Assault & Battery

Assault and battery are two distinct types of personal injury causes of action. Assault occurs when someone purposefully acts in a way that causes someone else to think that they will be harmed, even if no physical contact occurs. However, once physical contact happens (i.e. punching, hitting, shoving), the claim becomes battery. Assault or battery most often occurs by security guards employed at nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, or casinos.