Can I Sue for Verbal or Emotional Abuse?
In most jurisdictions when a defendant intentionally inflicts emotional or verbal abuse on a plaintiff, the plaintiff can sue and recover damages for the emotional pain and suffering they endured as well as for physical problems caused by the abuse. The legal theory used in these cases is “intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED).” Note that only conduct that goes beyond all possible limits of decency and is seen as atrocious and utterly intolerable in a civilized community would fall under IIED and that intentional actions are not covered by insurance; as a result, these types of cases are rare.
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Washington State Divorce Attorney Shares Shocking Domestic Violence Statistics
Domestic violence is a pattern of intentional behavior meant to demean, control and exert power over an intimate partner. It plays out in various ways including intimidation, emotional and mental abuse, sexual assault, physical assault and battery, and sexual assault. The abuse can vary widely in frequency and severity; examples include hitting and pushing, isolating partner from others, withholding money, and stalking. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average 20 people per minute and more than 10 million people annually are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States.