Just to clarify:

Assault: v. the threat or attempt to strike another, whether successful or not, provided the target is aware of the danger.

Battery: n. the actual intentional striking of someone, with intent to harm, or in a "rude and insolent manner" even if the injury is slight.

You were both assaulted and battered.

Dude, so +1.

Anyone head butts me and they're going to be spitting up chicklets.

snipe's answer IS BEST! FEELINGS? WE DONT HAVE NO STINKING FEELINGS!

SO THIS IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE! time fer a SHELTER!

Shaun has to protect his business and letting LE handle this doesn't cost him any skin. I wouldn't toss the temp though, unless shes a screw up.

ya know the laws are kind of like iraq and afghan.........................


ya cant feek anyjuan up until hit or shot at.............................THEN YA CALL IN THE 155mm ARTY.....................B-52 STRIKES....................nuklar TOMO-HAWKS from subs offshore..................and the SNIPER TEAMS and vaporize their worthless ass!



and dont ferget .....................DEATH RAYS!

The guy assaulted him.

Any man that is more concerned about legalities than defending himself from assault is not a man at all.

+1

I disagree... Shaun did the smart, restrained thing in this situation. If he had beat the guy to a bloody pulp in front of one witness, the guy's girlfriend, how do you think that would have turned out for him?

If Shaun had given the guy what he deserved and the girlfriend had intervened and started beating on Shaun (as we know some women will), now it's two on one and Shaun is in a physical altercation involving his own employee. How do you think that would have turned out for him?

If anything, I think Shaun is more of a man for handling a potentially dangerous situation in a restrained, mature way. He kept his head... twice as valuable as fists any day of the week.

Well done Shaun, showing restraint.

That's why Shaun owns a business and you don't.

Sometimes a "man" has to keep his fists to himself for a better outcome. If you let your ego run your life, you won't get far. Well, unless you're in Hollywood...

+10 Sometimes being a man requires using your brains not your fist.

Now just fire the chick. There are dozens of people that will take the job and not drag freaky personal issues with them.

Wow...welcome to 2010...B.C.

I like to consider myself a restrained type of guy, but my father taught me, as soon as a man puts his hands on you start swinging until he is on the ground. Everything up until the headbutt would have been cool and professional.

On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with being a pacifist.

Shaun took the girl's way out.

As would you, apparently.

The wolf laughs at you sheep as he picks his teeth with your bones.

I've been in over 100 fist fights, no one has ever sued me or called the cops.

I was also self employed for many years.

Glad to see i'm not the only man here.

All this thread is telling me who here i could punch in the mouth and face no serious response.

Call the cops....lol.

I might not have hit him when he was headbutting me, but I would feel bad about not doing it. It's your business and your life, but from past experiences, as long as they touch you first you can take the shot.

good advice

I also agree with Beygone - he touches you, you take him out. I would not "punch him in the mouth" - there are better things to do.

That said, Shaun did not do that, and it is often better to avoid a fight if you can.

At this point, the issue is whether or not to get an RO and what to do about the temp/guy's gf. Safest thing is to fire her. Best thing might be to talk to her, tell her he is NOT to come on the property and that you got or are getting an RO against him. You might also inquire if she feels at all threatened by him. If she sounds like she might feel that (they often will not admit it for some time) she can go to a women's shelter or whatever your town/county has for that. The latter actions are if you feel safe, like her, and are public spirited, and I know you are the latter.

Good Luck, Shaun.

PS - never too late to take martial arts...

yes, in most states - dunno re Mass. In Oregon, this is the lowest level of assault and the police like to see a red mark on you (as proof).

If you are really angry you can also file a civil suit for damages, not just have the DA pursue a criminal suit.

Best thing is likely to just let the police handle it and it will likely stop with a nice talk from the officer to this guy.

.....or Philadelphia.:D

I'm not going to enter the debate regarding what Shaun should or should not have done. I wasn't there, and neither were most of you.

But.....based on what I've read here, I would certainly carry a loaded gun for a while. I estimate the likelihood of this fruitcake coming back into the picture at least 50/50. At least. And I would start with the assumption he is armed, dangerous and arriving with bad intent. If Shaun acted properly by peacefully retiring the situation today, if this guy reappears, it would be foolish for Shaun to show the slightest hesitation. If you see this guy again Shaun, and if one of his hands disappears from your sight, he needs to be looking down a barrel.

Dont disagree with that.