Originally posted by darvlay
Punching someone in the face isn't free.
It usually comes with an assault charge, legal fees, a fine and lost wages in community service or jail time.
an "assault" is the threat of a battery.
a "battery" is to actually hit someone.
this difference is noted from an old case in england where one squire approaches another and states that "if it were not assize time ( the time to hear lawsuits and such ) i would draw my sword" ( not an exact quote ). the threatened fraidy cat
other squire brought charges of battery and the court decided that battery never took place as no one was hit and as to assault ( the words of threat of battery ) they did not take place in that case as the defendant used conditional words ( if it were NOT assize time i would draw my sword ). this history is from the law cases edited by lord coke.