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From: 9234dwz@houxf.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Last night
Message-ID: <909@houxf.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Jun-85 13:47:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: houxf.909
Posted: Mon Jun 10 13:47:01 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Jun-85 04:44:13 EDT
References: <1557@reed.UUCP> <704@burl.UUCP> <441@rtech.UUCP> <2775@nsc.UUCP> <186@kontron.UUCP> <785@mtgzz.UUCPRe: Last night
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
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-->
-->Legally, assult involves touching another person.
-->If you don't touch them, you haven't assulted them.
-->

1)    Not so, yelling a threat is assault ! If the threat
is followed up then the action is "assault & battery".

-->Yelling at someone is a disorderly persons offense.
-->If repeated, it becomes harrassment.
-->

 2)   Agreed, if what is yelled is not of a threatening nature
(see 1 above).

-->
-->Dale

I don't recall what Ellen stated the drunk 
shouted so I can't say whether 1) or 2) applies.
Unfortunately with the criminal justice system as it is, even
if the police filed an assault charge against the drunk in
all probability the DA would probably accept a guilty plea
on a reduced charge(disorderly conduct). This is all assuming
that they'd even prosecute on the basis that it's one persons
word against another.
I doubt that the above would be a satifactory conclusion to the
case for Ellen or any other person in her position. However I
don't claim to know the answer, perhaps a similar group to MADD
would be a start(one may exist and if it does we should help
expand awareness of it's presence and it's aims).


    Dave Peak
    @  !hotel!dxp

"My buddy..................Buddy Bear !" - Jimmy Buffet