Webster v. Dieringer's Variety, Inc.

Plaintiff appeals a judgment notwithstanding the verdict for defendant on the issue of punitive damages in her action for false imprisonment arising out of her detention for suspected shoplifting. We reverse and remand.

We review the evidence in the light most favorable to plaintiff. Jacobs v. Tidewater Barge Lines, 277 Or 289, 562 P2d 545 (1977); Wells v. Home Purchasing Corp., 84 Or App 103, 733 P2d 898 (1987). On October 7, 1983, plaintiff and her two small children were shopping in defendant’s store. The children were irritable, and one of them complained of hunger. To quiet the children,…