Legal Question in Personal Injury in California

Re: beat up by friends

There is little you can do to have the others jailed. You can call a higher up in the police department and try to get him/her to review the decision, but it is unlikely they would overrule the officers who actually saw the demeanor of those involved in the fight.

As to suing them and winning, that involves a few steps. Did you honestly have any fault in causing the fight, did you do anything beyond defending your self but did not try to hit them once they stopped fighting? Any percentage of your fault reduces the amount you recover by that percentage. You can file a civil suit, but unless you can prove damages worth at least $15,000, a lawyer is not likely to take on the case. You might have to sue yourself in Small Claims Court which limits the recovery to $7,500 per defendant. Parents are liable up to $15,000 for the improper acts of their minor children. Since your wife was physically present and saw the entire incident, she can sue for her emotional damages.You should start consulting with an attorney.