False Imprisonment

What is False Imprisonment?

Black’s Law Dictionary defines false imprisonment as “A restraint of a person in a bounded area without justification or consent. … It applies to private as well as governmental detention.”

The law of false imprisonment is similar (but not identical) in most U.S. states. In this post, I’ve assembled a collection of laws on false imprisonment in states throughout the U.S.

Because false imprisonment is part of the common law (that is, law based on judicial precedent) much of the law on false imprisonment comes from court cases, rather than statutes passed by Congress and the state legislatures. Because the law on false imprisonment comes primarily from court cases, this collection is a list of court cases on false imprisonment, from jurisdictions around the country. These cases are from both state and federal courts. To see the difference between state courts and federal courts, click here. To see which federal courts have jurisdiction over your state, click here.

If you have a subscription to Westlaw you can click on each case, and you will be directed to that case. If you do not have a subscription to Westlaw, then do the following:

· Go to Google Scholar.

· Click on “Case Law”

· Copy the name and the citation of the court case from this page

· Paste the name and citation into the search bar of Google Scholar.

U.S. Supreme Court

Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 99 S.Ct. 2689, 2693, 61 L.Ed.2d 433, on remand 601 F.2d 903 (5th Cir. 1979).

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Dagi v. Delta Airlines, Inc., 961 F.3d 22, 29.

Forgie-Buccioni v. Hannaford Brothers, Inc., 413 F.3d 175, 181.

McCann v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 210 F.3d 51, 51, 53.

Calero-Colon v. Betancourt-Lebron, 68 F.3d 1, 3.

Vahlsing v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., Inc., 928 F.2d 486, 492.

Beaumont v. Morgan, 427 F.2d 667, 671, cert. denied 400 U.S. 882, 27 L.Ed.2d 121, 91 S.Ct. 120 (1970).

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Turley v. ISG Lackawanna, Inc., 774 F.3d 140, 157, 158.

Posr v. Doherty, 944 F.2d 91, 97.

Cameron v. Fogarty, 806 F.2d 380, 387, cert. denied 481 U.S. 1016, 107 S.Ct. 1894, 95 L.Ed.2d 501 (1987).

Weisman v. Le Landais, 532 F.2d 308, 311.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

William A. Graham Co. v. Haughey, 646 F.3d 138, 149.

Burt v. Ferrese, 871 F.2d 14, 17.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Harper v. Merckle, 638 F.2d 848, 861, certiorari denied 454 U.S. 816, 102 S.Ct. 93, 70 L.Ed.2d 85 (1981).

Douthit v. Jones, 619 F.2d 527, 532, rehearing denied 641 F.2d 345 (5th Cir. 1981).

McCollan v. Tate, 575 F.2d 509, 512, certiorari granted 439 U.S. 1114, 99 S.Ct. 1015, 59 L.Ed.2d 71, judgment rev’d 433 U.S. 137, 99 S.Ct. 2689, 61 L.Ed.2d 433 (see above case), on remand 601 F.2d 903.

Bryan v. Jones, 530 F.2d 1210, 1213.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Dibrell v. City of Knoxville, Tennessee, 984 F.3d 1156, 1161.

Tlapanco v. Elges, 969 F.3d 638, 659.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Adams v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 324 F.3d 935, 941.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Blaxland v. Com. Director of Public Prosecutions, 323 F.3d 1198, 1205.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Gilmere v. Atlanta, Ga., 737 F.2d 894, 907, on rehearing 774 F.2d 1495 (11th Cir.1985), certiorari denied 476 U.S. 1115, 106 S.Ct. 1970, 90 L.Ed.2d 654 (1986).

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Sami v. United States, 617 F.2d 755, 765.

Johnson v. United States, 547 F.2d 688, 692.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Davis v. Fulton County, Ark., 884 F.Supp. 1245, 1262, affirmed 90 F.3d 1346 (8th Cir.1996).

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

Garcia v. City of Merced, 637 F.Supp.2d 731, 754.

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

Martinez v. Winner, 548 F.Supp. 278, 332.

U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Bolmer v. Oliveira, 570 F.Supp.2d 301, 324-325.

Russo v. City of Hartford, 341 F.Supp.2d 85, 105.

Lo Sacco v. City of Middletown, 745 F.Supp. 812, 816.

Dirienzo v. U.S., 690 F.Supp. 1149, 1154.

U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware

Lloyd v. Jefferson, 53 F.Supp.2d 643, 672, 673.

Valn v. United States, 548 F.Supp. 921, 925, order reversed 708 F.2d 116 (3d Cir.1983).

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Abedini v. Government of Islamic Republic of Iran, 422 F.Supp.3d 118, 133.

Doe v. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jungsong-Dong, 414 F.Supp.3d 109, 127.

Rezaian v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 422 F.Supp.3d 164, 179.

Stansell v. Republic of Cuba, 217 F.Supp.3d 320, 343.

Regier v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 281 F.Supp.2d 87, 100.

Jenco v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 154 F.Supp.2d 27, 34, judgment affirmed 315 F.3d 325 (C.A.D.C.2003).

Sutherland v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 151 F.Supp.2d 27, 49.

Richardson v. U.S. Dept. of Interior, 740 F.Supp. 15, 26.

Garber v. United States, 73 F.R.D. 364, 367, judgment aff’d 578 F.2d 414 (C.A.D.C.1978).

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

Caldwell v. Jones, 513 F.Supp.2d 1000, 1012.

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa

Busch v. City of Anthon, Iowa, 173 F.Supp.2d 876, 894.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

In re Mason, 514 B.R. 852, 859.

U.S. District Court for the District of Maine

Smith v. Heritage Salmon, Inc., 180 F.Supp.2d 208, 220.

U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Sheppard v. U.S., 537 F.Supp.2d 785, 787.

U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Walker v. Femino, 311 F.Supp.3d 441, 455.

O’Neil v. Daimlerchrysler Corp., 538 F.Supp.2d 304, 321.

Mitchell v. City of Boston, 130 F.Supp.2d 201, 214.

Ball v. Wal-Mart, Inc., 102 F.Supp.2d 44, 55.

Noel v. Town of Plymouth, Mass., 895 F.Supp. 346, 354.

Krohn v. United States, 578 F.Supp. 1441, 1450, order reversed in part 742 F.2d 24 (1st Cir.1984).

U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Eilers v. Coy, 582 F.Supp. 1093, 1096.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota

In re Halverson, 226 B.R. 22, 29.

U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada

Goodman v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept., 963 F.Supp.2d 1036, 1061.

Sandoval v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept., 854 F.Supp.2d 860, 882.

Switzer v. Rivera, 174 F.Supp.2d 1097, 1110.

U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire

Farrelly v. City of Concord, N.H., 2012 DNH 166, 902 F.Supp.2d 178, 206.

U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Zavala v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 393 F.Supp.2d 295, 333.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Vumbaca v. Terminal One Group Ass’n L.P., 859 F.Supp.2d 343, 379.

DiBella v. County of Suffolk, State of N.Y., 574 F.Supp. 151, 152, judgment affirmed 762 F.2d 990 (2d Cir.1985).

Francois v. United States, 528 F.Supp. 533, 535.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Fernandez v. DeLeno, 71 F.Supp.2d 224, 229.

Rosado v. New York City Housing Authority, 827 F.Supp. 179, 182.

Rosado v. New York City Housing Authority, 719 F.Supp. 268, 271, vacated and superseded 827 F.Supp. 179 (S.D.N.Y.1989). See case below.

Bower v. Weisman, 639 F.Supp. 532, 540.

Sauls v. Bristol-Myers Co., 462 F.Supp. 887, 890.

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

Harris by Tucker v. County of Forsyth, 921 F.Supp. 325, 327, 333.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Krochalis v. Insurance Co. of North America, 629 F.Supp. 1360, 1370.

Chicarelli v. Plymouth Garden Apartments, 551 F.Supp. 532, 541.

Belcher v. United States, 511 F.Supp. 476, 483.

Hamilton v. Jamieson, 355 F.Supp. 290, 297.

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Watson v. Witmer, 183 F.Supp.3d 607, 617.

Brownstein v. Gieda, 649 F.Supp.2d 368, 376.

Dull v. West Manchester Tp. Police Dept., 604 F.Supp.2d 739, 755.

Horne v. Farrell, 560 F.Supp. 219, 226.

U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico

Berg v. San Juan Marriott Hotel & Stellaris Casino, 261 F.Supp.3d 213, 218.

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Tate v. Alexander, 527 F.Supp. 796, 802, judgment affirmed in part, vacated in part 706 F.2d 751 (6th Cir.1983), on remand 573 F.Supp. 373 (1983), affirmed 751 F.2d 384 (6th Cir.1984).

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas

In re Holt, 310 B.R. 675, 679.

U.S. District Court for the District of Utah

Gardner v. United States, 316 F.Supp.3d 1308, 1322.

U.S. District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands

Illaraza v. HOVENSA LLC, 73 F.Supp.3d 588, 616.

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia

Erie Ins. Property & Cas. Co., Inc. v. Edmond, 785 F.Supp.2d 561, 573.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Gable v. Universal Acceptance Corporation (WI), 338 F.Supp.3d 943, 957.

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Olynick v. Taylor County, 643 F.Supp. 1100, 1104.

Ala.

Harrison v. Diversified Products Corp., 499 So.2d 1384, 1384.

Alaska

Kinegak v. State, Dept. of Corrections, 129 P.3d 887, 892, 893.

Zok v. State, 903 P.2d 574, 575, 577.

Helstrom v. North Slope Borough, 797 P.2d 1192, 1199.

Ariz.

Phoenix Control Systems v. Insurance Co., 165 Ariz. 31, 796 P.2d 463, 468.

Muscat by Berman v. Creative Innervisions LLC, 418 P.3d 967, 971.

Wilshire Ins. Co. v. S.A., 224 Ariz. 97, 227 P.3d 504, 507.

Hart v. Seven Resorts Inc., 190 Ariz. 272, 947 P.2d 846, 855.

Gau v. Smitty’s Super Valu, Inc., 183 Ariz. 107, 901 P.2d 455, 455, 458, 459.

Ark.

Trammell v. Wright, 489 S.W.3d 636, 641.

Headrick v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 293 Ark. 433, 738 S.W.2d 418, 420.

Cal.

Lyons v. Fire Ins. Exchange, 161 Cal.App.4th 880, 888, 74 Cal.Rptr.3d 649, 655.

People v. Swanson, 142 Cal.App.3d 104, 190 Cal.Rptr. 768, 772.

Du Lac v. Perma Trans Products, Inc., 103 Cal.App.3d 937, 163 Cal.Rptr. 335, 338.

City of Newport Beach v. Sasse, 9 Cal.App.3d 803, 88 Cal.Rptr. 476, 480.

Colo.

Goodboe v. Gabriella, 663 P.2d 1051, 1057.

Havens v. Hardesty, 43 Colo.App. 162, 600 P.2d 116, 118.

Conn.

Rivera v. Double A Transp., Inc., 248 Conn. 21, 727 A.2d 204, 209, 211.

Green v. Donroe, 186 Conn. 265, 440 A.2d 973, 974, 975.

D.C.

Grillo v. National Bank of Washington, 540 A.2d 743, 751.

Faniel v. Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co., 404 A.2d 147, 151.

Fla.

Granville v. Capital Bank, 456 So.2d 960, 962.

Erp v. Carroll, 438 So.2d 31, 40.

Ga.

Baggett v. National Bank & Trust Co., 174 Ga.App. 346, 330 S.E.2d 108, 111.

Hawaii

Towse v. State, 64 Hawaii 624, 647 P.2d 696, 704.

Noguchi v. Nakamura, 2 Hawaii App. 655, 638 P.2d 1383, 1385.

Ill.

Dennis v. Pace Suburban Bus Service, 2014 IL App (1st) 132397, 385 Ill.Dec. 527, 535, 19 N.E.3d 85, 93.

Ind.

Edwards v. Vermillion County Hosp., 576 N.E.2d 1285, 1287.

Iowa

Nelson v. Winnebago Industries, Inc., 619 N.W.2d 385, 388.

Children v. Burton, 331 N.W.2d 673, 678, certiorari denied 464 U.S. 848, 104 S.Ct. 155, 78 L.Ed.2d 143 (1983).

Valadez v. City of Des Moines, 324 N.W.2d 475, 477.

Zohn v. Menard, Inc., 598 N.W.2d 323, 326.

Md.

Montgomery Ward v. Wilson, 339 Md. 701, 664 A.2d 916, 928.

Mass.

Beaumont v. Segal, 283 N.E.2d 858, 860.

Mass.

Ortiz v. County of Hampden, 16 Mass.App.Ct. 138, 449 N.E.2d 1227, 1228, 1229.

Mich.

Adams v. Nat’l Bank of Detroit, 444 Mich. 329, 340, 353, 508 N.W.2d 464, 468, 474.

Lewis v. Farmer Jack Division, Inc., 415 Mich. 212, 327 N.W.2d 893, 901.

Moore v. City of Detroit, 252 Mich.App. 384, 652 N.W.2d 688, 691, appeal denied 468 Mich. 946, 664 N.W.2d 222 (2003).

Bonkowski v. Arlan’s Dep’t Store, 12 Mich.App. 88, 162 N.W.2d 347, 349.

Minn.

Blaz v. Molin Concrete Products Co., 244 N.W.2d 277, 299.

Mo.

Sturgeon v. Holtan, 486 S.W.2d 209, 211.

Warrem v. Parrish, 436 S.W.2d 670, 672, 673.

Bramon v. U-Haul, Inc., 945 S.W.2d 676, 681-682.

Nev.

Jordan v. State ex rel. Dept. of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, 121 Nev. 44, 110 P.3d 30, 48.

Hernandez v. City of Reno, 97 Nev. 429, 634 P.2d 668, 671.

N.H.

Ojo v. Lorenzo, 64 A.3d 974, 982.

MacKenzie v. Linehan, 158 N.H. 476, 969 A.2d 385, 390-391.

Hickox v. J.B. Morin Agency, Inc., 272 A.2d 321, 323.

N.J.

Fair Oaks Hosp. v. Pocrass, 266 N.J.Super. 140, 152, 628 A.2d 829, 836.

DiGiovanni v. Pessel, 104 N.J.Super. 550, 250 A.2d 756, 767, aff’d in part and rev’d in part 55N.J. 188, 260 A.2d 510 (1970).

N.Y.

Howell v. New York Post Co., Inc., 81 N.Y.2d 115, 122, 596 N.Y.S.2d 350, 353, 612 N.E.2d 699, 702.

Arteaga v. State, 72 N.Y.2d 212, 532 N.Y.S.2d 57, 67, 527 N.E.2d 1194.

Davis v. City of Syracuse, 66 N.Y.2d 840, 498 N.Y.S.2d 355, 356, 489 N.E.2d 242, 243.

Ryan v. New York Telephone Co., 62 N.Y.2d 494, 478 N.Y.S.2d 823, 827, 467 N.E.2d 487, 491.

Broughton v. State, 37 N.Y.2d 451, 373 N.Y.S.2d 87, 93, 94, 335 N.E.2d 310, 314, cert. denied 423 U.S. 929, 46 L.Ed.2d 257, 96 S.Ct. 277 (1975).

Smith v. County of Nassau, 34 N.Y.2d 18, 355 N.Y.S.2d 349, 311 N.E.2d 489, 492.

Nachbaur v. St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, 263 A.D.2d 361, 694 N.Y.S.2d 24, 24, 25.

Secard v. Dept. of Social Services, 204 A.D.2d 425, 612 N.Y.S.2d 167, 168.

St. John v. Town of Marlborough, 163 A.D.2d 761, 558 N.Y.S.2d 332, 334.

Bacon v. County of Westchester, 149 A.D.2d 451, 539 N.Y.S.2d 951, 952.

Boose v. City of Rochester, 71 A.D.2d 59, 421 N.Y.S.2d 740, 745, 746.

Ambrosina v. Cohen, 57 A.D.2d 680, 393 N.Y.S.2d 818, 820.

Lincoln First Bk. of Rochester v. Siegal, 60 A.D.2d 270, 400 N.Y.S.2d 627, 631.

Dillard v. City of Syracuse, 51 A.D.2d 432, 381 N.Y.S.2d 913, 916, appeal dism., 39 N.Y.2d 1011, 387 N.Y.S.2d 243, 355 N.E.2d 298 (1976).

Nieves v. New York City Transit Authority, 91 Misc.2d 214, 397 N.Y.S.2d 531, 532.

Duverney v. State, 96 Misc.2d 898, 410 N.Y.S. 237, 244, affirmed 76 A.D.2d 962, 429 N.Y.S.2d 70, appeal dismissed 51 N.Y.2d 744, 432 N.Y.S.2d 365, 411 N.E.2d 784 (1980).

Tunia v. State, 106 Misc.2d 601, 434 N.Y.S.2d 846, 849.

Tepperman v. New York City Transit Authority, 133 Misc.2d 788, 508 N.Y.S.2d 142, 145.

N.C.

McDowell v. Davis, 33 N.C.App. 529, 235 S.E.2d 896, 900, appeal dism’d 293 N.C. 360, 237 S.E.2d 848 (1977).

Okl.

Walters v. J.C. Penney Co., Inc., 2003 OK 100, 82 P.3d 578, 583.

Or.

Pearson v. Galvin, 253 Or. 331, 454 P.2d 638, 640, 642.

Napier v. Sheridan, 24 Or.App. 761, 547 P.2d 1399, 1401.

Pa.

Renk v. City of Pittsburgh, 537 Pa. 68, 641 A.2d 289, 295.

Gagliardi v. Lynn, 446 Pa. 144, 285 A.2d 109, 111.

Little v. York Cty. Earned Income Tax Bureau, 333 Pa.Super. 8, 481 A.2d 1194, 1207, appeal dismissed 510 Pa. 531, 510 A.2d 351 (1986).

Com. v. Kibe, 258 Pa.Super. 353, 392 A.2d 831, 834.

R.I.

Moody v. McElroy, 513 A.2d 5, 7, 9.

Webbier v. Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bur. Inc., 105 R.I.605, 254 A.2d 285, 290.

S.D.

Bego v. Gordon, 407 N.W.2d 801, 809.

Tex.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Rodriguez, 92 S.W.3d 502, 507.

Texas Dept. of Mental Health v. Petty, 817 S.W.2d 707, 714.

Utah

Lee v. Langley, 2005 UT App. 339, 121 P.3d 33, 38, affirmed 2006 UT 66, 147 P.3d 443 (Utah 2006).

Wis.

Herbst v. Wuennenberg, 83 Wis.2d 768, 266 N.W.2d 391, 395.

Dupler v. Seubert, 69 Wis.2d 373, 230 N.W.2d 626, 631.

Maniaci v. Marquette University, 50 Wis.2d 287, 184 N.W.2d 168, 172.

Wyo.

Oyler v. State, 618 P.2d 1042, 1046.