Mintz v. Bell Atlantic Systems Leasing International, Inc. , 183 Ariz. 550 ( 1995 )

OPINION

NOYES, Judge.

After she failed to receive an expected promotion, Appellant Mintz suffered an emotional breakdown and later sued Appellee Bell Atlantic, her employer, and Appellee Schoenlank, her supervisor. The trial court granted Appellees’ motion to dismiss. We affirm because we conclude that 1) there is no tort claim for wrongful failure to promote, 2) the complaint does not state a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, and 3) a supervisor acting in the course and scope of employment does not tortiously interfere with a plaintiffs contract of employment when he fails to promote her.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On appeal from a motion to dismiss, we consider the facts alleged in the complaint to be true, and we view them in a light most favorable to the plaintiff to determine whether the complaint states a valid claim for relief. See Mack v. McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co., 179 Ariz. 627, 628, 880 P.2d 1173, 1174 (App.1994).

In July 1987, Bell Atlantic hired Mintz as a computer equipment broker. In December 1989, Mintz complained to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) that Bell Atlantic was guilty of sex discrimination by failing to promote her and promoting a male instead. This complaint was resolved by Mintz and Bell Atlantic in 1990. In June 1991, Mintz once again did not receive an expected promotion (to a job involving duties she had been performing for several months). Mintz thought she was more qualified than the male hired by Schoenlank for the position. As a result of not being promoted, Mintz was hospitalized for severe emotional and psychological problems, and she began receiving short term disability benefits.

About three months later, Bell Atlantic stopped Mintz’s disability benefits and directed her to return to work on September 11, although Bell Atlantic was aware that Mintz’s physician had recommended that she not return to work until October 1. Mintz returned to work as ordered on September 11, but the stress put her back into the hospital the following day. On September 13, Bell Atlantic delivered a letter to Mintz in the hospital informing her that her job duties were being reassigned.

Mintz promptly filed a sex discrimination complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office (“ACRD”), and in June 1992, she filed this lawsuit in Superior Court. After ACRD issued a right-to-sue letter in July 1992, Mintz filed an amended complaint in Superior Court, naming Bell Atlantic in Counts 1 through 4 and Schoenlank in Count 5. The five counts are as follows:

Count 1: Public policy tort for wrongful failure to promote because of sex discrimination;

Count 2: Public policy tort for wrongful failure to promote in retaliation for filing the EEOC complaint;

Count 3: Sex discrimination (Arizona Civil Rights Act);

Count 4: Intentional infliction of emotional distress;

Count 5: Intentional interference with contractual relations.

In granting Appellees’ motion to dismiss, the trial court concluded: 1) the public policy theory relied on in Counts 1 and 2 applied only in wrongful discharge cases; existing discrimination laws provided the remedy for wrongful failure-to-promote; 2) Bell Atlantic’s alleged conduct was hot so extreme and outrageous as to state a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress; and 3) because Mintz alleged that Schoenlank acted in the course and scope of employment, he was acting as the company and could not interfere with his own contract when he failed to promote her.

After the trial court dismissed Counts 1, 2, 4, and 5, the parties stipulated to dismissal of Count 3, judgment was entered, and this timely appeal followed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Ariz.Rev.Stat.Ann. (“A.R.S.”) sections 12-120.21(A)(1) (1992) and 12-2101(B) (1994).

ANALYSIS

A. Public Policy Torts

Mintz argues that the trial court failed to follow the broad policy pronouncements of Wagenseller v. Scottsdale Memorial Hospital, 147 Ariz. 370, 710 P.2d 1025 (1985), in which the Arizona Supreme Court recognized a tort for wrongful discharge from employment when the reason for the discharge violates public policy. Mintz, in effect, asks us to create the tort of wrongful failure-to-promote.

A similar request was presented in Burris v. City of Phoenix, 179 Ariz. 35, 875 P.2d 1340 (App.1993). In Burris, the plaintiff proposed that a tort action for wrongful failure-to-hire arose from a violation of public policy found in the Arizona Civil Rights Act (“ACRA”). Id. at 43, 875 P.2d at 1348. Burris rejected this theory, citing the lack of any state or federal authority recognizing the tort of wrongful failure-to-hire. Id. We follow Burris, as did another recent panel of this Court in Bogue v. Better-Bilt Aluminum Co., 179 Ariz. 22, 33, 875 P.2d 1327, 1338 (App.1994).

Mintz argues that Broomfield v. Lundell, 159 Ariz. 349, 767 P.2d 697 (App.1988), supports her argument because that case, after finding that ACRA “clearly established a public policy against employment discrimination,” held that ACRA “does not preempt a tort action for wrongful discharge.” Id. at 357, 767 P.2d at 705. As noted by Burris, however, to hold that ACRA does not preempt a tort action is quite different from holding that it creates a tort action. Burris, 179 Ariz. at 43, 875 P.2d at 1348.

The tort of wrongful discharge was' not created by ACRA, see Bernstein v. Aetna Life and Casualty, 843 F.2d 359, 365 (9th Cir.1988); it existed before WagenseUer and independently of ACRA. See Fleming v. Pima County, 141 Ariz. 149, 153-54, 685 P.2d 1301, 1305-06 (1984) (tort of wrongful discharge protects both at-will and non-at-will employees). The tort of wrongful failure-to-promote does not presently exist, and nothing in ACRA, WagenseUer or Broomfield provides reason or authority for creating it.

We know of no court that recognizes the tort of wrongful failure-to-promote. Zimmerman v. Buchheit of Sparta, Inc., 245 Ill.App.3d 679, 615 N.E.2d 791, 615 N.E.2d 791 (1993), recognized the tort of retaliatory demotion, but that case was reversed by the Illinois Supreme Court. See Zimmerman v. Buchheit of Sparta, Inc., 164 Ill.2d 29, 206 Ill.Dec. 625, 645 N.E.2d 877 (1994); see also Ludwig v. C & A Wallcoverings, Inc., 960 F.2d 40 (7th Cir.1992) (Illinois tort of wrongful discharge does not include retaliatory demotion); Hindo v. University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical Sch., 237 Ill.App.3d 453, 178 Ill.Dec. 207, 604 N.E.2d 463 (1992) (no cause of action for retaliatory demotion).

Mintz argues that Broomfield observed that ACRA’s administrative and judicial remedies for employment discrimination may, at times, be inadequate. Broomfield, 159 Ariz. at 357, 767 P.2d at 705. That fact may be of assistance in deciding whether ACRA preempted the existing tort of wrongful discharge, but it is not of assistance in determining whether there is an existing tort action for wrongful failure-to-promote. We agree with the trial court that the tort of wrongful failure-to-promote does not exist and that any remedies for this conduct are therefore statutory. See A.R.S. §§ 41-1463(B) (Supp.1994), 41-1464(A) (1992), 41-1481 (Supp.1994).

As a policy reason for not creating the tort of wrongful failure-to-promote, we reiterate the concerns expressed in Ludwig:

Recognizing a retaliation tort for actions short, of termination could subject employers to torrents of unwarranted and vexatious suits filed by disgruntled employees at every juncture in the employment process. And why stop at demotions? If, as Ludwig argues, a demotion raises the same policy concerns as a termination, so too would transfers, alterations in job duties, and perhaps even disciplinary proceedings. The potential for expansion of this type of litigation is enormous.

960 F.2d at 43; see also Foley v. Interactive Data Corp., 47 Cal.3d 654, 254 Cal.Rptr. 211, 765 P.2d 373, 401 (1988) (“The expansion of tort remedies in the employment context has potentially enormous consequences for the stability of the business community.”).

B. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

The elements of this cause of action are:

[FJirst, the conduct by the defendant must be “extreme” and “outrageous”; second, the defendant must either intend to cause emotional distress or recklessly disregard the near certainty that such distress will result from his conduct; and third, severe emotional distress must indeed occur as a result of defendant’s conduct.

Ford v. Revlon, Inc., 153 Ariz. 38, 43, 734 P.2d 580, 585 (1987) (emphasis in original) (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46(1) (1965)). The trial court must determine whether the acts complained of are sufficiently extreme and outrageous to state a claim for relief. Patton v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n of Phoenix, 118 Ariz. 473, 476, 578 P.2d 152, 155 (1978). A plaintiff must show that the defendant’s acts were “so outrageous in character and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.” Cluff v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, 10 Ariz.App. 560, 562, 460 P.2d 666, 668 (1969) (quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46 cmt. d). Only when reasonable minds could differ in determining whether conduct is sufficiently extreme or outrageous does the issue go to the jury. Lucchesi v. Stimmell, 149 Ariz. 76, 79, 716 P.2d 1013, 1016 (1986).

The essence of Count 4 is its allegation that “the actions of Defendant Bell Atlantic in failing to promote Plaintiff, forcing her to return to work, and hand delivering a letter to her while in the hospital were extreme and outrageous and calculated to cause severe emotional distress to Plaintiff.” We assume the allegations of the complaint to be true and will uphold the dismissal only if plaintiff is not entitled to relief under any facts susceptible of proof under the claims stated. Donnelly Constr. Co. v. Oberg/Hunt/Gilleland, 139 Ariz. 184, 186, 677 P.2d 1292, 1294 (1984).

We readily agree with the trial court that Bell Atlantic’s failure to promote Mintz does not “go beyond all possible bounds of decency,” even if it was motivated by sex discrimination or retaliation. A closer question is presented by Bell Atlantic’s “forcing her to return to work, and hand delivering a letter to her while in the hospital.” But we again agree with the trial court that the allegations regarding Bell Atlantic’s conduct do not state a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. As noted in Cox v. Keystone Carbon Co., 861 F.2d 390 (3d Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 811, 111 S.Ct. 47, 112 L.Ed.2d 23 (1990), “[I]t is extremely rare to find conduct in the employment context that will rise to the level of outrageousness necessary to provide a basis for recovery for the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress.” Id. at 395.

Mintz properly argues that a relevant factor in determining outrageousness is defendant’s knowledge that plaintiff is particularly susceptible to emotional distress. See Lucchesi, 149 Ariz. at 79, 716 P.2d at 1016 (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46 cmt. f); see also Brown v. Ellis, 40 Conn.Supp. 165, 484 A.2d 944 (1984) (knowing that plaintiff feared heights, defendant assigned him work at heights); LaBrier v. Anheuser Ford, Inc., 612 S.W.2d 790 (Mo.App.1981) (defendants knew of plaintiffs susceptibility to emotional problems).

Another relevant factor, however, is that Bell Atlantic had a legitimate business purpose in seeing that Mintz’s work was done, either by her or by someone else. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46 cmt. g:

The conduct, although it would otherwise be extreme and outrageous, may be privileged under the circumstances. The actor is never liable, for example, where he has done no more than to insist upon his legal rights in a permissible way, even though he is well aware that such insistence is certain to cause emotional distress.

Because of its legitimate business purpose, the bare fact that Bell Atlantic called Mintz back to work sooner than her doctor recommended or that Bell Atlantic hand delivered a letter to Mintz in the hospital cannot be regarded as “atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community,” even in light of Mintz’s known susceptibility to emotional problems.¹ The trial court has to draw a line, and we find no error in where the line was drawn on the facts alleged here. See Cluff, 10 Ariz.App. at 562, 460 P.2d at 668 (trial court acts as society’s conscience to determine whether alleged acts “can be considered as extreme and outrageous conduct in order to state a claim for relief’).

The Cox case serves to illustrate just how outrageous alleged conduct must be to state a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress in the employment context. The plaintiff in Cox suffered from severe coronary artery disease and took a three-month leave of absence to undergo triple bypass heart surgery. 861 F.2d at 391. On his first day back at work following surgery, Cox was discharged by the employer. Id. at .395. When Cox applied for long term disability and medical insurance benefits, the employer opposed his application. Id. at 391. In affirming the trial court’s grant to the employer of a directed verdict on Cox’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, the Third Circuit explained that:

In the instant case, examining Cox’s claim in the light most favorable to him, [the employer] can only be said to have dismissed Cox with an improper motive and notwithstanding the potential effects on Cox____ Thus, although we agree with the district court that Cox’s dismissal could have been handled with more empathy and finesse, we must nevertheless conclude that [the employer’s] behavior was not so outrageous as to allow a reasonable jury to afford Cox relief on his intentional infliction of emotional distress claim.

Id. at 396.

Although we can certainly see the apparent callousness and insensitivity of delivering a job-reassignment letter to an employee in Mintz’s condition, we conclude that the trial court did not err in ruling that the facts alleged by Mintz were not sufficiently extreme and outrageous to state a claim against her employer for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

C. Intentional Interference with Contractual Relations

This claim is against Schoenlank alone for his failure to promote Mintz. The trial court dismissed this claim, concluding that because Mintz alleged that Schoenlank was acting in the course and scope of his employment when he failed to promote her, he was the company and could not interfere with his own contract. Mintz disagrees and relies on Wagenseller and Bernstein, each of which allowed an employee to prosecute an intentional interference with contractual relations claim against a supervisor who allegedly acted with improper motivation in causing the employee to be discharged.

To apply Wagenseller and Bernstein as argued by Mintz would create quite an anomaly: although having no claim against the company for the supervisor’s failure to promote her, Mintz would have an intentional interference claim against the supervisor himself. To make sense here, it is necessary for us to distinguish Wagenseller and Bernstein on this point, which can be done: those cases are grounded in the existing tort of wrongful discharge, while Mintz’s case is grounded in the non-existent tort of wrongful failure-to-promote.

We reiterate that Schoenlank’s actions formed the basis of the “public policy” tort claims against Bell Atlantic. Having concluded that no cause of action is stated against Bell Atlantic in Counts 1 and 2 for Schoenlank’s failure to promote Mintz, we must also conclude that no cause of action is ' stated against Schoenlank in Count 5 for that same conduct.

“[A] cause of action in tort is available to a party to any contract, at-will or otherwise, when a third party improperly and intentionally interferes with the performance of that contract.” Wagenseller, 147 Ariz. at 387, 710 P.2d at 1042. There is no “third party” in this case. Mintz alleged in the amended complaint that “Defendant Schoenlank was at all times mentioned herein acting for and on behalf of Defendant Bell Atlantic, as an agent and employee of Bell Atlantic, and in his official capacity.” That being the case, there are only two parties in this case: Mintz and Bell Atlantic acting through Schoenlank. If Bell Atlantic cannot be liable in tort for Schoenlank’s failure to promote Mintz, neither can Schoenlank.

Two Arizona cases are on point. Payne v. Pennzoil Corp., 138 Ariz. 52, 672 P.2d 1322 (App.1983), affirmed dismissal of an intentional interference claim against supervisors who discharged Payne. The court concluded that the supervisors were acting for the company when they discharged Payne, and they therefore were the company and could not interfere with their own contract. 138 Ariz. at 57, 672 P.2d at 1327.

Barrow v. Arizona Bd. of Regents, 158 Ariz. 71, 761 P.2d 145 (App.1988), a postWagenseller case, followed Payne in affirming the dismissal of a professor’s intentional interference claim against the university officials who caused his suspension. The court reasoned that because the officials were acting for the Board of Regents, they were the Board of Regents and could not interfere with their own contract. Id. at 78, 761 P.2d at 152.

We understand Mintz’s argument that the Payne-Barrow rationale is of questionable validity in discharge cases because Bernstein found this rationale both “meritless” and specifically rejected by Wagenseller. See 843 F.2d at 367. Bernstein stated that the issue was not whether the agent was acting for the employer: “The issue that the Wagenseller court emphasized is whether the interfering party’s action was ‘improper.’” Id. We agree with this reading of Wagenseller and can reconcile it with our holding. Mintz alleged that Schoenlank was acting in the course and scope of his employment when he failed to promote her. Because Bell Atlantic cannot be liable in tort for Schoenlank’s failure to promote Mintz, Schoenlank did nothing “improper” and cannot himself be liable in tort for intentional interference with Mintz’s employment contract.

The judgment of dismissal is in all respects affirmed.

GARBARINO, J., concurs.

1 . The dissent compares delivery of this letter to "insistently and boisterously attempt[ing] to settle an insurance claim” in the hospital room of a patient with a heart condition, infra p. 16. We see a significant difference between the two situations. The outrage in the cited example is not the settlement attempt, it is the insistent and boisterous manner in which that attempt was made. The cited example would not state a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress by merely alleging that the company "attempted to settle an insurance claim” in the hospital, and Mintz does not state a claim by merely alleging that the company "hand deliver[ed] a [job-reassignment] letter to her while in the hospital.”