AZ Common Law Causes of Action NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS (2011)

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

Elements

“A negligent infliction of emotional distress cause of action requires the plaintiff to:

(1) witness an injury to a closely related person,

(2) suffer mental anguish manifested as physical injury, and

(3) be within the zone of danger so as to be subject to an unreasonable risk of bodily harm created by the defendant.”

Pierce v. Casas Adobes Baptist Church, 162 Ariz. 269, 272, 782 P.2d 1162, 1165 (1989). See also Villareal v. State, 160 Ariz. 474, 481, 774 P.2d 213, 220 (1989); Kaufman v. Langhofer, 223 Ariz. 249, 256, ¶ 28, 222 P.3d 272, 279 (App. Div. 1, 2009).

See generally RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 436A.

Proof

“[A] physical injury, as well as a long-term physical illness or mental disturbance, constitutes sufficient bodily harm to support a claim of negligent infliction of emotional distress.” Monaco v. HealthPartners of S. Ariz., 196 Ariz. 299, 303, 995 P.2d 735, 739 (App. Div. 2, 1999).

“‘Transitory physical phenomena’ such as weeping and insomnia ‘are not the type of bodily harm which would sustain a cause of action for emotional distress.’” Gau v. Smitty’s Super Valu, Inc., 183 Ariz. 107, 109, 901 P.2d 455, 457 (App. Div. 1, 1995) (quoting Burns v. Jaquays Mining Corp., 156 Ariz. 375, 379, 752 P.2d...