Under what condition can a plaintiff recover damages for emotional distress?

A plaintiff can recover damages for emotional distress when they can demonstrate that they have experienced severe emotional distress as a direct result of the defendant's actions. This principle stems from the recognition that emotional harm can be just as significant as physical harm and can seriously impact an individual’s quality of life.

In many jurisdictions, the threshold for recovery involves showing that the emotional distress was particularly severe or pervasive, often requiring evidence from mental health professionals or specific circumstances that highlight the depth of the distress experienced. This can include situations involving intentional infliction of emotional distress or cases where a defendant's negligent actions lead to significant mental suffering.

The requirement for demonstrating severe emotional distress helps to filter out claims that may be trivial or frivolous, ensuring that only those with genuine, substantial distress resulting from wrongful conduct are entitled to recover damages. This standard encourages accountability for actions that inflict psychological harm while protecting courts from being burdened with less serious claims.