In situations in which a person has been unlawfully detained or falsely arrested, civil rights attorneys can help victims by bringing a civil rights lawsuit. Civil rights attorneys devote their careers to defending and bringing justice to people who were wronged by those in positions of power.
Proving False Arrest To be successful with a civil lawsuit pertaining to false arrest, you must prove three elements of your case. These are as follows: Law enforcement officials arrested you without a valid warrant, without a warrant at all, or without probable cause. You suffered actual harm as a result.
Whether you call it false imprisonment or false arrest, the Virginia Supreme Court has defined it as “the direct restraint by one person of the physical liberty of another without adequate legal justification.” Jordan v. Shands, 500 S.E.2d 215, 218 (Va. 1998).
Gather evidence: If possible, try to remember details of the arrest, like the officer's name and any witnesses. Contact an attorney: Talk to a lawyer specializing in wrongful arrest. They can advise you on your legal options, which may include filing a lawsuit against the arresting officer or department.
To prove a false imprisonment claim as a tort in a civil lawsuit, the following elements must be present: There was a willful detention; The detention was without consent; and. The detention was unlawful.
If you are referring to the tort of false imprisonment, then the answer is yes. You can file a civil lawsuit against someone or an entity that falsely imprisoned you. However, outside of an extreme situation, the problem is that there are rarely any actual damages. Therefore, a lawsuit is rarely worth doing.
Nominal damages will be awarded to an individual who has suffered no actual damages in consequence to the illegal confinement. In cases where an injured offers proof of injuries suffered, s/he will be compensated with damages for physical injuries, mental suffering, and loss of earnings.
The intentional use of force, words, or acts which the person restrained is afraid to ignore, or to which he reasonably believes he must submit.