Suing for dinner date

I went on a date with a man I met on a dating app, but I brought my friends along for security. After all, I was afraid of being kidnapped by a stranger I had only met online. During dinner at a popular restaurant, he seemed distracted, checking his phone frequently. When the bill arrived, he suddenly got up and left without paying, leaving me embarrassed and stuck with the entire bill for everyone’s meals. My friends were shocked and uncomfortable, and I felt humiliated. The next day, I discovered he had blocked my number and deleted his social media profiles, which made me feel even more betrayed. I asked my friend, who is studying law, and she told me this is a tort. Now I want to sue him for emotional distress caused by his reckless behaviour. Please guide me.

WV, Dar es Salaam

We understand your distress over what happened. While the incident was undoubtedly embarrassing and socially upsetting, the law draws a clear line between everyday disappointments and conduct that rises to the level of a legal wrong. Emotional distress claims are generally reserved for situations where someone has either acted with deliberate cruelty or has been negligent in a way that foreseeably causes serious psychological harm.

Negligence, in legal terms, means that a person owed you a duty of care, failed to meet that duty, and as a result caused you actual injury. Courts consistently require evidence of both a breach of a recognized legal duty and tangible harm that goes beyond ordinary social discomfort. In your case, the man’s decision to leave when the bill arrived may have been rude and inconsiderate, but it did not involve a legal duty toward you or your friends, nor did it cause a medically recognizable injury.

The embarrassment you experienced stems from an unfulfilled social expectation rather than a breach of law. For this reason, the matter falls within the realm of social etiquette, not a civil tort. If you remain concerned, you may wish to consult a lawyer for further guidance, but legally, the situation does not meet the threshold for an emotional distress claim based on the facts you have stated. Also, next time you night want to consider telling the counterparty that you intend to appear for a date with your friends. This will avoid disappointment on both sides!