| Minnesota law distinguishes between assault and | | | | A fifth degree assault can be very serious. It |
| battery in civil lawsuits. However, under its criminal | | | | requires that you acted with an intent to harm |
| code, battery is included under the heading of | | | | someone or that the other person was in |
| assault. An assault is an act done with intent to | | | | reasonable apprehension of physical harm from an |
| cause another injury or imminent fear of injury. | | | | act. |
| The act may be direct (hitting someone with a | | | | The criminal penalties are severe. However, the |
| fist) or indirect (putting something in their drink). | | | | collateral consequences of a conviction are, |
| Minnesota criminal assault comes in various | | | | perhaps, even more significant. As a result, it is |
| degrees depending on whether injury was inflicted | | | | extemely important to protect your public and |
| and the severity of the injury. | | | | criminal record. |