Petersen v. Sioux Valley Hospital Ass'n
Petersen v. Sioux Valley Hospital Ass'n
Opinion of the Court
On April 22, 1992, in Petersen v. Sioux Valley Hosp. Ass’n, 486 N.W.2d 516 (S.D. 1992), reh’g granted, 491 N.W.2d 467 (1992), (Petersen I), we reversed the trial
In considering the petition for rehearing, we refer the reader to the facts as set forth in Petersen I.
ISSUE
Whether intentional infliction of emotional distress includes reckless conduct resulting in emotional distress.
In Wangen v. Knudson, 428 N.W.2d 242 (S.D. 1988), this court cited with approval the Restatement (Second) of Torts
Liability may attach where a defendant engages in ‘reckless’ conduct, conduct which constitutes a deliberate disregard of a high degree of probability that the emotional distress will follow.
Id. at 248 (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46 cmt. i (1965)).
The elements necessary to establish a prima facie case for intentional infliction of emotional distress as stated in Tibke v. McDougall include:
(1) an act by defendant amounting to extreme and outrageous conduct;
(2) intent on the part of the defendant to cause plaintiff severe emotional distress;
(3) the defendant’s conduct was the cause in-fact of plaintiff’s injuries; and
(4) the plaintiff suffered án extreme disabling emotional response to defendant’s conduct.
Tibke, 479 N.W.2d at 906; (citing Mackintosh v. Carter, 451 N.W.2d 285 (S.D. 1990)); Groseth Int’l, Inc. v. Tenneco, Inc., 410 N.W.2d 159, 169 (S.D. 1987) (Groseth I) (citing Alsteen v. Gehl, 21 Wis.2d 349, 124 N.W.2d 312 (1963)). In Tibke, we specifically adopted the elements outlined in Gro-seth I and Mackintosh and rejected the “broader rule”
While we noted in Tibke that this court has cited, with approval, the elements as outlined in Alsteen v. Gehl, 21 Wis.2d 349, 124 N.W.2d 312 (1963), this court has never explicitly rejected, as did Alsteen, the Restatement (Second) of Torts standard of liability incorporating reckless infliction of emotional distress within the rule. In fact, this court has consistently looked toward the reasonableness of the defendant’s behavior in determining liability on his part. See Groseth Int’l, Inc. v. Tenneco, Inc., 410 N.W.2d 159, 169 (S.D. 1987).
In Petersen I, we reiterated the elements as outlined in Tibke. Consistent with the Restatement (Second) of Torts and previous case law, we also noted that the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress includes liability on the part of the defendant for reckless conduct resulting in emotional distress.
Because Tibke did not address reckless infliction of emotional distress, we take this opportunity to clarify the law in South Dakota regarding this tort. While we adhere to the elements outlined in Tibke, we also adhere to Wangen and specifically find that the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress encompasses liability for reckless infliction of emotional distress as stated therein.
. The Restatement (Second) of Torts provides: 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 to the other results from it, for such bodily harm.
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46(1) (1965).
. The necessary elements of the ‘broader rule” include (1) that the act was intentional; (2) that it was unreasonable; and (3) that the actor should have recognized it as likely to result in illness (emotional distress).
.“The trial court did not find any evidence of unreasonable conduct by IHC or any evidence that IHC’s discontinuation of the Groseth franchise was intended or calculated to cause any mental distress.” Groseth, 410 N.W.2d at 169. (Emphasis added.)
. We stated, in Petersen I, that
[n]othing in the record reflects that Karel was intentionally extreme or outrageous.... However, when viewing the evidence most favorably to Petersen, the failure to warn her as to the nature of the September meeting could be considered reckless, given Karel’s knowledge of Petersen’s fear of confrontational group meetings. Petersen argues that this and other conduct was intentional and reckless in view of her nature and condition. Where reasonable minds differ, it is for the jury to determine, not the circuit court nor this court.
Petersen, 486 N.W.2d at 519-20. (Citation omitted.)
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting).
I dissented in Petersen I and dissent herein for the same reasons; see my dissent therein for my rationale. Petersen I, 486 N.W.2d at 521. In my opinion, the majority in this case has adopted a rule so liberal every employer in South Dakota is likely to be sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In Petersen I, my dissent makes clear that according to Petersen’s own testimony, the defendant’s conduct would not satisfy either the intent standard of Groseth and Mackintosh or the reckless standard set forth by Wangen. Groseth I, 410 N.W.2d at 169; Mackintosh, 451 N.W.2d at 281; Wangen, 428 N.W.2d at 248. The conduct of the defendants in Wangen was far more grievous than the defendant’s conduct in Petersen I. Wangen was suffering from, and receiving medical treatment for, severe depression. The defendants were aware of the illness and medical treatment. There is nothing in this record showing Petersen was mentally ill or suffering from severe depression. There is nothing indicating Petersen was receiving any medical treatment for depression. Wangen’s severe depression was the means by which the majority distinguished that case from Northrup and Hubbard. Northrup v. Farmland Industries, Inc., 372 N.W.2d 193 (Ia. 1985); Hubbard v. United Press, Inc., 330 N.W.2d 428 (Minn. 1983). Therefore, in my opinion, Petersen I and Wangen are clearly distinguishable.
In Tibke, written four years after Wan-gen, this court tried to establish consistency in our decisions on intentional infliction of emotional distress. Tibke, 479 N.W.2d at 907. Writing for the court, Judge Bradshaw analyzed the inconsistencies in our previous decisions
. I dissented in Petersen v. Sioux Valley Hosp Ass’n, 486 N.W.2d 516 (S.D. 1992), French v. Dell Rapids Community Hosp., 432 N.W.2d 285 (S.D. 1988) and Groseth Int'l, Inc. v. Tenneco, Inc., 410 N.W.2d 159 (S.D. 1987) (Groseth I).
. In Petersen I, the majority notes Wangen modified the holding of Groseth I. I was disqualified from the Wangen case, but would probably have dissented to changing the standard set forth in our previous decisions.
Concurring Opinion
(concurring).
I write to express that I did not participate in the Tibke decision. I voted for a Petition for Rehearing, in this case, because our first decision in Petersen could not be reconciled with Tibke. Tibke was decided one week prior to oral argument in this case.
I subscribe to the holding in Wangen and the majority opinion herein. The facts here justify that there was, and is, a question of fact for a jury on the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Nalonni PETERSEN, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. SIOUX VALLEY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, Defendant and Appellee
- Cited By
- 26 cases
- Status
- Published