Picard v. Barry Pontiac Buick, Inc.
Supreme Court of Rhode Island
654 A.2d 690 (1995)
During a repair dispute, Picard (plaintiff) photographed a dealership employee, who then approached her pointing his finger, demanded to know who authorized the photo, and placed his finger on the camera in her hand; Picard sued for assault and battery and won substantial compensatory and punitive damages at trial, and the dealership and employee appealed, arguing she was never in reasonable fear of bodily harm and there was no evidence of intent to touch her.
Whether a plaintiff may recover for assault and battery where she had a reasonable fear of imminent bodily harm from the defendant's conduct and the defendant intentionally touched something connected to her, even without direct physical contact with her body.