First Principles of Business Law

6. Battery

6.1. Wrongful physical contact with another person

Read the example below, and then answer the questions.

A is a football player. One Saturday afternoon he plays for his team in a league match. Just before half time, A is slow to pass the ball and while running at full speed is tackled around the legs by B, a player in the opposing team. A falls heavily, twists his knee badly and has to leave the field. After the game, on his way out of the dressing rooms, B pushes impatiently past A, bumping A aside. A is angry about both incidents.

1. Could A successfully sue B for battery on the basis that B's tackle during the game caused him quite serious physical injury?

2. Could A successfully sue B for battery on the basis of the physical contact when B bumped him aside after the game?

3. Assuming some unlawful physical contact by B on A, would A need to prove that he had suffered some injury to succeed in an action for battery?