Owens v. Second Baptist Church

Plaintiff, the Reverend J. W. Richard Owens, brought an action in the circuit court of Cook County against defendants, the Second Baptist Church of La Grange and three of its officers. Plaintiff alleged breach of his employment contract and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Defendants counterclaimed, seeking to evict plaintiff from the parsonage and damages.

The cause was tried to a jury, which returned verdicts in favor of plaintiff on both his claims and defendants’ counterclaim and awarded plaintiff damages of $40,000. Defendants appeal, contending that the trial court erred in…