What must a plaintiff demonstrate to succeed in an emotional distress claim in Ohio?

In Ohio, to succeed in an emotional distress claim, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the emotional distress suffered was severe and resulted from outrageous conduct by the defendant. This standard is critical as it reflects the requirement that the behavior leading to emotional distress must go beyond mere negligence or careless actions; it must be deemed outrageous or extreme in nature.

Severe emotional distress is often characterized by a level of distress that significantly impacts the plaintiff's ability to function in daily life, leading to severe psychological effects or physical manifestations. Outrageous conduct indicates that the defendant’s actions were not merely insensitive or harmful but were egregiously wrongful and shocking, warranting a legal remedy.

This high threshold serves to balance protecting individuals from harmful actions while preventing trivial claims that could arise from common emotional responses or typical experiences. Thus, the focus on "severe" and "outrageous" underscores the need for a significant level of misconduct and distress to validate such claims in legal contexts.