Illinois Supremes Nix Emotional Distress Claims Against Bankster, Trash-Out Contractor For Prematurely Breaking Into Foreclosed House While Homeowner Was Still Inside; Multiple Trespass Allegations Remain Pending

In Chicago, Illinois, the Cook County Record reports:

• The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled plaintiffs need to suffer “physical impact” to pursue a lawsuit claiming negligent infliction of emotional distress, saying a lender had not breached the bounds of decency by sending contractors to change the locks and perform other maintenance on her home, which was in foreclosure, while she was still inside.
  
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  The ruling involved a lawsuit brought by Melinda Schweihs against Chase Home Finance and others.
  
  Schweihs took a loan from Chase for a home in suburban Northbrook, on which she defaulted in 2007, with foreclosure in May 2010. Schweihs had until that August to vacate the property. However, per the agreement between Chase and Schweihs, Chase had the right to enter the home after foreclosure to inspect and protect its value, such as by making repairs.
  
  Chase contracted with Safeguard Properties, who then sent two subcontractors to the home in June 2010 to determine if the property was vacant, and if so, to change the locks and turn off utilities.
  
  After deciding the home was unoccupied, one of the subcontractors broke the locked back door and entered, but encountered Schweihs inside. The then 58-year-old Schweihs was alarmed and ordered the subcontractor and his partner, who had remained outside the house, to leave, according to the lawsuit. She then phoned police. Officers investigated, but no charges were lodged.
  
  Schweihs claimed she suffered anxiety and depression as a consequence of the incident. She filed a suit in Cook County Circuit Court against Chase, Safeguard and the subcontractors, alleging trespass, negligent trespass, private nuisance and negligence, as well as negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
  
  Defendants’ motion for summary judgment was granted in regard to the nuisance and emotional distress counts. Schweihs appealed the distress claims. The Illinois First District Appellate Court upheld the lower court in a 2-1 decision, saying Schweihs failed to allege she suffered a “physical impact” from defendants, and at any rate, the subcontractors did not engage in “extreme and outrageous” behavior. A dissenting justice said physical impact was not needed.
  
  Schweihs next sought relief from the state high court, saying the physical impact requirement has been abandoned by Illinois courts, including the state high court, as expressed by its rulings in cases from 1983, 1991 and 1995.
  
  Justice Freeman, speaking for the supreme court, disagreed, saying a “careful reading” of those rulings show physical impact remains a requirement in suits claiming emotional distress.
  
  Schweihs also contended that breaking into a house is by its nature an extreme and outrageous act, which in her case, would only have been permitted by court order. Freeman was not persuaded, saying the subcontractors spent 45 minutes trying to learn whether anyone was inside the home, taking such steps as talking to a neighbor, checking to see that the natural gas and water were already shut off and noticing, through sliding glass doors, debris was strewn around the interior.
  
  Freeman also pointed out Schweihs admitted seeing the subcontractors outside the house beforehand and ignoring their knocks on her door, all with the knowledge her home was in foreclosure. Further, once the subcontractors realized Schweihs was home, they retreated and awaited the arrival of police.
  
  Justice Freeman concluded Chase had the “right to enter the property to make reasonable repairs for the preservation of the property.” Schweihs argued repairs were not needed, but didn’t explain how Chase would have had that knowledge, according to Freeman.
  
  “There may have been a better and more commonsense way to determine if the property was occupied,” Freeman observed, but nonetheless, the subcontractors did not transgress “all possible bounds of decency.”
  
  The supreme court affirmed the dismissals of the emotional distress counts. The suit remains pending on the trespass and negligent trespass claims.

Source: Woman can't sue Chase for distress over contractors sent to secure foreclosed home: IL Supreme Court.