TORTS Unit 4

Six Intentional Torts Assault Battery False imprisonment Defamation of character Fraud Invasion of privacy

Case Study Adam is an orderly in the Midwest Nursing Home. His supervisor, Nora, has asked him to supervise the dining room while 20 residents eat their evening meal. Bill is an 80-year- old resident who is very alert. He tells Adam that he doesn’t like the meal being served and wants to leave the dining room to go back to his own room. Adam is quite busy, since he has to watch the behavior of several patients who are confused. He’s concerned that patients might choke on their food or otherwise harm themselves. Adam becomes impatient with Bill and tells him that he cannot leave the room until everyone has finished eating. Adam then locks the dining room door. Bill complains to the nursing home administrator that he was unlawfully detained. He then hires an attorney, who brings forth a charge of false imprisonment.

Case Study #2 Sara is transcribing some medical records at her home as part of her job. A friend, Jodi, comes over to for their weekly coffee get-together and happens to glance at the paperwork on Sara’s desk while Sara gets up to get some coffee. She recognizes the name of the patient as that of her neighbor, Debby. She reads that Debby is pregnant. When she gets home, Jodi tells several other neighbors that Debby is pregnant. Unfortunately, Debby had recently suffered a miscarriage and did not want anyone to know about it.