Which tort is named for causing severe emotional distress through outrageous conduct?

• A. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
• B. Assault
• C. False imprisonment
• D. Trespass to Land

Answer: (A)

The main idea is intentional infliction of emotional distress. This tort covers situations where someone acts in extreme and outrageous ways, with the intention to cause emotional distress or with reckless disregard for the likelihood of causing distress, and the victim suffers severe emotional distress as a result. Outrageous conduct must go beyond what society would consider acceptable, and the distress must be severe (physical harm isn’t required in many jurisdictions, though the distress must be substantial).

The other options don’t fit because they describe different wrongs: assault involves a threat or attempt of immediate harmful contact that causes reasonable fear of such contact; false imprisonment is the unlawful restraint of a person’s freedom of movement; and trespass to land concerns entering or remaining on someone else’s property.