DocketNumber: 02206
Judges: McEwen, Popovich, Brosky
Filed Date: 5/13/1993
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 10/19/2024
This is an appeal from the order of the lower court which granted appellee’s preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer to counts VI and VII of appellants’ amended complaint, relating to appellants’ claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, and directed these counts to be stricken. Appellants present the following issues for review: (1) whether the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress is a cognizable cause of action in Pennsylvania; and (2) whether Pennsylvania recognizes a cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress where the tortfeasor’s acts were directed at a third-party and the parties alleging such distress were not present when the outrageous acts were committed. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the order of the lower court.
Before addressing the issues raised by appellants, we will briefly recount the relevant facts of this case. Glenn, Christine and Mark Johnson were parishioners of the Saint Vincent DePaul Roman Catholic Church, which is located within the Diocese of Scranton.
Although not addressed by either of the parties, we must first ascertain whether the order is properly appealable at this stage of the proceedings. Motheral v. Burkhart, 400 Pa.Super. 408, 414, 583 A.2d 1180, 1184 (1990) (en bane) (providing that because the question of appealability concerns the jurisdiction of the appellate court, we may raise such an issue sua sponte even where the parties have not done so). The order in this case, which dismissed two counts of a multiple count complaint involving multiple plaintiffs and defendants, is interlocutory and unappealable pursuant to the recent amendments to Rule 341 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure. See Pa.R.A.P., Rule 341(b)(1), 42 Pa.
As a general rule, an order dismissing one but not all counts of a multi-count complaint is interlocutory and not appeal-able. However, this court has recognized that if the dismissed count states a cause of action that is separate and distinct from the remaining count, the order dismissing that count is final and appealable; if the dismissed count merely states an alternate theory of recovery, the order dismissing it is interlocutory and not appealable. Thus, a pivotal factor to consider in determining whether an order is final is whether the order has put the aggrieved plaintiff out of court on all theories of recovery asserted against a given defendant for a given loss.
Fink v. Delaware Valley HMO, 417 Pa.Super. 287, 292, 612 A.2d 485, 488 (1992) (citations and quotation marks omitted). Accord Kelly v. Resource Housing of America, Inc., 419 Pa.Super. 393, 395-400, 615 A.2d 423, 424-426 (1992) and Motheral v. Burkhart, 400 Pa.Super. at 415-416, 583 A.2d at 1184-1185. In applying these principles to claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, this court has found orders dismissing such actions to be final and appealable.
In this case, we observe that the causes of action contained in counts VI an VII of the complaint form the sole basis of recovery asserted by Glenn and Christine Johnson against appellee.
The scope of review applicable to a grant of preliminary objections in the nature of a demurrer has been enunciated by our Supreme Court as follows:
All material facts set forth in the complaint as well as all inferences reasonably deducible therefrom are admitted as true for the purpose of this review. The question presented by the demurrer is whether, on the facts averred, the law*410 says with certainty that no recovery is possible. Where a doubt exists as to whether a demurrer should be sustained, this doubt should be resolved in favor of overruling it.
Muhammad v. Strassburger, McKenna, Messer, Shilobod & Gutnick, 526 Pa. 541, 547, 587 A.2d 1346, 1349 (1991), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 112 S.Ct. 196, 116 L.Ed.2d 156 (1991) (citations omitted). Accord Kelly v. Resource Housing of America, Inc., 419 Pa.Super. at 399-400, 615 A.2d at 426 (1992), quoting Abadie v. Riddle Memorial Hospital, 404 Pa.Super. 8, 10-11, 589 A.2d 1143, 1144 (1991); Love v. Cramer, 414 Pa.Super. 231, 233, 606 A.2d 1175, 1177 (1992); Motheral v. Burkhart, 400 Pa.Super. at 424-425, 583 A.2d at 1189; Field v. Philadelphia Electric Company, 388 Pa.Super. 400, 405, 565 A.2d 1170, 1172 (1989). We will evaluate appellants’ claims and the decision of the lower court in accordance with this standard. Because the analysis of the questions presented by appellants is intertwined, these issues will be discussed together.
Appellants seek to hold appellee liable for the tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress. This tort, as defined in § 46 of the Restatement of Torts (Second) (1965), has been acknowledged by the Pennsylvania appellate courts, but has not been specifically adopted by our Supreme Court. See, e.g., Kazatsky v. King David Memorial Park, 515 Pa. 183, 185, 527 A.2d 988, 988 (1987); Hackney v. Woodring, 424 Pa.Super. 96,---, 622 A.2d 286, 288-289 (1993) (dissenting opinion by Tamilia, J.); Kelly v. Resource Housing of America, Inc., 419 Pa.Super. at 399-400, 615 A.2d at 426; Strain v. Ferroni, 405 Pa.Super. 349, 359, 592 A.2d 698, 703 (1991); Baker v. Morjon, Inc., 393 Pa.Super. 409, 413-414, 574 A.2d 676, 678 (1990); Ford v. Isdaner, 374 Pa.Super. 40, 44, 542 A.2d 137, 139 (1988), allocatur denied, 520 Pa. 617, 554 A.2d 509 (1988); Daughen v. Fox, 372 Pa.Super. 405, 411-412, 539 A.2d 858, 861 (1988), allocatur denied, 520 Pa. 605, 553 A.2d 967 (1988). But see Field v. Philadelphia Electric Company, 388 Pa.Super. at 429, 565 A.2d at 1184 (distinguishing Kazatsky on a procedural basis and proceeding to recognize a cause of action under § 46). See also Hackney v. Woodring, 424
The tort of outrageous conduct causing severe emotional distress is outlined in § 46 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts as follows:
(1) 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.
(2) Where such conduct is directed at a third person, the actor is subject to liability if he intentionally or recklessly causes severe emotional distress.
(a) to a member of such person’s immediate family who is present at the time, whether or not such distress results in bodily harm, or
(b) to any other person who is present at the time, if such distress results in bodily harm.
In reviewing the above language, it can be seen that § 46(1) applies to situations in which a person suffers severe emotional distress as a result of outrageous conduct which is directed at that individual. By way of contrast, subsection (2) applies to individuals who suffer severe emotional distress as a result of outrageous conduct which is directed at a third-party. As applied here, counts VI and VII respectively allege that Glenn and Christine Johnson sustained severe emotional distress as a result of the sexual acts perpetrated by appellee on their son. Consequently, the facts of this case fall squarely within § 46(2) rather than § 46(1) of the Restatement.
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. Generally, the case is one in which the recitation of the facts to an average member of the community would arouse his resentment against the actor, and lead him to exclaim, “Outrageous!”
Comment d, Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46. Appellee’s conduct towards Mark Johnson, if accepted as true, may reasonably be regarded as so extreme and outrageous as to permit recovery. See Hackney v. Woodring, supra (majority opinion) (in which the defendant’s repeated intimidation, harassment and sexual abuse of the victim were found to be outrageous). Appellants have also established the third element since their complaint contains the requisite allegations of physical harm. See Amended Complaint at count VI, paragraph 53 and count VII, paragraph 57 (averring that Glenn and Christine Johnson have suffered physical harm, including
Although appellants have adequately demonstrated the elements of physical harm and outrageous conduct, their cause of action nevertheless fails because the second element, ie., their presence at the time the acts were committed, has not been met. It is obvious from a reading of the numerous allegations in their complaint that neither Mr. Johnson nor Mrs. Johnson were present when their son was subjected to the alleged sexual abuse by appellee. Although appellants acknowledge their lack of observation of these acts, they urge us to reject this element and find that their presence was not required.
Notwithstanding appellants’ arguments to the contrary, this court has repeatedly indicated that the individual suffering the distress must be present when the outrageous conduct is directed at a third person. This we believe conforms to the present law in the Commonwealth. See Baker v. Morjon, Inc., 393 Pa.Super. at 415, 574 A.2d at 679; Daughen v. Fox, 372 Pa.Super. at 413 n. 2, 539 A.2d at 861-862 n. 2; Stoddard v. Davidson, 355 Pa.Super. 262, 268, 513 A.2d 419, 423 (1986). The majority of our sister states have likewise adopted either the element of presence or a modified version of this requirement. See, e.g., Christensen v. Superior Court of Los Angeles, 54 Cal.3d 868, 903, 2 Cal.Rptr.2d 79, 100, 820 P.2d 181, 202 (1992); Homer v. Long, 90 Md.App. 1, 13-15, 599 A.2d 1193, 1198-1200 (1992), cert. denied, 326 Md. 177, 604 A.2d 444 (1992); Maguire v. State of Montana, 254 Mont. 178, 187-88, 835 P.2d 755, 761 (1992); Carlson v. Chain, 490 N.W.2d 469, 478-474 (Neb.Ct.App.1992); M.M. v. M.P.S., 556 So.2d 1140, 1140-1141 (Fla.App.1989), review denied, 569 So.2d 1279 (Fla. 1990); H.L.O. by L.E.O. v. Hossle, 381 N.W.2d 641, 644 (Iowa 1986); Lund v. Caple, 100 Wash.2d 739, 741-742, 675 P.2d 226, 228-229 (1984); Lauver v. Cornelius, 85 A.D.2d 866, 867, 446 N.Y.S.2d 456, 457 (1981); Calliari v. Sugar, 180 N.J.Super. 423, 428-429 435 A.2d 139, 142 (1980); Miller v. Cook, 87 Mich.App. 6, 11, 273 N.W.2d 567, 569-570 (1978) (all of which denied recovery for emotional distress where the plaintiffs
Ordinarily, recovery in ... cases [where the outrageous conduct is directed at a third party] is limited to plaintiffs who are not only present at the time, but are known by the defendant to be present, so that the mental effect can reasonably be anticipated by the defendant. The distinction between the wife who sees her husband shot down before her eyes, and the one who hears about it five minutes later, may be a highly artificial one; but an argument in justification is the obvious necessity of drawing a line somewhere short of the widow who learns of the decease ten years afterward, when the genuineness and gravity of her distress may very reasonably be doubted.
Prosser and Keeton, The Law of Torts § 12, at 65-66 (5th ed. 1984). We find the reasoning set forth in the relevant commentary and the cases in which presence is required to be persuasive. Presence is a crucial element of the tort because an individual who witnesses outrageous or shocking conduct directed at a third-party has no time in which to prepare himself/herself for the immediate emotional impact of such conduct. Moreover, the actor can reasonably be expected to know of the emotional effect which his or her conduct is likely to produce where the person is present. By way of comparison, the emotional effects are generally lessened where the individual learns of the outrageous conduct long after its occurrence and by means other than through his or her own personal observations. Presence is therefore an essential
Because appellants were not present when the alleged sexual conduct occurred, they have failed to set forth a cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Under these circumstances, the trial court properly granted the demurrer and dismissed the counts relating to this tort. We accordingly affirm the order of the lower court.
Order affirmed.
. Appellants, Glenn and Christine Johnson, are the parents of Mark Johnson, who was a minor at the time the tortious acts allegedly occurred.
. Neither the diocese nor the church filed preliminary objections to the complaint. Further, the dismissed counts of the complaint which form the basis of this appeal pertained solely to Father Caparelli. The church and the diocese thus were not affected by the trial court’s order and have not participated in this appeal.
. After the objections were sustained, the parties entered into a stipulation relating to other counts of the complaint in which the parties agreed to the dismissal of other counts. As a result, a second amended complaint has been filed. The second amended complaint is not properly before us at this time.
. Although Glenn and Christine Johnson also sought recovery from appellee in counts III, IV, IX and X of the complaint, the record contains a stipulation of counsel which indicates that these four counts were dismissed with prejudice. See Stipulation of Counsel, filed 9/20/92. Consequently, the dismissed counts cannot be construed as an alternate theory of recovery.
. The decisions allowing recovery despite the lack of presence are not instructive as none of these cases cited or discussed the Restatement. Rather, these decisions treated the outrageous conduct as if it had been directed at the plaintiffs rather than the third-parties due to the husband-wife or parent-child relationships. Consequently, the element of presence was not required. Moreover, the continued precedential authority of Delia S. and Schurk is questionable in light of subsequent