When a police officer lacks probable cause to make an arrest, a plaintiff can make a false imprisonment claim based on the detention pursuant to the arrest. Call (212) 587-8423.The plaintiff's claim in a warrantless false arrest lawsuit arose from a sheriff s deputy s visit to her house to check on the welfare of her daughter. The main difference between the two is that false arrest requires an arrest, but, false imprisonment only requires unlawful detention. 1984) ("If there is a false arrest claim, damages for that claim cover the time of detention up until issuance of process or arraignment, but not more. §17-4-40, a citizen who wishes for another person to be arrested must file a warrant application. Yes, false imprisonment is a felony in Georgia. That's not exactly how it works. Either the warrant is sealed or it isn't. According to Complainant, the Fulton County Jail would not accept custody of her because she did not have an active warrant in the system.