Rose Sutton, V Tacoma School District No.10 ( 2014 )

FILED
SLED
CQU DJV;''' APPEALS
T OF
QN 1
Y4jE "r l
2014 APR 29 AM 8: 38
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
ROSE SUTTON, as limited guardian ad litem
for N.Y.Y., a Minor,
Appellant, No. 43962 -0 -II
v. PUBLISHED OPINION
TACOMA SCHOOL DISTRICT No. 10,
Individually; JEFFREY FREDERICK;
individually, and together with " JANE DOE"
FREDERICK and the marital community
composed thereof;
Respondents.
MAxA, J. — Rose Sutton appeals an order granting summary judgment to Tacoma School
District No. 10 and Jeffrey Frederick (collectively, School District) on her claims for assault,
battery, and outrage arising from Frederick' s alleged conduct toward Sutton' s granddaughter,
NYY. Sutton argues that questions of fact exist regarding these claims where Frederick, NYY' s
first grade teacher, allegedly berated NYY in a loud voice while towering over her and
physically bumping her until she was pinned against a wall. We reverse the trial court' s grant of
summary judgment on the battery and assault claims because questions of fact exist as to
whether Frederick' s alleged conduct was intended to cause both offensive contact with NYY and
NYY' s apprehension of such contact. But we affirm the trial court' s grant of summary judgment
No. 43962 -0 -II
on the outrage claim because although there was evidence of outrageous conduct and intent to
cause emotional distress, Sutton failed to present evidence creating a question of fact as to
whether NYY actually suffered severe emotional distress as a result of Frederick' s alleged
conduct. We remand for further proceedings.
FACTS
Frederick was the instructor in the Therapeutic Learning Center (TLC) at Stanley
Elementary School. NYY was a first grade special education student in the TLC. Linda Brieger,
a paraprofessional instructional assistant, worked in the TLC with Frederick.
On January 14, 2011, Brieger told Frederick that she needed help with NYY, who had
tipped over her desk and poured milk into it. While Frederick was responding to the situation,
Sutton happened to walk into the classroom and observe his interaction with NYY. Sutton
described the scene in her deposition:
So now I stepped in the door and I' m looking. And I look in the back, in the
dark, and he was back there in front of [NYY], over her with his chest practically
on her, hollering and swinging his anns, telling her how he' s tired of her, he' s
getting —she' s getting on his dang -gone. nerves —well, his damn nerves.
And I panicked and I said Why are you talking to her like that? Wiryareyou
hollering? .. .
And he was so intense in talking to her that he didn' t even realize I was in the
room... .
He] was just swinging his arms all around her and his chest was bumping up
against her. How do you — he was powered over her. She' s a little girl.
He] bumped her with his chest, because he towered over her. And he was
right up on her. He was bumping her and throwing his arms up.
Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at 59 -60. Sutton stated that Frederick was " up in [NYY' s] face." CP at 60.
In her subsequent declaration Sutton elaborated that Frederick had NYY "pinned against
the wall" and was physically keeping her in the corner as his body was bumping against her. CP
at 184. And Sutton could hear Frederick yelling down the hall even before she reached the
2
No. 43962 -0 -II
classroom. Some of the things he yelled were " You make me sick" and " Why are you so
stupid ?" CP at 207, 183. Sutton claimed that after the incident NYY' s face was covered with
spit.
Sutton sued the School District on behalf of NYY based on multiple claims for relief,
eventually pursuing just three claims: assault, battery, and outrage. Sutton alleged in the
complaint that Frederick physically assaulted NYY, screamed and cursed at her, pushed her into
a corner while yelling at the top of his voice, and yelled at her so closely that her face was
covered with his saliva. The complaint alleged that Frederick later apologized, stating that he
had just broken up two fights and had taken his frustration out on NYY.
The School District filed a motion for summary judgment, attaching statements from
Frederick and Brieger with an account of the incident radically different than Sutton' s. It also
pointed out that Sutton' s descriptions of the incident became progressively worse over time. In
response, Sutton filed the declaration described above. Sutton presented no declaration from
NYY and no witness declarations other than her own.
The trial courtgranted the School District's summary judgment motion, ruling that
Sutton failed to present evidence showing that Frederick' s conduct was intentional. The trial
court also denied Sutton' s motion for reconsideration.
ANALYSIS
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review a trial court's order granting summary judgment de novo. Loeffelholz v. Univ.
of Wash., 175 Wash. 2d 264, 271, 285 P.3d 854 ( 2012). " We review the evidence in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party and draw all reasonable inferences in that party' s favor."
Lakey v. Puget Sound Energy, Inc., 176 Wash. 2d 909, 922, 296 P.3d 860 ( 2013). Summary
3
No. 43962 -0 -II
judgment is appropriate where there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Loeffelholz, 175 Wash. 2d at 271. " A genuine issue of
material fact exists where reasonable minds could differ on the facts controlling the outcome of
the litigation." Ranger Ins. Co. v. Pierce County, 164 Wash. 2d 545, 552, 192 P.3d 886 ( 2008). If
reasonable minds can reach only one conclusion on an issue of fact, that issue may be
determined on summary judgment. M. Mortenson Co.
A. v. Timberline Software Corp., 140
Wash. 2d 568, 579, 998 P.2d 305 ( 2000).
B. BATTERY AND ASSAULT
Sutton argues that summary judgment was inappropriate on her battery and assault claims
because her deposition testimony and declaration created questions of fact regarding Frederick' s
conduct and intent. We agree, and hold that summary judgment was not appropriate on whether
Frederick committed battery and assault. We do not address whether Sutton can prove that NYY
suffered damages as a result of Frederick' s alleged conduct because the existence of actual
damages is not an element of the battery and assault causes of action that must be addressed on
summary judgment.
1. Battery
A battery is the intentional infliction of harmful or offensive bodily contact with the
plaintiff. Morinaga v. Vue, 85 Wn. App. 822, 834, 935 P.2d 637 ( 1997). More specifically, a
battery is " [ a] harmful or offensive contact with a person, resulting from an act intended to
cause the plaintiff or a third person to suffer such contact.' " McKinney v. City of Tukwilla, 103
Wn. App. 391, 408, 13 P.3d 631 ( 2000) ( alteration in original) ( quoting W. PAGE KEETON ET AL.,
PROSSER AND KEETON ON THE LAW OF TORTS § 9, at 39 ( 5th ed. 1984)). " A bodily contact is
offensive if it offends a reasonable sense of personal dignity." RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF
4
No. 43962 -0 -TI
TORTS § 19 ( 1965). For there to be intent to cause harmful or offensive contact, " ` the act must
be done for the purpose of causing the contact ... or with knowledge on the part of the actor that
such contact ... is substantially certain to be produced.' " Garratt v. Dailey, 46 Wash. 2d 197,
201 -02, 279 P.2d 1091 ( 1955) ( quoting RESTATEMENT OF TORTS § 13, cmt. d ( 1934)).
Significantly, the requisite intent for battery is the intent to cause the contact, not the intent to
cause injury. Garratt, 46 Wash. 2d at 201 -02.
In her deposition, Sutton testified that she observed Frederick bumping his chest against
NYY as he hollered at her. In her subsequent declaration, Sutton elaborated that Frederick had
NYY "pinned against the wall" and was physically keeping her in the corner as his body was
bumping against her. CP at 184. If these statements are true, a reasonable jury could find that
Frederick made bodily contact with NYY and that the contact was offensive.
The School District argues that Sutton' s statements cannot create genuine issues of fact
that a battery occurred for two reasons. First, the School District argues that Sutton cannot rely
solely on her self -
serving declaration to avoid summary judgment. The School District claims
that a nonmoving party cannot rely on having its statements taken at face value, citing Heath v.
Uraga, 106 Wn. App. 506, 513, 24 P.3d 413 ( 2001). We disagree. Although there are
circumstances where a party' s declaration will not be enough to create a question of fact, here
Sutton was an eyewitness and her deposition testimony and declaration were based on her
personal observations of Frederick' s contact. On summary judgment, we must treat that
testimony as true even if it is self serving.
Second, the School District argues that Sutton' s version of the events evolved over time
and that there were inconsistencies among what she said on the day of the incident, in her
deposition, and in her declaration. However, in both her deposition and her declaration —her two
5
No. 43962 -0 -II
sworn statements — Sutton consistently stated that Frederick was bumping NYY as he yelled at
her. And in reviewing a summary judgment order, we do not weigh the credibility of seemingly
inconsistent statements. See Barker v. Advanced Silicon Materials, LLC, 131 Wash. App. 616,
624, 128 P.3d 633 ( 2006). Whether Sutton' s earlier or later statements are more accurate is an
issue that must be resolved at trial.
The School District also argues that even if an offensive touching occurred, summary
judgment was appropriate because Sutton provided no evidence regarding Frederick' s intent.
However, as noted above Sutton was required to create a question of fact as to whether Frederick
intended an offensive touching, not that he intended to harm NYY in some way. Garratt, 46
Wash. 2d at 201 -02. And we must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of Sutton. Lakey, 176
Wash. 2d at 922. Here, a reasonable jury could infer from the facts that Frederick intended to
initiate offensive contact with NYY.
On the other hand, we reject Sutton' s argument that NYY' s face being covered with
saliva is enough evidence to support a battery claim. Although Sutton' s testimony created a
question of fact as to whether NYYhad saliva o Ther face, Sutton provided no evidence that
Frederick intended to spit on her. Because saliva may accidentally escape the mouth when
someone is yelling in the face of another person, it is not reasonable to infer that Frederick
intended to spit on NYY.
We acknowledge that Frederick denies that he made any physical contact with NYY. But
treating Sutton' s testimony as true, as we must in reviewing a grant of summary judgment, we
hold that genuine issues of material fact exist with regard to Sutton' s battery claim based on
Frederick' s alleged bumping of NYY. Conversely, we hold that summary judgment was
No. 43962 -0 -II
appropriate regarding Sutton' s claim that Frederick' s alleged spitting on NYY constituted a
battery.
2. Assault
Even if there has been no bodily contact, a defendant may be liable for assault when he or
she acts with an intent to put another person in immediate apprehension of harmful or offensive
contact, and that person has such an apprehension. Brower v: Ackerley, 88 Wash. App. 87, 92 -93,
943 P.2d 1141 ( 1997) ( citing RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF TORTS § 21). The apprehension must
be of imminent contact. Brower, 88 Wash. App. at 94.
Here, Sutton did not provide any evidence regarding NYY' s reaction to Frederick' s
conduct while it was occurring. Sutton did not make any personal observations that would
support a finding that NYY had an immediate apprehension of harm. And NYY did not provide
any statement or testimony.) Nevertheless, under the alleged facts presented it can be reasonably
inferred that Frederick intended to put NYY in apprehension of being subjected to offensive
contact when he towered over her and physically pinned her against the wall. And it can be
reasonably inferred that a young girl would have apprehension of offensive contact when a
teacher moved toward her in the manner described while yelling at her.
We again acknowledge that Frederick denies that he engaged in the conduct Sutton
described. But treating Sutton' s testimony as true, we hold that genuine issues of material fact
exist with regard to Sutton' s assault claim.
1
Sutton stated in her declaration that NYY told her that she was scared when Frederick yelled at
her. The School District argued below, and on appeal, that this statement was inadmissible
hearsay. The trial court did not address this argument. Because we are reversing and remanding
on the assault claim, we need not address this issue.
7
No. 43962 -0 -II
3. Damages
Sutton provided no affirmative evidence that NYY suffered any injury as a result of
Frederick' s alleged battery or assault. However, unlike for the tort of outrage discussed below,
suffering actual injury does not appear to be an element of either battery or assault. See
RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF TORTS § 18 ( battery), § 21 ( assault).
In order to recover at trial, Sutton will have to establish that NYY incurred actual
damages or that NYY is entitled to " nominal" damages. However, neither the trial court nor the
parties addressed the issue of damages below and the parties did not brief this issue on appeal.
Accordingly, we need not address what damages, if any, Sutton may be able to recover if she
prevails at trial on her battery and assault claims.
C. OUTRAGE
Sutton argues that genuine issues of fact exist as to whether Frederick' s conduct
supported an outrage claim. Taking Sutton' s testimony as true, as we must when reviewing a
summary judgment order, Frederick engaged in extreme and outrageous conduct. But we
disagree that Sutton produced evidence creating a question of fact that NYY suffered severe
emotional distress as a result.
1. Legal Standards
To prevail on a claim for the tort of outrage, also known as intentional infliction of
emotional distress, a plaintiff must prove that ( 1) the defendant engaged in extreme and
outrageous conduct, ( 2) the defendant intentionally or recklessly inflicted emotional distress on
the plaintiff, and ( 3) the conduct actually resulted in severe emotional distress to the plaintiff.
Kloepfel v. Bokor, 149 Wash. 2d 192, 195, 66 P.3d 630 ( 2003). " Any claim of outrage must be
predicated on behavior ` so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all
8
No. 43962 -0 -II
possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized
community.' " Strong v. Terrell, 147 Wn. App. 376, 385 -86, 195 P.3d 977 ( 2008) ( emphasis
omitted) ( internal quotation marks omitted) ( quoting Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at 196).
The elements of outrage generally are factual questions for the jury. Strong, 147 Wn.
App. at 385. However, a trial court faced with a summary judgment motion must " make an
initial determination as to whether the conduct may reasonably be regarded as so ` extreme and
outrageous' as to warrant a factual determination by the jury." Doe v. Corp. of the President of
the Church ofJesus Christ ofLatter - ay Saints, 141 Wash. App. 407, 429, 167 P.3d 1193 ( 2007)
D
internal quotation marks omitted) ( quoting Jackson v. Peoples Fed. Credit Union, 25 Wash. App.
81, 84, 604 P.2d 1025 ( 1978)). Courts may consider a number of factors in analyzing whether
conduct is sufficient to support an outrage claim, including ( 1) the position the defendant
occupied; ( 2) whether the plaintiff was particularly susceptible to emotional distress and the
defendant was aware of the susceptibility; ( 3) whether the defendant' s conduct was privileged;
4) whether the degree of emotional distress was severe as opposed to merely annoying,
inconvenient or embarrassing; and ( 5) whether the defendant was aware of a high probability
that his or her conduct would cause severe emotional distress, and consciously disregarded that
probability. Doe, 141 Wash. App. at 429 -30.
2. Extreme and Outrageous Conduct
To sustain an outrage claim, the defendant' s conduct must be so offensive as to lead an
average member of the community to exclaim " ` Outrageous!' " Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at 196
internal quotation marks omitted) ( quoting Reid v. Pierce County, 126 Wash. 2d 195, 201 -02, 961
P.2d 333 ( 1998)). Here, according to Sutton, Frederick had NYY pinned against wall and was
bumping her and waving his arms as he got " in her face" and loudly berated her. CP at 60.
9
No. 43962- 0- 11
Sutton could hear the yelling from the classroom as she came down the hall. Some of the things
Frederick allegedly yelled were, " You make me sick" and " Why are you so stupid ?" CP at 207,
183. After the incident, NYY' s face was covered with saliva. And the power disparity was
striking. Frederick was an adult in a position of authority, and NYY was a first grade student
with special needs and who may have been particularly vulnerable. If Sutton' s statements are
true, a reasonable jury could find that Frederick' s conduct was outrageous.
As discussed in the battery section above, we reject the School District' s arguments that
Sutton' s statements must be disregarded because they are self serving and her multiple
statements contain inconsistencies. The School District also argues that Sutton' s own actions
after the incident belie her claim that Frederick' s conduct was outrageous. After discussing her
concerns with Frederick about his raising his voice to NYY, Sutton allowed her granddaughter to
return to his classroom. The School District argues that if Frederick' s behavior was atrocious
and utterly intolerable in a civilized community, she would not have left NYY in his care.
However, the School District' s argument essentially addresses whether Sutton' s description of
the incident is credible. We cannot resolve credibility issues on summary judgment. -Barker,
131 Wash. App. at 624.
3. Intent To Cause Emotional Distress
Outrage requires that the defendant either intended to cause emotional distress or
recklessly caused such distress. Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at 196. Frederick denies the incident
occurred the way Sutton described it, and he presumably would deny any intent to cause NYY
emotional distress. However, if Sutton' s testimony is true, a jury reasonably could infer that
Frederick at least recklessly acted in a way that could cause emotional distress when he screamed
insults at NYY and physically pinned her against the wall.
10
No. 43962 -0 -II
4. Emotional Distress
To prevail on an outrage claim, a plaintiff is required to come forward with evidence that
he or she actually suffered severe emotional distress as a result of the defendant' s conduct.
Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at 203. Emotional distress includes ` all highly unpleasant mental reactions,
such as fright, horror, grief, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, anger, chagrin, disappointment,
worry, and nausea.' " Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at 203 ( quoting RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF TORTS §
46, cmt. j). However, liability arises only when the emotional distress is extreme.
RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF TORTS § 46, cmt. j. There must be more than " ` transient and trivial
emotional distress.' " Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at 198 ( quoting RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF TORTS §
46, cmt. j) Nevertheless, because outrage is an intentional tort the plaintiff need not show bodily
harm or objective symptomatology. Kloepfel,`149 Wn.2d at 198.
a. No Direct Evidence
Here, Sutton came forward with no affirmative evidence that NYY suffered severe
emotional distress. NYY submitted no declaration or testimony claiming that she experienced
emotional distress or describing the nature of that distress. Sutton stated in her declaration that
NYY told her that she was scared when Frederick yelled at her and that she felt angry, sad, and
mad and did not want to go back to Frederick' s class. 2 Sutton also testified that NYY was
traumatized and very upset following the incident. These emotions would constitute emotional
distress under Kloepfel. 149 Wash. 2d at 203. However, there is no evidence regarding the intensity
of these feelings or their duration. Under Kloepfel, Sutton was required to come forward with
2
The School District argued below, and on appeal, that these statements were inadmissible
hearsay. The trial court did not address this argument. Because we hold that these statements
are not enough to create a question of fact on the existence of severe emotional distress, we need
not address their admissibility.
11
No. 43962 -0 -II
evidence that any emotional distress was more than transient or trivial. Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at
203. Without such evidence, the fact that NYY may have been upset or had negative feelings
because of the incident is not enough to create a question of fact as to whether she suffered
severe emotional distress.
Sutton also failed to provide any personal observations that would support a finding that
NYY suffered severe emotional distress. Although, as noted above, Sutton testified that NYY
was traumatized and very upset following the incident, she did not provide any basis for those
assertions. A party may not rely on argumentative assertions to avoid summary judgment.
Hendrickson v. Tender Care Animal Hosp. Corp., 176 Wash. App. 757, 762, 312 P.3d 52 ( 2013),
review denied, 179 Wash. 2d 1013 ( 2014). Sutton did observe that NYY at times would yell at her
dolls and call herself stupid, but this behavior is not necessarily an indication of severe emotional
distress and is not enough to create a question of fact on this issue.
Finally, Sutton produced no evidence from any therapists, counselors or medical
providers that would support a finding that NYY suffered emotional distress from the alleged
incident with Frederick. NYYvisited adoctoramonth after the accident and Sutton reported
that NYY had experienced trauma and stress because of the incident, but the doctor did not make
any reference to emotional distress. Another doctor later evaluated NYY for her behavior
problems, eventually prescribing drugs and therapy. But there is no evidence that NYY or
Sutton discussed the incident with him.
b. Inference of Severe Emotional Distress
In the absence of direct evidence, the question here is whether we can infer that NYY
suffered severe emotional distress as a result of Frederick' s alleged conduct. Our Supreme Court
in Kloepfel stated that once the first two elements of outrage are established, " it can be fairly
12
No. 43962 -0 -II
presumed that severe emotional distress was suffered." 149 Wash. 2d at 202. The court cited with
approval Carmody v. Trianon Co., 7 Wash. 2d 226, 109 P.2d 560 ( 1941), where the court upheld an
award of damages for mental anguish caused when the plaintiff was physically beaten without
requiring direct proof of that mental anguish.. Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at 202.
However, the court in Kloepfel was addressing a situation far different than the facts here.
Kloepfel' s former boyfriend threatened to kill her, threatened to kill the man she was dating if
she continued seeing him, called her home 640 times, called her work 100 times, called the
homes of men she knew numerous times, and repeatedly drove past her house at all hours.
Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at 194 -95. The evidence showed that this conduct severely disrupted
Kloepfel' s life and made it impossible for her to carry on a normal dating relationship. Kloepfel,
149 Wash. 2d at 194. And there was affirmative evidence that this conduct caused Kloepfel to
suffer symptoms of emotional distress, including nervousness, sleeplessness, hypervigilance, and
stomach upset. Kloepfel, 149 Wash. 2d at 202. Based on these facts, the court concluded that no
rational person could endure this constant harassment without suffering severe emotional
distress. Kloepfel, 149 Wash. at 202.
2d
In Brower, Division One of this court also stated that the extremity of the outrageous
conduct could itself provide evidence of severe emotional distress. 88 Wn. App. at 102. Similar
to Kloepfel, the conduct in Brower was a 20 -month campaign of harassing telephone calls that
included threats to injure and kill Brower. 88 Wn. App. at 90 -91. In addition, Brower presented
evidence that he experienced symptoms of emotional distress, including panic, terror, insecurity,
rising pulse, light -headedness, sweaty palms, insecurity, and the inability to concentrate.
Brower, 88 Wn. App. at 91. Based on this evidence, the court concluded that a jury could find
that Brower suffered severe emotional distress.
13
No. 43962 -0 -II
Despite the broad statements in Kloepfel and Brower, we read those cases as allowing for
an inference of severe emotional distress only based on long -erm outrageous conduct and only
t
when the plaintiff has provided some evidence of significant emotional distress. In contrast, here
NYY was subjected to a brief, isolated incident. And Sutton provided no evidence that NYY had
in fact suffered any significant emotional distress that was more than transient or trivial. Under
these facts, we cannot infer that NYY suffered severe emotional distress. Accordingly,
summary judgment was appropriate on Sutton' s outrage claim.
We reverse the trial court' s grant of summary judgment on Sutton' s battery and assault
claims, but we affirm the trial court' s grant of summary judgment on the outrage claim. We
remand for further proceedings.
We concur:
14