Which tort involves unjustified detention?

• A. False Imprisonment
• B. Assault
• C. Battery
• D. Negligence

Answer: (A)

False imprisonment is the tort that occurs when someone is restrained or detained without a lawful reason or the detained person’s consent. The core idea is the unjustified confinement of another’s freedom of movement, which can happen through physical restraint, blocking exits, or threats of force that prevent leaving. The detention must be intentional and without legal justification, and the person affected is aware of the confinement or harmed by it. This is distinct from assault, which involves fear of imminent harmful contact, and battery, which is actual harmful or offensive contact, and from negligence, which is a failure to exercise reasonable care. So unjustified detention fits false imprisonment.