Legal Dictionary
Assault
Definition
An intentional act that creates a reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact.
Deep Dive
In legal terms, assault refers to an intentional act that creates a reasonable apprehension in another person of an imminent harmful or offensive contact. Crucially, physical contact is not required for an assault to occur; the focus is on the victim's apprehension of such contact. The perpetrator must intend to cause this apprehension, and the victim's fear must be reasonable, meaning a person of ordinary firmness in the same situation would also feel threatened.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1Someone raises a fist and lunges towards another person, threatening to punch them, even if they stop short of making contact.
- 2A person points a weapon at another individual and threatens to shoot, causing the victim to reasonably fear for their safety.
- 3A person shouts threats and makes aggressive gestures, causing a bystander to believe they are about to be attacked.
Related Terms
BatteryThreatIntentional Tort