Johnson v. Two Guys - Mass., Inc.

1981 Mass. App. Div. 237, 2 Mass. Supp. 952
CourtMassachusetts District Court, Appellate Division
DecidedNovember 5, 1981
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1981 Mass. App. Div. 237 (Johnson v. Two Guys - Mass., Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts District Court, Appellate Division primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. Two Guys - Mass., Inc., 1981 Mass. App. Div. 237, 2 Mass. Supp. 952 (Mass. Ct. App. 1981).

Opinion

Lenhoff, J.

This civil action, originally commenced in the Superior Court, was transferred to Milford Division of the District Court Department pursuant to G.L.c.231, § 102C. Said action sounds in tort and alleges in the Plaintiffs’ complaint negligence; intentional infliction of emotional distress; breach of warranty; a violation of G.L.c.214, § IB; an invasion of privacy on the part of Plaintiff, Nancy Johnson; plus an allegation of loss of consortium by the Plaintiff, Richard Johnson.

The Defendant, Two Guys-Mass., Inc. in substance, denied the material allegations set forth in said complaint.

The Trial Court found for the Plaintiff, Nancy Johnson on Counts 1 (negligence). II (intentional infliction of emotional distress), IV (invasion of privacy) and V (failure to refrain from unreasonable, obstrusive and unwarranted interference with privacy and physical solitude), each in the sum of $15,000.00 but limited to only one recovery; and, for the Plaintiff, Richard Johnson, in the sum of $5,000.00 on Count VI (loss of consortium). Count III (breach of warranty) was dismissed.

After trial and before final arguments, the Defendant filed the following requests for rulings; (Following each request, the Trial Court’s disposition thereof is set forth and is underscored.)

1. The evidence does not warrant a finding for the Plaintiff, in Count I. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

2. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the Plaintiff, Nancy Johnson, was observed by a male as she undressed as alleged in Count I. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

3. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the Defendant’s conduct was extreme and beyond the bounds of decency as alleged in Count I. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

4. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the Defendant’s employees intended to inflict emotional distress upon the Plaintiff, Nancy Johnson, as alleged in Count II. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

5. The evidence does not warrant a finding that there was any warranty extended to the Plaintiff, Nancy Johnson, as alleged in Count m. Allowed (Count III is dismissed).

6. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the Defendant committed a trespass against the Plaintiff, NanCy Johnson, as alleged in Count ID. 'Allowed.

[238]*2387. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the Defendant violated G.L.c. 214, § IB, as alleged in Count IV. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

8. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the Defendant unreasonably interfered with the Plaintiff, Nancy Johnson’s privacy. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

9. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the Defendant substantially interfered with the Plaintiff, Nancy Johnson’s privacy. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

10. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the Defendant seriously interfered with the Plaintiff’s privacy. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

11. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the district court has jurisdiction to award damages. Denied.

12. The evidence does not warrant a finding for the Plaintiff, Richard Johnson. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

13. The evidence does not warrant a finding that the actions for the Defendant’s employees were the proximate cause of the Plaintiff, Nancy Johnson’s damage as alleged. Allowed but see subsidiary findings of fact.

The Defendant took necessary and appropriate steps to have this matter reported to the Appellate Division for determination, claiming to be aggrieved by reason of a favorable finding for each Plaintiff that is inconsistent with the allowance of the Defendant’s requests for rulings and by the denial of request numbered 11 above.

(Although the Defendant is the appellant herein and the Plaintiffs the appellees, these parties will be referred to hereinafter as Plaintiffs and Defendant in order to avoid any possible confusion.)

The Trial Court found subsidiary findings of fact that we summarize2 as follows:

The Plaintiffs are husband and wife, both residing in this Commonwealth. The Defendant is a Massachusetts corporation having its principal place of business in Milford in Worcester County of this state.

On August 28,1976, the female Plaintiff went to the Defendant’s store to purchase or make a preliminary selection of clothing to verify the appropriateness of fit before making a final purchase. Because of the lack of proper signs, the female Plaintiff used the men’s ‘ ‘changing room’ ’. While in such room, she tried on various items of clothing; and, in the course of this activity, she exposed her body during normal disrobing procedures.

Unknown to the female Plaintiff, the Defendant had installed “one-way” mirrors in the store’s “changing room”. At all relevant times, duly authorized agents of the Defendant, including male employees, were stationed behind and charged with monitoring these “one-way” mirrors. The female Plaintiff was observed by the Defendant’ s agent in the trying on of clothing and in exposing her body in the process. The use of the “one-way” mirror and the monitoring thereof was an avowed attempt to cut down widespread shoplifting that was a pervasive problem to the Defendant. There was testimony indicating that the “changing room” was a favored locus for shoplifters, and the “one-way” mirror technique was adopted as an aggressive measure to fight back against the concededly costly cancer of pilferage which was eroding the economic health of the Defendant and its retail profits.

There was also evidence that there were generalized signs in the store aimed at alerting customers that the Defendant was actively engaged in counter-shopliftng activities. Said signs were highly generalized and gave no hint at the use of ‘ ‘changing room one-way’ ’ mirrors with customers being monitored during disrobing normally attendant to trying on items of personal clothing.

[239]*239The female Plaintiff became aware of the Defendant’s monitoring activities and that she had unsuspectedly exposed her body to male eyes. By reason of such activities by the Defendant’s employees, the female Plaintiff who possessed a preexisting psychic condition thereby had such condition exacerbated and she suffered a traumatic reaction, manifested by demonstrable and documented instances of embarrassment, humiliation and conspicuous, continuing mental anguish.

Because of the maritial bond between the Plaintiffs, as a result of the aforestated injuries to the wife, the husband Plaintiff was deprived of the comfort, aid, assistance and activities naturally attendant upon an unimpeded marriage; and he suffered greatly from this condition of deprivation.

After finding the above found facts, the Trial Justice further found and concluded, as follows:-

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1981 Mass. App. Div. 237, 2 Mass. Supp. 952, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-two-guys-mass-inc-massdistctapp-1981.