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Civil demand after shoplifting

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  • 03-21-2006, 09:17 AM
    whatwasithinking
    Civil demand after shoplifting
    I read this in someone's recent post:

    So I hired a lawyer on my own, I told him I wanted to join the "First Offenders Program" he asked me if Ive recieved a civil demand or paid it yet. I havent so I said no, he told me not to pay it because I dont own any property and they cant take anything away from me.***NOTE: He also mentioned that he could lessen the amount of community service I'd have to do if I've already paid the civil demand admitting guilt and remorsh.***

    my question is this...do you just NOT pay the civil demand? What if it due before you go to court? Does paying thedemand admit to guilt...is this person right in saying that since you don't own any of the stolen property, you do not owe the store the dollar amount posted on their civil demand? It also says on the paper that they can sue you if you don't pay it. Help!!! I am confused!
  • 03-21-2006, 09:34 AM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Payment of the civil demand is not an admission of guilt. The store can sue you if you choose not to pay.
  • 03-21-2006, 10:08 AM
    moviejim
    Knowitall is correct.

    Civil demand doesn't only cover the stolen item, it also covers any costs/expenses arisen from the shoplifting incident. Therefore, even if they have recovered the item, they could still ask for a civil demand.

    But I guess it doesn't hurt to hold off the payment for a month or so if you want to see what happens in court first.
  • 03-21-2006, 04:59 PM
    LP1186
    I believe that they can also put the civil demand on your credit if you don't pay it, therefore you could be denied loans or hurt your chances of getting certain jobs. I would not advice that you not pay your civil demand, however I am not a lawyer, I work in Loss Prevention so my opinion is a little biased on that subject. Also, the civil demand helps to fund the loss prevention department. The merchandise is put back onto the shelf and resold, so it does not pay for the items you took. It only seems fair to me that the company be allowed to collect damages, sense people steal the company must fund the Loss Prevention department to retrieve the stole property. The company has to have some way to fund the loss prevention department, with out the civil demand the company would not be able to fund the LP department, and therefore people would be stealing left and right everywhere, which doesn't seem right to me.
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