Peterson v. Sorlien

299 N.W.2d 123 (1980)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Peterson (P) was 21 years old, and everything in her life was following the path of predetermined destiny and success for children of her generation until she joined a group called The Way of Minnesota, Inc. The Way sold tape lectures and charged $85 per participant. Advanced tape courses were offered about The Way, at additional costs of course, and those involved were required to turn over 10% of their earnings to the organization. Members were also required to purchase books and other materials published by this ministry and encouraged to make substantial financial contributions as well as to engage in sustained efforts at solicitation. P found her path to happiness in The Way and basically left her establishment ways to become a full-time member of The Way. P's grades suffered as well as her appearance and overall demeanor. P's father then decided that P should undergo a little deprogramming and picked her up at school and drove her to the deprogrammer’s house. P stayed there for 16 days off and on but eventually she was lured back to The Way and sued those involved for false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. A trial was held, and it was put into evidence that P had remained with her captors of her own violation for at least 13 of the 16 days with more than ample opportunity to inform police and local officials if she had been held against her will. The jury only found that Ds, Morgel, and Mills were liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress and P was given $1 with $4,000 and $6,000 respectively in punitive damages. A directed verdict was given to Sorlien, P's former minister and P's mother and father, the Jungclaus and other defendants were exonerated from charges of false imprisonment.