legal standards for emotional distress

Legal standards for emotional distress require that the claim demonstrates the defendant’s conduct was extreme or outrageous, intentionally or recklessly caused severe emotional suffering, and that the distress was serious and persistent. The behavior must go beyond common insults or disagreements, often involving actions like harassment or threats. The emotional harm must be medically or otherwise reliably documented to be considered in court. These standards vary by jurisdiction but generally aim to prevent frivolous claims while providing relief for those genuinely harmed by particularly egregious conduct.