Massachusetts lawyer sues Amazon for false imprisonment over double parking

QUINCY, Mass. — A Massachusetts lawyer is suing the online retailer Amazon, alleging false imprisonment, after he was blocked in by one of the company's delivery drivers for two to three minutes while he was working as a ride-share driver.

Matthew Donnelly is asking a judge to award him $150,000 for the loss of his freedom of mobility and for anxiety and humiliation.

Donnelly, who is representing himself in the lawsuit, said in court documents that he picked up a rider at a restaurant in Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Sept. 7 and was about to back out when an Amazon delivery van pulled in behind him.

Donnelly got out of his car and tried to confront the driver, who told him to wait a few minutes.  Most of the parking lot was empty, Donnelly said in court documents.

A second delivery person was in the passenger seat and Donnelly asked him to move the van. The man refused and told Donnelly to wait, he said in court documents.

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Two to three minutes later, the delivery driver walked out of restaurant and Donnelly told him he was going to file a complaint, he said in court documents. The delivery driver told Donnelly that their boss wouldn't care and mocked him as they left the parking lot, Donnelly alleges.

Donnelly is suing the two delivery employees for a civil conspiracy to commit an unlawful act, Amazon for its liability for employing the two drivers and Amazon and the two employees for false imprisonment.

Amazon has not filed a response and no court dates have been set.

The Legal Information Institute at the Cornell Law School defines false imprisonment as confining someone against their will, with no way to escape that does not cause physical harm.

Donnelly said he would not comment on his lawsuit because he doesn't have the names of the two delivery drivers.

Amazon did not return a request for comment.

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