How Non-Physical Abuse is Proven in Court

Abuse takes many forms, but most Americans correlate the term “abuse” with physical violence. Emotional abuse pertains to any act of humiliation, degradation, intimidation, isolation, verbal assault, confinement, or ridicule that diminishes the victim’s identity, dignity, and/or sense of self-worth. Victims of emotional abuse endure prolonged psychological distress that can sometimes result in various long-term or permanent psychological conditions.

Anyone who has been accused of emotional abuse should not know how evidence is gathered and presented surrounding the abuse. Unlike physical abuse, emotional abuse does not leave readily apparent scars and bruises, so it is easy to make false accusations without the presence of concrete evidence. Knowing the basics of how emotional abuse is proven in court is vitally important to defending yourself against false claims.

DOCUMENT AND RECORD

One of the strongest pieces of evidence for victims of emotional abuse are documenting and recording instances of abuse. Recording the incidents of abuse can be valuable later should they need to prove their case in court. Everything from the date, time, and place the alleged abuse occurred can be taken into account. However, if this documentation is not accurate or concise, it can present ambiguity later on.

Some emotional abuse may take place over various types of text communication, including text messaging, messenger apps, and email. If any such examples exist, it can be saved for future reference. Emotional abuse is very common in personal relationships, but can also occur in the workplace and other professional settings. Wherever it occurs, it can be documented and saved. This type of evidence will be valuable if a lawsuit is filed.

Emotional abuse can come into play in a variety of different cases, including personal injury lawsuits, employment disputes, medical malpractice, and various other areas of law. A judge will measure the evidence of emotional abuse and consider testimony from expert witnesses to determine the severity of the emotional abuse and award an appropriate amount of compensation. The more concrete the evidence, the more likely the plaintiff is to succeed in securing damages for emotional abuse.

FINDING WITNESSES

If the emotional abuse in question involves a close relative, more than likely they know of someone who may be able to act as a witness in your case. For emotional abuse cases in the workplace, other employees who interact with the alleged abuser may also have their own documentation or story as it relates to the abuse.

PROVIDING EVIDENCE

One of the first things victims of emotional abuse can do is to enter counseling with a therapist to discuss the abuse. Not only can this be therapeutic and comforting to victims, but it will also serve as evidence if they file a lawsuit later. A counselor can act as witness on their behalf in court.

The final step in emotional abuse cases is contacting the appropriate authorities. In some cases this may involve child protective services, state social workers, law enforcement, or other possible agencies to officially intervene. For emotional abuse in the workplace, victims can contact their Human Resources Director for guidance about starting a workplace claim and working toward a resolution.

Abusive relationships, in whatever form they take, should be stopped. However, due to the subjective nature of these types of claims, it is very easy for things to be misconstrued and false accusations to arise. If someone decides to pursue legal action, it’s vital to act quickly. Speak with a criminal defense attorney in your area and discuss steps you can take to protect your rights.