Simple English definitions for legal terms
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IIED stands for intentional infliction of emotional distress. It is when someone does something on purpose or recklessly that causes another person to feel really, really bad. This can include saying mean things or threatening to hurt someone in the future. To prove IIED, the person who was hurt has to show that the other person's behavior was really outrageous and caused them to feel so bad that it affected their mental health. However, sometimes people can say mean things and not be held responsible for IIED if they are just expressing their opinions or ideas. Different places have different rules about what counts as IIED.
IIED stands for intentional infliction of emotional distress. It is a type of tort that occurs when someone intentionally or recklessly causes another person to suffer severe emotional distress. This can include threats of future harm or other outrageous conduct.
In order for IIED to be proven, several elements must be present:
For example, if someone repeatedly yells insults at an actor in front of an audience, causing the actor to experience severe emotional distress, this could be considered IIED.
Free speech is protected by the First Amendment, which means that not all negative speech or criticism will qualify as IIED. In order for speech to be considered IIED, the person must go beyond simply criticizing someone and engage in truly outrageous conduct.
For example, if someone makes a speech expressing their dislike for a particular political figure, this would not be considered IIED. However, if they repeatedly make threats against that person's life, this could be considered IIED.
If the victim gave consent to the defendant to engage in the outrageous conduct, this may negate the IIED claim. Additionally, if the conduct occurred in a situation where it would be considered normal or appropriate, this may also negate the claim.
Different jurisdictions may have slightly different definitions and requirements for IIED. Some may expand liability to include emotional distress suffered by someone close to the intended victim.
In recent years, there has been a move away from imposing IIED liability, particularly in cases where the conduct in question involves matters of public concern. This is due to concerns about protecting free speech rights.