What must a defendant intend to do in order to be liable for false imprisonment?

A defendant must intend to confine the plaintiff within a limited area to be liable for false imprisonment. This tort focuses on the unlawful restriction of an individual's freedom of movement. The intent here is not about causing physical harm or keeping the plaintiff under surveillance; rather, it centers on the specific aim of establishing confinement.

In a false imprisonment claim, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant knowingly confined them against their will, and this confinement can occur through physical barriers, threats, improper assertions of legal authority, or any means that limit the plaintiff’s ability to move freely. The essence of the tort lies in the intent to restrict physical movement rather than any intention to harm or monitor the individual.

Understanding the parameters of this tort highlights the critical role of intent in determining liability and reinforces why the intention to confine is the core element that establishes false imprisonment.