Also known as: personal dignities · human dignity
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A standard used to evaluate whether bodily contact is offensive in the context of battery. Contact offends a reasonable sense of personal dignity when it is insulting or degrading to a person of ordinary sensibilities.
Perry Pratt argued with his shift manager on the assembly line. The manager deliberately dragged a greasy glove across Perry's bare forearm in front of coworkers. Perry felt humiliated by the degrading touch. The contact qualifies as offensive because it affronts a reasonable sense of personal dignity.
Pablo Perez repeatedly complained during hospital rounds. Nurse Kelly deliberately shoved the call button hard into his sternum while making a dismissive remark in front of staff. Pablo experienced discomfort and embarrassment from the hostile contact. The shove offends personal dignity because it was a purposeful, demeaning invasion of his body.
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Phuong Pham attended a brokerage holiday event. Senior analyst Marcus deliberately flung champagne into her face and onto her blouse during a mocking exchange. Phuong suffered brief stinging and public humiliation. The liquid contact offends personal dignity as an intentional affront in a professional setting.
Paul Peterson refused to move forward on a crowded airport shuttle. Driver Luis intentionally poked him sharply between the shoulder blades to force compliance. Paul lurched forward and chipped a tooth from the resulting fall. The poke offends personal dignity because it was a nonconsensual, controlling bodily invasion.
Paige Porter handled vials at her workbench. Senior colleague Hector grabbed and squeezed her wrist from behind with enough force to leave red marks and bruising. Paige required medical attention for the pain. The sudden forceful seizure offends personal dignity as an unannounced assertion of physical control.
Pilar Pena worked at an insurance claims office. A manager flicked a paper clip at the back of her neck as a prank, leaving a faint red mark. Pilar viewed the act as demeaning in front of colleagues. The flick offends personal dignity when it occurs despite an express dislike for physical contact.
No. Battery is complete upon an intentional harmful or offensive contact. Offensive contact exists when the touching would offend a reasonable sense of personal dignity even if it causes no bruise, pain, or medical expense.
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Yes. Contact with an object closely associated with the plaintiff's person counts as contact with the person itself. Shoving a call button into a patient's chest or pressing a scanner against a coworker's sternum satisfies the element when the act is intentional and demeaning.
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No. The defendant need only intend the contact that is offensive to personal dignity. Liability extends to all resulting injuries even if the defendant did not foresee or desire the full extent of harm such as a chipped tooth or aggravated medical condition.
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It can when the act occurs after an express statement of dislike or in a public setting that renders it demeaning. A supervisor's pat and pinch after the trainee objected or a manager's paper-clip flick can qualify if the context shows the contact was disrespectful rather than trivial.
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…of Southern Negro students are engaged in widespread non-violent demonstrations in positive affirmation of the right to live in human dignity as guaranteed by the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights." It went on to charge that "in their efforts to uphold these guarantees, they are being met by an unprecedented wave of…