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Physically Harmed By Intoxicated Coworker At Official Company Event — What Legal Protections Apply?

Location: California, USA

I was at an official company event in California (not in the office but hosted and paid for by the company, with alcohol served). A senior coworker who was intoxicated initiated what seemed like playful contact, but it escalated to the point where I and at least one other colleague were physically harmed — we both had visible injuries, including bruising and cuts.

I documented everything with photos and filed a police report. However, leadership has minimized the situation and taken no action against the person involved. I was told to rest at home for a day, but I’m expected to return to work and continue collaborating with this colleague next week.

This colleague holds a leadership role in the company and is considered “critical,” which seems to be affecting how the company is responding.

My questions:

Under California law, could this qualify as battery or assault, even if it happened in a social context and the person was intoxicated?
What California labor laws or protections apply when an employee is physically harmed by another employee at a work-sponsored event?
Do I have grounds for a civil claim against the individual or employer, given that this happened at an official company function?

Thanks in advance for any direction. I’m just trying to understand what protections exist and what next steps I should consider.

submitted by /u/Fabulous_Purple_6444
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Physically Harmed By Intoxicated Coworker At Official Company Event — What Legal Protections Apply?

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