Sarah V. Bozo’s Department Store

Battery- is an intentional unpermitted act causing harmful or offensive contact with another person.

When Sarah hesitated in going to the office with Bozo he placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her in the direction of the office. Although the touching of Sarah by Bozo was unpermitted and intentional it would not be considered harmful or offensive to a reasonable person. Bozo was simply attempting to guide Sarah in the direction of the office, not to harm her. Thus Sarah would not be entitled to recovery on her claim of battery against Bozo.

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Abuse- is the intentional infliction of severe or outrageous conduct that results in emotional distress of another person.

Sarah was stopped and questioned in regards to shop lifting that had been taking place in Bozo’s Department Store. When she appeared to be flustered, Bozo told her to go back to his office. When she hesitated, he placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her in that direction. She then proceeded to the office without any further assistance from Bozo. When they arrived there, Bozo told Sarah to sit down and wait until he returned with the police. Although Bozo’s actions of stopping her and guiding her to the office were intentional they were not severe or outrageous, thus Sarah would not be entitled to recovery in her claim of intentional infliction of emotional abuse.

False Imprisonment- is the illegal confinement of one individual against his or her will by another individual in such a manner as to violate the confined individual's right to be free from restraint of movement.

Bozo's Department Store, in order to deter theft, adopted a policy of stopping people at random as they were leaving the store and asking them whether they had taken certain items which were commonly stolen. When Bozo and Sarah arrived at the office, Sarah was told to sit down and wait until he returned with the police. Instead of going for the police, Bozo closed,...