Opinion ID: 1027858
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Abated Claims

Text: Based on the concession in the Administratix' Motion to Substitute Parties, we disregard Cloaninger's state law claims of false arrest and false imprisonment because these claims have been abated by his death. In addition, Cloaninger inextricably linked his assault and battery claim to his abated claim of false imprisonment. In his response to the defendants' motion for summary judgment, Cloaninger declared that, under North Carolina law, [w]ith every false imprisonment allegation, there is necessarily an allegation of assault. (J.A. 111.) Cloaninger renews this association on appeal by asserting that the magistrate judge erred in finding no genuine issue of material fact as to assault and battery because, he contends, the issue of whether Parlier and Lo falsely imprisoned him remains in dispute. (Br. Appellant 25.) Cloaninger has correctly stated North Carolina law. In Hoffman v. Clinic Hosp., Inc., 213 N.C. 669, 197 S.E. 161 (1938) (per curiam), the Supreme Court of North Carolina held that [f]alse imprisonment is the illegal restraint of one's person against his will. It generally includes an assault and battery, and always, at least, a technical assault. Id. at 162. However, because Cloaninger presents his assault and battery claim as nothing more than the necessary implication, under state law, of his false imprisonment claim, we consider it to be included in the false imprisonment claim abated by his death.