Anton is a bully. One night while eating at a local diner, he notices Derek eating at a nearby table. Anton does not like the band displayed on Derek’s T-shirt, so to show his pals who is in charge, Anton orders Derek to sit at another table. When Derek refuses, Anton punches him in the jaw. As a result of the injury, Derek misses several weeks of work and has to pay both medical and dental bills.
Anton is a bully. One night while eating at a local diner, he notices Derek eating at a nearby table. Anton does not like the band displayed on Derek’s T-shirt, so to show his pals who is in charge, Anton orders Derek to sit at another table. When Derek refuses, Anton punches him in the jaw. As a result of the injury, Derek misses several weeks of work and has to pay both medical and dental bills.
a. Has Anton violated civil laws, criminal laws, or both?
b. Who decides whether Anton should be charged criminally? Who decides whether or not to sue Anton in a civil action?
c. If Anton is charged with a crime and is sued in a civil action, would the civil and criminal cases be tried together? Why or why not?
d. Is going to court the only way to handle this problem? What alternatives are there and which do you think would work best?