While assault and battery are often mentioned together, they are distinct offenses. Assault does not require physical contact, whereas battery does. Understanding the nuances between these charges is crucial in mounting an effective defense.
Simple assault involves minor injuries or threats of harm without the use of a weapon. It is often charged as a misdemeanor.
Aggravated assault involves more serious injuries or the use of a weapon. It is typically charged as a felony and carries more severe penalties.
Domestic violence cases involve assault or battery within a family or intimate relationship. These cases often come with additional legal and social complications.
Sexual assault is a form of battery that involves non-consensual sexual contact. These charges are taken very seriously and can result in significant legal consequences.
In some instances, individuals accused of assault or battery may claim self-defense. Successfully arguing self-defense requires a thorough understanding of the law and a strong presentation of evidence.
At Semenza Law Firm, we specialize in defending clients against assault and battery charges. Our attorneys have a deep understanding of the laws and strategies needed to effectively challenge these charges.
Our firm has a history of successfully defending clients in assault and battery cases. We have secured favorable outcomes through diligent preparation, strategic negotiation, and effective courtroom advocacy.
We believe in providing personalized attention to each client. At Semenza Law Firm, you are not just another case file; you are part of our family. We take the time to understand your unique situation and tailor our legal strategies to meet your specific needs. Our team is always available to answer your questions and provide updates on your case, ensuring you feel supported throughout the entire process.
The first step in our process is the initial consultation. During this meeting, we will discuss the details of your case, answer any questions you may have, and provide an honest assessment of your legal options. We will gather preliminary information and advise you on the best course of action.
Our team will conduct a thorough investigation of the charges against you, collecting evidence such as witness statements, surveillance footage, and any other relevant documentation. We will work tirelessly to uncover any inconsistencies or weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
Based on our investigation, we will develop a robust defense strategy tailored to your case. This may involve challenging the credibility of witnesses, presenting evidence of self-defense, or demonstrating a lack of intent.
We will negotiate with prosecutors on your behalf to seek a reduction or dismissal of charges. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators who strive to secure the best possible outcome without the need for a lengthy trial.
If your case goes to trial, you can count on our experienced trial attorneys to represent you effectively in court. We will present a compelling case, backed by strong evidence and expert testimony, to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive a fair trial.
A conviction for assault or battery can result in serious criminal penalties, including jail or prison time, fines, and probation. The severity of the penalties depends on the nature of the offense and any prior criminal history.
A criminal conviction can have long-term impacts on your employment prospects, personal relationships, and overall quality of life. It can also affect your ability to obtain professional licenses, housing, and loans.
If you are accused of assault or battery, it is crucial to remain calm and seek legal counsel immediately. Avoid making any statements to the police without your attorney present.
Assault involves the threat or attempt of physical harm, while battery involves actual physical contact. Both charges can have serious legal consequences.
Yes, self-defense can be a valid defense in assault and battery cases. However, you must demonstrate that you reasonably believed you were in imminent danger and that your actions were necessary to protect yourself.
Penalties for assault and battery convictions can include jail or prison time, fines, probation, and community service. The severity of the penalties depends on the specifics of the case and any prior criminal history.
The length of the legal process varies depending on the complexity of the case and whether it goes to trial. Some cases may be resolved in a few months, while others can take a year or more.
Evidence in assault and battery cases can include witness statements, medical records, surveillance footage, and physical evidence from the scene of the incident.
Charges can be dropped if there is insufficient evidence or if the prosecution determines that it is not in the interest of justice to proceed. Your attorney can negotiate with the prosecution to seek a dismissal of charges.
The statute of limitations for filing assault and battery charges varies by state. It is important to consult with an attorney to understand the specific time limits for your case.
A lawyer can provide critical legal advice, represent you in court, negotiate with prosecutors, and develop a strong defense strategy to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome.
During a trial, both the prosecution and defense will present their cases, including evidence and witness testimony. Your attorney will cross-examine witnesses, challenge the prosecution’s evidence, and present your defense to the judge or jury.
Contact Semenza Law Firm today. We are here to provide you with the legal support and expertise you need to secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
Nationwide Service: Wherever you are, Semenza Law Firm is here to help. Call either of our locations, fill out a form, or email us at stephen@ssemenzalaw.com.
Quick Links
Ssemenza Law
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to