False imprisonment is the intentional unlawful confinement of another person without legal justification.
Why It Matters
This tort matters because the law protects personal freedom of movement. A person who is intentionally restrained without lawful authority may have a civil claim even if no physical injury occurs.
Where It Appears
False imprisonment appears in disputes involving detentions, security incidents, private restraint, and other situations where someone is intentionally kept from leaving.
Practical Example
A store employee locks a customer in a room without a lawful basis and refuses to let the customer leave. That may support a false imprisonment claim.
How It Differs From Nearby Terms
Assault concerns threatened contact. Battery concerns actual contact. False imprisonment concerns confinement or restraint. It can overlap with criminal-law concepts, but the tort claim focuses on civil liability for unlawful restraint.
Related Terms
Knowledge Check
- What is the core injury in false imprisonment? The core injury is unlawful confinement or restraint.
- Does false imprisonment require physical injury? No. The main issue is unlawful confinement, not necessarily physical harm.