Irvine, CA asked in Personal Injury and Sexual Harassment for California

Q: If a male in a public place was coming into your personal space and opening their shirt is that considered harrassment?

I was in a Starbucks with my friends, and another rowdy group comes in and records this male coming in and opening his shirt and making inappropriate gestures at us. On our way out, they are sitting outside and approach us again as we are trying to leave, and he opens his shirt and does the same thing. I was uncomfortable and in response, I threw my Starbucks drink at him, both were wrong but were his actions harrassment even in the slightest bit?

1 Lawyer Answer
William John Light
William John Light
Answered
  • Santa Ana, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Maybe. It depends on how threatening he was. How close he was. How big he was. What size you are. His age. Your age. Etc., etc., etc. Facts matter. If he was "rowdy" as you say, that suggests misplaced fun, at worst. If he was sexually aggressive, then you had the right to defend yourself.

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