LAW1113 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: False Imprisonment, Weardale, Coles Group
LAW1113&TORTS&-&CASE&SUMMARIES&AND&KEY&POINTS&
FALSE&IMPRISONMENT&
• A"total"restraint"on"the"P’s"freedom"that"is"directly,"and"intentionally"or"negligently,"brought"about"by"
the"positive"and"voluntary"act"of"the"D"without"lawful"justification."
"
Elements&of&False&Imprisonment&
• Defendant’s""Positive"and"Voluntary"Act"
• Brings"about"directly"(Directness)"and""
• Either"intentionally"or"negligently"(Fault)""
• The"Total"Restraint"of"the"Plaintiff"
• Without"Lawful"Excuse"(no"Defence"applies)"
• Trespass"is"actionable*per*se"
*
Total&Restraint&
Case&
Details&
Bird%v%Jones%
Ø Use:"Conditions"for"total"restraint&
Ø Test:&Is"the"restraint"a"“total"restraint"of"the"liberty"of"the"person"in"question”?"&
Ø Conditions&of&imprisonment:&
1. No"imprisonment"if,"a"person"“merely"obstructs"the"passage"of"another"in"a"particular"direction”,"
leaving"the"person"obstructed"“at"liberty"to"stay"where"he"is"or"to"go"in"any"other"direction"if"he"
pleases”"(Patterson"J)&
2. A"prison,"even"a"notional"one,"must"have"a"“boundary”"beyond"which"the"person"imprisoned"is"
“prevented"from"passing”&
3. A"person"must"be"prevented"from"leaving"a"place,"“within"which"the"person"imprisoning"would"
confine"him”"(Coleridge"J)&
&
Means&of&Egress&
Case&
Details&
McFadzean%v%CFMEU"
Ø Use:"Determination"of"reasonable"means"of"egress&
Ø Test:&Is"the"means"of"egress"reasonable?&
Ø Conditions&of&reasonable&means&of&egress:&
1. If"there"is"a"reasonable"means"of"egress,"it"is"not"pertinent"whether"the"plaintiff"makes"use"of"it"or"
not"
2. Where"there"is"a"reasonable"means"of"egress,"hesitation"to"use"it"does"not"constitute"false"
imprisonment"
3. Where"there"is"no"reasonable"means"of"egress,"hesitation"to"use"it"forms"part"of"the"false"
imprisonment"
Ø Factors&to&be&considered&when&determining&whether&a&means&of&egress&is&reasonable&
1. Threat"or"danger"to"oneself"(or"others?)"
2. Threat"or"danger"to"one’s"own"(or"another’s)"property"
3. Legality"
4. Distance"and"Time"
Ø Assessing&reasonableness&in&terms&of&distance&and&time&might&also&involve&considering:&
1. P’s"physical"health"and"fitness"
2. P’s"clothing"and"footwear""
3. Terrain"to"be"traversed"
4. P’s"experience"
Burton%v%Davies%
Ø Test:&Whether"resort"to"the"alternate"route"will"be"dangerous?&
*Note:"We"also"consider"how"apparent"or"obvious"the"alternate"route"is"(No"precedent)"
