Adam Green is an orderly in the Midwest Nursing Home. His supervisor,
Nora Malone, has asked him to supervise the dining room while 20
residents eat their evening meal. Bill Heckler is an 80-year-old resident
who is very alert and ambulatory. He tells Adam that he doesn’t like the
meal that’s being served, and he wants to leave the dining room and 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
become impatient with Bill and tells him that he cannot leave the room
until everyone is 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.
Answer the follow questions in essay form (3-5 double-spaced pages):
1. Was Adam’s actions justified?
2. In your opinion, was this a case of false imprisonment?
3. What could Adam have done to defuse the situation?
4. Do the nursing home administrator and Nora Malone have any legal
responsibility for Adam’s actions?
