Multiple plaintiffs brought a civil action for damages arising from assault, battery, and intentional infliction of mental suffering following repeated incidents of non-consensual sexual touching and degrading sexual harassment by a neighbour during social interactions.
The defendant did not defend the action and failed to appear at trial.
The court found that repeated non-consensual touching constituted battery and that accompanying degrading remarks and intimidation caused reasonable apprehension of further sexual battery, amounting to assault and intentional infliction of mental suffering.
Although several plaintiffs described psychological impacts, no expert medical evidence was presented.
The court awarded modest general damages reflecting the seriousness of the conduct but the limited evidentiary record and relatively short duration of events.