Legal Question in Personal Injury in Texas

Someone I know and like recently "bear hugged" me from behind in attempt to force me to "take something back" that I had said. He was just horsing around, but I realized that I actually could not move (he's quite large and strong) and panicked to some degree. I told him explicitly to take his hands off me and stop touching my body. I used almost exactly those words multiple times. I told him I was serious, that I wasn't joking, and that he needed to stop touching me RIGHT NOW. He said if I took it back, he'd let me go. Panicked and constricted, I refused to do anything until he LET ME GO. He refused to let go for some 5 minutes.

I was not hurt at any way at the end of this exchange, and I of course don't blame him for his actions, because he is a friend, and I don't think he realized how serious I was when I told him to release me, although I am sure others in the room did. Immediately after the incident I was extremely upset and disturbed that my friend had forceably held my body hostage, even under such petty circumstances, and I claimed that what he had done was illegal. I would still like to know:

Was what my friend did to me legal? What laws address this type of thing? Again, I was not hurt in any way, only shaken and very angry.


Asked on 10/18/09, 9:16 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Jason Kipness Kipness Law Firm

You should speak with a Texas personal injury attorney. You might have an assault claim.

For free Texas personal injury information, please visit www.kiplawfirm.com

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Answered on 10/26/09, 10:37 am


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