.— Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, writ denied) (hotel guest’s conduct toward hotel’s employee); Mitre v. La Plaza Mall, 857 S.W.2d 752 (Tex.App.— Corpus Christi 1993, writ denied) (mall accused plaintiff of passing counterfeit money).

. I note that this does not contemplate the situation where a reckless driver intends to take some action against, or inflict some harm upon, a particular person or persons.