Battery and Assault in Los Angeles, California

reuterthomas · #1 10-23-2006, 04:26 PM

Hi,

I was at a Starbucks yesterday, and the guy behind me assaulted me for no apparent reason. I was on my cell phone & no one was attending to me at that time. When I got to the cash counter he said get off the phone & I told him that to just ease up.

Anyways the next thing I remember is that he grabbed me by the throat and put me to ground. The attendant immediately informed the cops but he was away by the time the cops came.

What are my legal options at this time. I dont know who did it. The whole incident is recorded on tape at starbucks. The cops told me a detective will contact me in a week. What usually happens in these cases.

Thanks

Clair Bonner · #2 10-23-2006, 04:41 PM

Quoting reuterthomas

Hi,

I was at a Starbucks yesterday, and the guy behind me assaulted me for no apparent reason. I was on my cell phone & no one was attending to me at that time. When I got to the cash counter he said get off the phone & I told him that to just ease up.

Anyways the next thing I remember is that he grabbed me by the throat and put me to ground. The attendant immediately informed the cops but he was away by the time the cops came.

What are my legal options at this time. I dont know who did it. The whole incident is recorded on tape at starbucks. The cops told me a detective will contact me in a week. What usually happens in these cases.

Thanks

He should have grabbed your phone and stomped on it, too!

He only did what we'd all like to do to people like you! I think there should be special dispensation for people like him, and I imagine there were a lot of cheering people in Starbucks that day.

Next time, take it outside!!

aaron · #3 10-23-2006, 07:57 PM

The police, if they determine who did it, will likely initiate criminal charges. If you or they determine who this person was, you would have the potential of bringing a civil suit, but you don't seem to have suffered injury so your potential to recover damages is limited.

reuterthomas · #4 10-24-2006, 12:14 AM

How much would be the punishment in criminal charges?? How much can I claim in civil damages.

aaron · #5 10-24-2006, 12:21 AM

I believe California's penalty for a simple battery is a fine of up to $2,000 and up to six months in jail.

Civil damages? Before anybody could guess at that you would have to explain what damages you suffered.

cdwjava · #6 10-25-2006, 07:13 PM

In a city the size of L.A., it is unlikely that anyone will be able to identify the assailant from the video unless he is a regular customer at the Starbucks. If he's not, then it will likely go unsolved.

Sorry, but there you have it.

- Carl

reuterthomas · #7 10-25-2006, 11:53 PM

Yeah thats what I think unfortunately.