Battery

Category: legal

The intentional and non-consensual harmful or offensive touching of another person.

Battery requires actual physical contact. This can be as aggressive as a punch or as subtle as unwanted, offensive touching. It is the "completed" act that assault only threatens. It is an intentional tort that carries both civil and potential criminal implications.

Common Examples

• The unwanted, offensive contact during the public altercation gave rise to a civil battery claim against the defendant.
• Battery claims often accompany assault claims, as the threat is frequently followed by the prohibited physical contact.