Assault and Battery/Self Defense

[ascendancy]

My State is Massachusetts.

If a guy touches my girlfriend inappropriately, such as pulls down her pants, grabs her boobs, whatever you want to consider sexual harassment, can I be sued if I put some kind of force onto him in order to get him to stop?

 

[BelizeBreeze]

My State is Massachusetts.

If a guy touches my girlfriend inappropriately, such as pulls down her pants, grabs her boobs, whatever you want to consider sexual harassment, can I be sued if I put some kind of force onto him in order to get him to stop?

We don't do homework and we don't give permission to hit. nice try though.

 

[ascendancy]

It's not permission to hit somebody, it's defense of others. It was a serious question.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

It's not permission to hit somebody, it's defense of others. It was a serious question.

Want to bet? I then challenge you to state what exactly happened, why and where.

 

[ascendancy]

There's a lot more than once, but a kid went up to my girlfriend and completely pulled down her pants and slapped her ass, knowing that I am with her. She obviously didn't like this, which right there is sexual harassment. I am asking if I can use force, I don't mean deck him in the face, I mean use force in order to remove him away from my girlfriend.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

There's a lot more than once, but a kid went up to my girlfriend and completely pulled down her pants and slapped her ass, knowing that I am with her. She obviously didn't like this, which right there is sexual harassment. I am asking if I can use force, I don't mean deck him in the face, I mean use force in order to remove him away from my girlfriend.

And what are you protecting her from that she can't protect herself from?

 

[CdwJava]

What kind of pants does she wear that someone can just sneak up and drop 'em? And why does this seem to be a repeat problem for her?

She can call the police and ask that the offender charged with a crime if she chooses. If you use force to toss the guy away you could be arrested for battery. Whether your actions would be considered some form of justifiable use of force would depend on the specific fact set and the laws in MA.

The best solution might be to buy her a belt.

- Carl