Mildred Johnson and Gary Johnson v. Charles T. Cantrell and Patricia Cantrell
Mildred and Gary Johnson appealed a trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Charles T. and Patricia Cantrell. The case originated from an incident where Mildred Johnson, an employee, suffered a mini-stroke following a confrontational interaction with the Cantrells, who were landlords concerned about property removal. The Johnsons sued, alleging assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and later attempted to assert a negligence claim on appeal. The trial court found the Cantrells' actions insufficient to establish assault or outrageous conduct for emotional distress. The Court of Appeals of Tennessee affirmed the summary judgment, agreeing that the threats were not of imminent harm and the conduct, while upsetting, did not meet the high standard for intentional infliction of emotional distress.