CACI No. 1600. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress - Essential Factual Elements
Judicial Council of California Civil Jury Instructions (2023 edition)
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1600.Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress - Essential
Factual Elements
[Name of plaintiff] claims that [name of defendant]’s conduct caused [him/
her/nonbinary pronoun] to suffer severe emotional distress. To establish
this claim, [name of plaintiff] must prove all of the following:
1. That [name of defendant]’s conduct was outrageous;
2. [That [name of defendant] intended to cause [name of plaintiff]
emotional distress;]
2. [or]
2. [That [name of defendant] acted with reckless disregard of the
probability that [name of plaintiff] would suffer emotional distress,
knowing that [name of plaintiff] was present when the conduct
occurred;]
3. That [name of plaintiff] suffered severe emotional distress; and
4. That [name of defendant]’s conduct was a substantial factor in
causing [name of plaintiff]’s severe emotional distress.
New September 2003
Directions for Use
CACI Nos. 1602-1604, regarding the elements of intentional infliction of emotional
distress, should be given with this instruction.
Depending on the facts of the case, a plaintiff could choose one or both of the
bracketed choices in element 2.
Sources and Authority
• “A cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress exists when
there is ‘(1) extreme and outrageous conduct by the defendant with the intention
of causing, or reckless disregard of the probability of causing, emotional distress;
(2) the plaintiff’s suffering severe or extreme emotional distress; and (3) actual
and proximate causation of the emotional distress by the defendant’s outrageous
conduct.’ A defendant’s conduct is ‘outrageous’ when it is so ‘extreme as to
exceed all bounds of that usually tolerated in a civilized community.’ And the
defendant’s conduct must be ‘intended to inflict injury or engaged in with the
realization that injury will result.’ ” (Hughes v. Pair (2009) 46 Cal.4th 1035,
1050-1051 [95 Cal.Rptr.3d 636, 209 P.3d 963])
• “[T]he trial court initially determines whether a defendant’s conduct may
reasonably be regarded as so extreme and outrageous as to permit recovery.
Where reasonable men can differ, the jury determines whether the conduct has
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been extreme and outrageous to result in liability. Otherwise stated, the court
determines whether severe emotional distress can be found; the jury determines
whether on the evidence it has, in fact, existed.” (Plotnik v. Meihaus (2012) 208
Cal.App.4th 1590, 1614 [146 Cal.Rptr.3d 585].)
• “ ‘[I]t is generally held that there can be no recovery for mere profanity,
obscenity, or abuse, without circumstances of aggravation, or for insults,
indignities or threats which are considered to amount to nothing more than mere
annoyances.’ ” (Yurick v. Superior Court (1989) 209 Cal.App.3d 1116, 1128 [257
Cal.Rptr. 665], internal citations omitted.)
• “Liability for IIED does not extend to ‘ “ ‘mere insults, indignities, threats,
annoyances, petty oppressions, or other trivialities.’ ” ’ Malicious or evil purpose
is not essential to liability for IIED.” (Crouch v. Trinity Christian Center of
Santa Ana, Inc. (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th 995, 1007 [253 Cal.Rptr.3d 1], internal
citations omitted.)
• “It is not enough that the conduct be intentional and outrageous. It must be
conduct directed at the plaintiff, or occur in the presence of a plaintiff of whom
the defendant is aware.” (Christensen v. Superior Court (1991) 54 Cal.3d 868,
903-904 [2 Cal.Rptr.2d 79, 820 P.2d 181].)
• “A requirement of a special relationship does not appear in the California
Supreme Court’s formulation of the elements of IIED. To recover for negligent
infliction of emotional distress, a plaintiff must prove a special relationship with
the defendant but [the plaintiff] sought recovery for intentional infliction, for
which proof of a special relationship is not required.” (Crouch, supra, 39
Cal.App.5th at pp. 1009-1010.)
• “Severe emotional distress [is] emotional distress of such substantial quantity or
enduring quality that no reasonable man in a civilized society should be
expected to endure it.” (Fletcher v. Western Life Insurance Co. (1970) 10
Cal.App.3d 376, 397 [89 Cal.Rptr. 78].)
• “ ‘The law limits claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress to
egregious conduct toward plaintiff proximately caused by defendant.’ The only
exception to this rule is that recognized when the defendant is aware, but acts
with reckless disregard of, the plaintiff and the probability that his or her
conduct will cause severe emotional distress to that plaintiff. Where reckless
disregard of the plaintiff’s interests is the theory of recovery, the presence of the
plaintiff at the time the outrageous conduct occurs is recognized as the element
establishing a higher degree of culpability which, in turn, justifies recovery of
greater damages by a broader group of plaintiffs than allowed on a negligent
infliction of emotional distress theory.” (Christensen, supra, 54 Cal.3d at pp.
905-906, internal citations omitted.)
Secondary Sources
5 Witkin, Summary of California Law (11th ed. 2017) Torts, §§ 525-528
Croskey et al., California Practice Guide: Insurance Litigation, Ch. 11-E, Intentional
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS CACI No. 1600
967
Infliction Of Emotional Distress, ¶ 11:61 et seq. (The Rutter Group)
4 Levy et al., California Torts, Ch. 44, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress,
§ 44.01 (Matthew Bender)
32 California Forms of Pleading and Practice, Ch. 362, Mental Suffering and
Emotional Distress, § 362.10 (Matthew Bender)
15 California Points and Authorities, Ch. 153, Mental Suffering and Emotional
Distress, § 153.20 et seq. (Matthew Bender)
CACI No. 1600 EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
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© Judicial Council of California.
