Savage v. Boies, 5851

Citation77 Ariz. 355,272 P.2d 349
Decision Date28 June 1954
Docket NumberNo. 5851,5851
PartiesSAVAGE v. BOIES et al.
CourtSupreme Court of Arizona

Marshall Haislip, Phoenix, for appellant.

Wm. P. Mahoney, Jr., County Atty., and James J. Caretto, Deputy County Atty., Phoenix, for appellees L. C. Boies, Leslie Lavar Johnston, Edward Hext Bayliss and Globe Indemnity Co.

Anthony T. Deddens, Phoenix, for appellee National Surety Corp. WINDES, Justice.

The litigation herein involves the correctness of the trial court in directing a verdict for defendants at the close of plaintiff's evidence. The plaintiff, appellant herein, filed suit against L. C. Boies, Sheriff of Maricopa County, Leslie Lavar Johnston, Edward Hext Bayliss, deputies sheriff, and their respective bondsmen, National Surety Corporation and Globe Indemnity Company, charging in effect false arrest and unlawful imprisonment accomplished by the said deputies' false representation to plaintiff that her child had been injured in an automobile accident and a request she accompany them to the hospital. The complaint states that upon arrival at the hospital they advised her that the child had not been injured and that they caused her to be imprisoned in the psychopathic ward; that immediately thereafter a woman nurse and man disrobed her and administered certain medicines hypodermically; that the arresting officers did not make known to the plaintiff they possessed a warrant or other lawful process and that neither of said officers ever made return to the court of any process. Complaint also alleges resulting humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish and prays for damages.

Following judgment for the defendants upon a directed verdict in their favor, the plaintiff submits the case to us with the contention that the court erred for the following reasons: (1) The evidence shows the arresting officers possessed no warrant or process and made no return of process. (2) The false statements alleged in the complaint resulted in emotional upset. (3) The defendants stood by while she was being disrobed.

The undisputed evidence indicates that prior to the arrest the Honorable Renz L. Jennings, Judge of the Superior Court of Maricopa County, signed an order directed to the sheriff reciting that a petition had been filed in his court from which it appeared the plaintiff was mentally ill, that she required emergency apprehension and that an examination should be made to determine the character of treatment or restraint necessary, if any, and commanding that plaintiff be detained in the County Hospital pending further order of the court.

Under our statutes when a petition is filed from which it appears to the satisfaction of a judge of the superior court that a person is mentally ill and in need of care and restraint, the judge shall make such orders as are necessary for the apprehension and safekeeping of such person pending hearing and at least two days before the time fixed for the hearing, a copy of the petition and order shall be served upon the alleged ill person. The statute also provides that the officer shall, pursuant to the order for detention, apprehend the person and cause him to be delivered to the place designated in the order until a hearing can be had, and that the officer shall take proper precautions with respect to the personal property in possession of the detained person and furnish the court an itemized report of such property and having done so, the responsibility of the officer shall terminate. Laws 1951, chapter 14, sections 1 and 2, sections 8-303, 8-304 and 8-305, 1952 Cumulative Supplement, A.C.A.1939.

The order of the court having been made directing the sheriff to detain the plaintiff, the officers were required by law to arrest and detain the plaintiff as directed and, of course, were fully protected from liability for so doing. The statute does not require that the officer possess a warrant or make return and a failure thereof does not subject the officer to damages for unlawful arrest.

Plaintiff claims that the complaint alleges and the evidence shows a tort independent of unlawful arrest in that the officers falsely represented the injury of plaintiff's child and after delivery to the hospital stood by while her personal privacy was violated by the hospital attendants, thereby causing her emotional upset, distress and humiliation. There is neither allegation nor evidence that the plaintiff suffered any physical harm as a result of her claimed emotional...

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46 cases
  • Gilbert v. Board of Medical Examiners of State of Ariz.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Arizona
    • September 8, 1987
    ...and anxiety." The tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress is well-established in Arizona. See, e.g., Savage v. Boies, 77 Ariz. 355, 272 P.2d 349 (1954); Duhammel v. Star, 133 Ariz. 558, 653 P.2d 15 (App.1982). However, liability will be imposed only upon a showing of extremely ......
  • Crain v. Krehbiel
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of California
    • February 3, 1978
    ...coerced plaintiff under threat of arrest because friend complained about plaintiff's legal repossession of his car); Savage v. Boies, 77 Ariz. 355, 272 P.2d 349 (1954) (police told plaintiff her husband and child were seriously injured in order to get her to hospital for court-ordered psych......
  • Twyman v. Twyman
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Texas
    • May 5, 1993
    ...v. Inmon, 394 So.2d 361, 365 (Ala.1980); Richardson v. Fairbanks N. Star Borough, 705 P.2d 454, 456 (Alaska 1985); Savage v. Boies, 77 Ariz. 355, 272 P.2d 349, 351 (1954); M.B.M. Co. v. Counce, 268 Ark. 269, 596 S.W.2d 681, 687 (1980); State Rubbish Collectors Ass'n v. Siliznoff, 38 Cal.2d ......
  • Elza v. Liberty Loan Corp.
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Indiana
    • October 21, 1981
    ...Institute 1965) and the vast majority of this nation's jurisdictions which have considered the question before us. See, Savage v. Boies, (1954) 77 Ariz. 355, 272 P.2d 349; Wilson v. Wilkins, (1930) 181 Ark. 137, 25 S.W.2d 428; Moore v. Greene (9th Cir. 1970) 431 F.2d 584 (applying Californi......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles
  • Outrageous Conduct
    • United States
    • Colorado Bar Association Colorado Lawyer No. 3-3, January 1974
    • Invalid date
    ...a person suspected of insanity that her husband and child had been badly injured in order to decoy her to a hospital, Savage v. Boies, 77 Ariz. 355, 272 P.2d 349 (1954); threats of serious future harm resulting in fright and mental suffering, State Rubbish Collectors v. Siliznoff, 38 Cal.2d......

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