My girlfriend was physically harassed

[datngu]

What is the name of your state? Iowa

First off, I apologize if I post this in the wrong thread. I had a long day and then when I came home my girlfriend told me this.

She goes to school at a community college. After a labratory class, she walked out of the room into the hallway. Now the hallway is not a small hallway, two people walking opposite directions have plenty of space to walk by each other. But apparently another girl walking the other direction bumped into my girlfriend and kept walking without apologizing. There was no one else in the hallway, so no one saw it. Normally this wouldn't be such a big deal, but this girl is also in my girlfriends class, and they have some history, long story. This girl has been ignoring my girlfriend, not talking or looking or acknowledging that my girlfriend exists. My girlfriend doesn't do anything to this girl (and other girls in the clique) too, she doesn't talk to them or anything. And she didn't say anything or did anything to provoke this girl to bump into her. But I personally feel that any sort of physical contact, especially an intentional one, is going too far. I mean who knows what else that girl will do in the future? I personally think my girlfriend should at least tell the teacher about it.

What do you think she should do?

Can she do anything?

Will there be any consequences to her action?



What is the name of your state?
IowaWhat is the name of your state?

[ecmst12]

Your girlfriend should stand tall, and say "please watch where you're going."

[VeronicaLodge]

are you sure this is college? sounds like high school.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by ecmst12

Your girlfriend should stand tall, and say "please watch where you're going."

Funny, I've always found "excuse me" to be less confrontational
Bumping in to someone while walking doesn't HAVE to be an ego-shattering moment.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by VeronicaLodge

are you sure this is college? sounds like high school.

My thoughts exactly...

[ecmst12]

I had a similar experience in college. It's really not THAT different then high school!

[qtpiegracie]

that sucks.. but loosen up, shes fine. god , i thought this post was going to be about rape or something. lol

[cristinalipan]

An important element you are missing here is harm. There was no harm caused. If, however, even the slightest bump, if done intentionally, caused some serious harm which no one would expect, but she had some special condition, then you may have a claim. But here, there is no harm to recover for.

You may look at emotional harm, but that probably wouldn't work. If she had first been physically harmed, then you might also get recovery for emotional harm. But, since there's only emotional harm, such a slight thing won't cut it. Usually courts will allow recovery if it was a traumatic event, but this doesn't even come close.

If, however, this is a repetitive issue, there may be a claim for harassment, although I don't know too much on this topic. The school might have some remedies when it comes to harassment.

It seems there's no legal remedy here. If you attempted to file a suit, it would be dismissed for failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted.