CBM of Central Arkansas v. Bemel

George Rose Smith, Justice.

This is a tort action by the appellee, Mrs. Bemel, against the appellant, Collection Consultants, a company that collects past-due accounts. The plaintiff asserts that the defendant’s unwarranted and overzealous attempts to collect a $402.35 balance on a hospital bill constituted, first, extreme and outrageous conduct causing Mrs. Bemel severe emotional distress, and second, a wrongful invasion of her right of privacy. Both theories were submitted to the jury, which awarded Mrs. Bemel $1,000 compensatory damages and $4,000 punitive damages. Neither award is…