IIED stands for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, also known as the tort of outrage. It is a legal term used to describe a cause of action in civil law when an individual purposefully engages in extreme or outrageous conduct that results in severe emotional suffering or distress to another person.
IIED occurs when the defendant's behavior goes beyond the bounds of what society considers acceptable or reasonable, and the plaintiff suffers mental anguish as a direct result of the defendant's intentional actions. The conduct must be intentional or reckless, and it must lead to emotional harm that is severe or extreme.
To successfully claim IIED, the plaintiff must prove four elements: (1) the defendant engaged in conduct that was extreme and outrageous; (2) the defendant intended or recklessly disregarded the probability of causing emotional distress; (3) the plaintiff suffered severe emotional distress; and (4) the defendant's conduct was the actual cause of the emotional distress.
Examples of behavior that may potentially give rise to an IIED claim include situations involving intentional humiliation, threats, or acts of intimidation designed solely to cause emotional harm. However, it is important to note that mere insults, offhand comments, or everyday annoyances typically do not meet the threshold for an IIED claim.
If successfully proven, the plaintiff may be entitled to compensatory damages, which can include reimbursement for medical expenses, therapy costs, loss of income, and pain and suffering caused by the emotional distress.
