Court Opinion

ID: 9467138
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 01:39:27.932744+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:40:10.802070
License: Public Domain

CUDAHY, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
The majority seems to suggest that the gratuitous harassment of the debtor’s father and dying mother are less actionable than like behavior addressed to the debtor himself (as in Public Finance Corp. v. Davis, 4 Ill.Dec. 652, 360 N.E.2d 765, 66 Ill.2d 85 (1970)). I agree with the widower Bast that precisely the reverse is true.
In Davis the allegations were contained in a counterclaim filed by defendant Davis after she was sued by Public Finance to collect a debt. The Court in Davis began its analysis by carefully establishing the context:
Davis was legally obligated to Public Finance and was in default in making the payments. ... A creditor must be given some latitude to pursue reasonable methods of collecting debts even though such methods may result in some inconvenience, embarrassment or annoyance to the debtor. The debtor is protected only from oppressive or outrageous conduct. ... 4 Ill.Dec. at 655, 360 N.E.2d at 768 (emphasis supplied).
The Court concluded its analysis by again stressing the context: “Public Finance was attempting to collect a legal obligation from Davis in a permissible though persistent and annoying manner.” 4 Ill.Dec. at 656, 360 N.E.2d at 769.
In the instant case, on the other hand, Mr. and Mrs. Bast admittedly never owed Ford Credit a cent. It offends common sense to suggest that creditors have more latitude to harass the debtor’s parents than they do the debtor himself.1 This decision is a dangerous precedent-a Magna Carta for bill collectors-inviting them to raise their sights, to spread their nets, in a quest for new targets of opportunity.
Among other things, the Basts allege here that Ford Credit, knowing Mrs. Bast to be ill, called her at the hospital where she was receiving chemotherapy. After this unfortunate intrusion Mrs. Bast required sedation. The call (in September) allegedly contributed to her death (in January). Employees of Ford Credit called the Basts (who admittedly owed nothing) “deadbeats,” “liars,” “cheats” and “fakers.” In my view this is sufficiently “outrageous” to survive summary judgment.
“Bill collectors have long occupied a special niche in the law of torts recognizing recovery for intentional infliction of emotional disturbances.” Public Finance Corp. v. Davis, 4 Ill.Dec. at 659, 360 N.E.2d at 772 (Dooley, J., dissenting).
We ought not in the instant case to deny them their accustomed niche.
I respectfully dissent.

. See George v. Jordan Marsh Co., 359 Mass. 244, 268 N.E.2d 915 (Sup.Jud.Ct.1971) (upholding claim for mental anguish and physical pain caused by abusive language and threats in attempted collection of bill owed by plaintiffs son); Lyons v. Zale Jewelry Co., 246 Miss. 139, 150 So.2d 154 (Sup.Ct.1963) (same); Bennett v. City National Bank and Trust Co., 549 P.2d 393 (Okl.Ct.App.1975) (same); Moore v. Savage, 359 S.W.2d 95 (Tex.Civ.App.1962, writ ref'd n.r.e.) (per curiam) (sustaining jury verdict allowing recovery for physical and mental distress caused by attempt to collect bill owed by plaintiffs employee). See also Annot., 46 A.L.R.3d 772 (1972).