Wiliams Divorce & Family Law Logo

NOT SURE IF WE CAN HELP?Request your free 30 minute consultOR CALL US AT 651-332-7650

  • Home
  • Our Staff
    • Attorney Gerald O. Williams
    • Paralegal Jocelyn Daul
  • Practice Areas
    • Alimony
    • Child Custody
    • Child Support
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Divorce
    • International Custody
    • Interstate Custody
    • LGBTQIA+ Divorce & Custody
    • Mediation
  • Billing
    • Billing FAQ
    • Flat Fee Divorce
    • Flat Fee Mediation
  • Blog
  • Courts
    • Dakota County Family Courts
    • Hennepin County Family Court
    • Ramsey County Family Courts
    • Washington County Family Court
  • Clients
    • Make Payment
    • Secure File Upload
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Directions to Williams Divorce and Family Law
    • Privacy Policy

Harassment

Posted by Gerald Williams 
· June 1, 2019 
· No Comments

It is not unusual in divorce and family law cases for issues to arise that pertain to harassment. Not harassment as in physical or sexual assault, or residential picketing (although these do constitute harassment by statute). It is the form of harassment defined as “repeated incidents of intrusive or unwanted acts, words, or gestures that have a substantial adverse effect or are intended to have a substantial adverse effect on the safety, security, or privacy of another, regardless of the relationship between the actor and the intended target.” Minn. Stat. Section 609.748, subd. 1(a)(1).

What is an unwanted act in one person’s view is completely innocuous in another person’s view – especially when the two persons involved do not get along. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly identify that something (such as showing up unannounced at one’s residence, or sending hostile emails) is unwanted. It is a matter of setting the record straight, for example, on whether a rash of emails is hostile or harmless.

Essentially, it is a 3-strike rule. Strike 1: Offender engages in conduct that Recipient considers hostile, but Offender considers (or claims to be) harmless. Recipient is fed up, and so informs Offender in writing. Recipient is well served to make it clear in the written correspondence that Recipient (a) finds the act to be hostile, not harmless; (b) therefore, future similar conduct is unwanted; and (c) legal action will be taken if Offender persists. Strike 2: Offender persists with hostile conduct. Under these circumstances, the act squarely fits the statutory definition of harassment, because Recipient has clearly called out the fact that the conduct is unwanted. Offender cannot reasonably claim that the conduct is innocuous when Recipient has identified the “unwantedness” in writing. If Recipient is successful in obtaining a Harassment Restraining Order from the court restraining Offender from the unwanted conduct, that leads to… Strike 3: Offender further persists with hostile conduct, and is subject to arrest and prosecution.

No Comments
Categories : General Family Law
Previous Post →
← Next Post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Summary Real Estate Disposition Judgment
  • Custody Evaluations
  • In Camera Interviews of Children
  • Guardians Ad Litem
  • Certificate of Dissolution

Categories

  • Alimony / Spousal Maintenance (8)
  • Child Custody (42)
  • Child Support (21)
  • Co-parenting (1)
  • Court of Appeals (2)
  • Divorce (45)
  • Financial Issues (2)
  • General Family Law (53)
  • Guardian ad litem (6)
  • Interstate issues (2)
  • Mediation (5)
  • Mental Health (3)
  • Parenting Plans (1)
  • Parenting Time (17)
  • Parenting time expeditor (3)
  • Same Sex Divorce (5)
  • Uncategorized (28)
  • Uncontested Divorce (6)
Copyright © 2023 Williams Divorce & Family Law All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy

The content of this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. To establish an attorney-client relationship with Williams Divorce & Family Law requires a retainer agreement signed by you and attorney Gerald O. Williams. Woodbury/St. Paul, Minnesota, attorney, Gerald O. Williams, represents clients in divorce and family law matters throughout the seven county metro area, including the communities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove, Maplewood, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, and Stillwater. The seven county metro area includes Washington, Ramsey, Hennepin, Dakota, Anoka, Scott, and Carver.

Is court in person? Court Covid Update