The statute of limitations in Arizona is set at two years for all personal injury claims. It is one year for libel or slander claims, which are a subset of personal injury law.
The defamation statute of limitations in Arizona is one year from publication; however, an exception exists in situations where the publication of the defamatory material was purposefully left concealed from the plaintiff – like in incidents involving a confidential memo.
There shall be commenced and prosecuted within one year after the cause of action accrues, and not afterward, the following actions: 1. For malicious prosecution, or for false imprisonment, or for injuries done to the character or reputation of another by libel or slander.
§ 11.404 False imprisonment. A person commits a misdemeanor if he or she knowingly restrains another unlawfully so as to interfere substantially with his or her liberty.
Unlawful Imprisonment, as mentioned, is a serious offense. Arizona law considers the crime a class 6 felony, meaning, if convicted, the accused faces at least a year in state prison. First time offenders sentenced to incarceration usually receive a one-year sentence, actually spending six months in prison.
False imprisonment generally refers to the confinement of a person without the consent of such person or without legal authority. For example, if a person wrongfully prevents another from leaving a room or vehicle when that person wants to leave, it amounts to false imprisonment.