Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Wallace v. Rosen Case Brief

Indiana Court of Appeals2002Docket #1897359
765 N.E.2d 192 2002 Ind. App. LEXIS 459 2002 WL 442408 Torts Civil Procedure

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: A teacher touched a parent on the back during a chaotic school fire drill to get her to move. The parent fell and sued for battery. The court held the touching was not a battery, as it lacked the requisite offensive intent in the context of a crowded, urgent situation.

Legal Significance: Establishes that context is critical in determining the intent element of battery. A touching that might otherwise be offensive is not a battery if it is a reasonably necessary and ordinary contact under the circumstances (the “crowded world” doctrine), such as ensuring safety during an emergency.

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Mable Wallace (Plaintiff) was at her daughter’s high school when a fire alarm sounded. The drill occurred just one week after an actual fire at the school. Wallace, who was recovering from foot surgery, was standing on a landing at the top of a staircase, talking with her daughter and others, effectively blocking the students’ exit path. Harriet Rosen (Defendant), a teacher, was escorting her class down the same staircase. Seeing the group obstructing the exit, Rosen approached, telling everyone to move. Due to the alarm’s noise, Wallace did not hear her. Rosen then touched Wallace on the back with her fingertips to get her attention and told her to move toward the exit. Wallace testified that Rosen pushed her, causing her to fall down the stairs. Rosen testified she only touched Wallace to get her attention and that Wallace did not fall. Wallace sued Rosen and the school for battery and negligence. At trial, the court refused to give Wallace’s tendered jury instruction on battery. The jury found for the defendants, and Wallace appealed.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Did the trial court err in refusing to give a jury instruction on the tort of battery where a teacher touched a parent on the back to get her attention and direct her down a crowded stairway during a fire drill?

No, the trial court did not err in refusing the battery instruction. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehender

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

Did the trial court err in refusing to give a jury instruction on the tort of battery where a teacher touched a parent on the back to get her attention and direct her down a crowded stairway during a fire drill?

Conclusion

This case clarifies the intent element of battery, demonstrating that the surrounding Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea com

Legal Rule

A battery is the knowing or intentional touching of a person against Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore

Legal Analysis

The court affirmed the trial court's decision, focusing on the intent element Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id e

Flash-to-Full Case Opinions

Flash Summary

  • A teacher touching a parent on the shoulder to get her
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, s

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