Can my girlfriend sue me for emotional distress?

Asked by: Dr. Morgan Mitchell  |  Last update: August 16, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (28 votes)

Yes, you can sue someone for emotional distress if their negligent or intentional actions caused you significant mental suffering. These lawsuits aim to compensate victims for non-economic damages like anxiety, depression, or trauma stemming from the incident.

Can you sue a girlfriend for emotional distress?

You CAN sue someone for emotional distress, but your costs would most likely greatly outweigh any recovery you might get. Unless you can prove some specific losses (job, pay, etc.) you may have problems proving your damages.

What evidence do you need for emotional distress?

Medical records that attest to the victim's injuries or diagnosis of mental health conditions, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, are among the most important pieces of evidence that prove emotional distress in court.

How much can you get for suing for emotional distress?

First, there exists a garden variety emotional distress claim where you assert the claim but do not need to find and obtain a medical opinion by a therapist or psychiatrist. Generally, these claims are worth $30,000-$50,000.

How much money is emotional distress worth?

Severe emotional distress: Settlements involving severe emotional distress, such as PTSD or ongoing mental health conditions that significantly impact daily life, can result in settlements of $100,000 or more.

LOVE won't be enough to SAVE your Relationship!

16 related questions found

How does suing for emotional distress work?

In an emotional distress claim, proving that the defendant acted with intent is key. This means showing that they knew or should have known their actions would cause serious distress. Your lawyer will start by gathering evidence such as emails or text messages, which can be crucial in establishing this intentionality.

Do I need a lawyer to sue for emotional distress?

Proving that emotional distress took place can be a difficult legal claim to support. As with any lawsuit, working with an experienced lawyer who can help you collect pertinent evidence is one of the best ways to seek success in your case.

Can I make a claim for emotional distress?

In severe cases, emotional distress can also lead to lost income or diminished earning capacity, for which claimants may seek compensation. The amount of damages awarded will depend on factors such as the severity of emotional distress, impact on daily life, and specific circumstances of the case.

Can you sue someone with mental illness?

Generally the mentally ill are responsible civilly for their actions regardless of mental state except where the law requires specific intent and the illness negates such intent. Psychiatrists and other mental health workers may thus have grounds for suit against patients who injure them.

How hard is it to win an emotional distress case?

Thus, emotional distress may be one of the most difficult injuries to prove. There are often no physical symptoms. There aren't X-rays someone can point to, or even a scar you can display to prove your injuries. Instead, emotional distress is psychological.

What evidence do you need for a PTSD claim?

Medical evidence is going to be an important part of documentation for a PTSD disability claim. Medical records, whether a private physician, VA doctor, or in-service treatment will be a way to demonstrate the frequency, duration, and severity of symptoms.

Who can diagnose emotional distress?

Diagnosis of emotional distress

To help a person identify the cause of their symptoms, a healthcare or mental health professional may ask them about recent experiences and major life events that may be sources of distress.

Can I take my ex to court for emotional abuse?

Yes, but only in rare situations in which your ex's behavior was really bad and the distress you suffer is severe. In some states, you must have physical symptoms to move a case forward. You do not need to have suffered physical abuse, but a standard breakup is not enough.

Can I sue my ex for cheating?

You would have to prove that by cheating, your spouse (1) acted intentionally or recklessly; (2) his or her conduct was extreme and outrageous; and (3) his or her conduct caused (4) severe emotional distress.

How much money is emotional distress?

There are two different methods for calculating emotional distress. The first of these is known as the multiplier method. You start by gathering all of your current and projected future financial costs of your injuries, and then multiply this amount by a number that is between 1.5 and 5.

What qualifies as emotional distress?

Emotional distress refers to mental suffering as an emotional response to an experience that arises from the effect or memory of a particular event, occurrence, pattern of events or condition.

What is an example of suing for emotional distress?

Examples of Emotional Distress Lawsuits
  • Medical malpractice. A physician may cause emotional harm to a person if they engage in treatments or procedures that may not be appropriate for the situation. ...
  • Witnessing a wrongful death. ...
  • Emotional distress after a car accident. ...
  • Nursing home abuse. ...
  • Personal injury. ...
  • Wrongful arrest.

Can you sue someone for breaking up your marriage?

You don't have to show that the defendant intended to ruin your marriage, but you do need to show that they intended to act in a way that could foreseeably hurt the marriage. Your alienation of affection claim isn't limited to your spouse's lover. You can sue anyone who ruins your marriage.

Can I counter sue for wasting my time?

Indeed, you can sue for wrongful lawsuits, but it's crucial to understand that not all unsuccessful lawsuits qualify as wrongful litigation. To prevail in a countersuit for wasting time, you must demonstrate that the plaintiff knew or should have known that their claims lacked legal merit or were pursued in bad faith.

How much is a PTSD claim worth?

The average PTSD settlement amount is often between $10,000 and $100,000.

How to ask for compensation?

Here are some detailed tips on how to negotiate the salary offer like a pro.
  1. Be timely and tactful. Bringing up salary too early is still a no-go. ...
  2. Hold your cards fairly close. ...
  3. Get your figures right. ...
  4. Discuss what's offered. ...
  5. Present a strong case. ...
  6. Never bluff. ...
  7. Think beyond the pay packet. ...
  8. Get it in writing.