A rotary damper uses a motor to selectively dynamically brake the rotational movement between a housing and a cover of a wireless communications device. A clutch that is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position connects the motor to the cover so that the relative rotational movement between the housing and the cover in at least one rotational direction is resisted by the motor when the clutch is in an engaged position. The clutch preferably includes a coupler axially moveable between a deployed position directly engaging the flip cover and a retracted position disengaged from the cover, and an actuator moveable between a first position and a second position so as to cause the coupler to assume the deployed position and the retracted position, respectively. The actuator preferably includes a spring to bias the coupler towards the deployed position. A shaft preferably extends through the motor and connects the actuator to the coupler. The coupler may rotate at a slower speed relative to the shaft or may rotate at the same speed. The rotary damper may also include an eccentric weight attached to the shaft so as to spin therewith. When the clutch is in the disengaged position, the motor may intermittently spin the shaft causing the eccentric weight to spin, thereby imparting a shaking motion to the overall phone.