Caught for shoplifting and item(less that $10) at Safeway by undercover security. I feel bad, etc... like everyone else. I gave them my address, driver's licence, refused to give SSN. I got a letter in the mail 2 months later from Safeway's lawyers saying they wanted me to pay $300 money order, check, or credit card payable to SAFEWAY, and avoid a civil suit.
Then at the bottom it says:
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The payment of any demand made upon you does not prevent criminal prosecution under a related criminal statute provision. Payment of the amount demanded may not be used in any court proceedings as an admission of liability.
So my questions are:
1. Does anyone have experience with these cases and is there any way I can ask them to pay $200 or something less than $300 since the item i took was only like $5.
2. I am a 20 year old college student and obviously want a clean record. Since it is a civil settlement nothing will go on my record, but should I be worried about the IMPORTANT NOTICE??
Thanks! Any advice would be very much appreciated.

