Is there a difference between a threat and a warning legally speaking?
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Is there a difference between a threat and a warning legally speaking?
Asked on August 16, 2015 under Criminal Law, Michigan
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
If the "warning" was a warning that a person would use violence under certain circumstances or do some act which is itself illegal, like damaging or destroying another's property, it was an illegal threat. Someone may never legally threaten to commit an act of violence or a criminal act. Other threats or warnings are legal, so long as the action threatened is legal: e.g. an employer's threat to fire an employee; a threat to sue someone if they breach a contract or damage your property; etc. These are legal because the person has a right to do these things.
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