Richard R. Watkinson v. State of Alaska, Department of Corrections

Summary

The court reversed summary judgment against Watkinson on his intentional infliction of emotional distress claim because, viewing the evidence in his favor, a jury could find DOC's repeated procedural failures, predetermined hearings, prolonged segregation, and resulting psychological harm sufficiently extreme, outrageous, and severe. It affirmed summary judgment on the negligent infliction of emotional distress claim because the jailer-prisoner relationship did not create the required preexisting duty. The court also vacated the scope-of-employment certification and reversed the discovery ruling because the superior court applied the wrong statutory standard and improperly refused to require DOC to identify the official who authorized removal of the disciplinary infraction.