Which statement best defines false imprisonment?

• A. The unlawful confinement of a person without her consent
• B. The intentional infliction of emotional distress
• C. The unlawful taking of another's property
• D. The intentional interference with contractual rights

Answer: (A)

False imprisonment centers on deliberately restricting a person’s freedom of movement without a lawful justification. The essence is that someone intentionally confines another, using physical barriers or other means that prevent leaving, and there’s no valid consent or privilege to keep them confined. When confinement occurs unlawfully and without the person’s consent, it fits the tort of false imprisonment.

The other choices describe different harms: intentionally causing emotional distress, taking someone’s property, or interfering with someone’s contractual relationships, none of which capture the core idea of unlawfully restricting movement without consent.