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  1. #1
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    Sep 2013
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    Thumbs up Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Minnesota

    Well, I currently reside in Minnesota and was caught shoplifting in Wisconsin. Yes, I got off with a diversion program and received many letters from the "Palmer and Reifler" law firm. To those who have been told by this forum that by not paying this demand the law firm is likely to sue you. Well, let me assure you worried folks, after the third letter they have sent me, it stopped. Palmer, Reifler & Associates are a notorious law firm that are known to use scare tactics so that those who are worried and unsure will "settle" for this demand and not get sued in civil court. Well, I have to tell you guys, Palmer and Reifler are bluffing and using legal extortion by sending off these demand letters. Don't fall for these letters! My friend who was falsely accused of stealing an item (not taken to court, nothing) got these letters demanding him to pay $300, and nothing ever happened after 3 months! THEY ARE BLUFFING!

    Just a friendly letter to those who are worried about these demand letters,
    Dongbae

    P.S.
    You owe them nothing! Rest assured you won't be sued in civil/small claims court. Restitution for those items stolen were already paid back when you have them back to LP. Don't let this foolish forum fool you, Palmer and Reifler sent millions, MILLIONS, of these demand letters out and publicly admitted into only suing less than 10 people. Ridiculous!

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    What most people tell thieves like you is that if you don't pay, particularly if you choose not to pay after a store gives you a break by not prosecuting, you are taking a chance.

    The law specifically allows stores to send civil demands to thieves they catch stealing from them, so this has nothing to do with "extortion".

  3. #3
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    Sep 2013
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    Default Re: Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    For someone who knows it all, you definitely don't know anything about this civil demand at all. Many states have statutes that limit the award given to these law firms for around $500 and that is something not worth prosecuting for because the cost of a lawyer and the cost of actually going to court to file the suit would cost WAY more than that $500. Why would they prosecute you if they were going to lose more than they would make? It's obvious, to make free money. They also send out letters one day before the due date (this has been confirmed on many sites and on official news and media sites) to ensure that the person receiving the demand would pay the second amount of the demand (which is typically double the first amount). Do you have any more opinions to add?

    Dongbae

  4. #4
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    Mar 2009
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    Michigan
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    6,808

    Default Re: Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    Folks....who do you want to take advice from? A volunteer with 68,000+ posts?

    Or a thief with 7 posts?

    - If they did not have a person criminally charged, the store just may change their minds about that and pass that folder over to Law Enforcement.

    - yes, they can sue you in Civil Court. AND they will add their attorney fees and filing costs to your tab. Since their lawyers will charge atleast $200/hour...do you really want to take that chance. We have seen cases where the amount more than TRIPLED by the time this happened.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
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    21

    Thumbs up Re: Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    Quote Quoting PandorasBox
    View Post
    Folks....who do you want to take advice from? A volunteer with 68,000+ posts?

    Or a thief with 7 posts?

    - If they did not have a person criminally charged, the store just may change their minds about that and pass that folder over to Law Enforcement.

    - yes, they can sue you in Civil Court. AND they will add their attorney fees and filing costs to your tab. Since their lawyers will charge atleast $200/hour...do you really want to take that chance. We have seen cases where the amount more than TRIPLED by the time this happened.
    Oh, I'm sorry I haven't been contributing much to this forum, pardon me. By the way, I could have gave tons and tons of useless advice and would've reached that "68,000+" posts you just mentioned before, but fortunately, I like to spend my time off of this forum working and studying for my 2nd year in Pre-pharm. A 3.8GPA cumulative is better than 68,000+ posts, no?, or am I just mistakened? And no, my previous theft charge did not affect my schooling, however were it to be grand larceny, that'd be a different story.

    " - If they did not have a person criminally charged, the store just may change their minds about that and pass that folder over to Law Enforcement."
    - Are you really sure about that? Regardless of paying or not, paying DOES NOT let you off the hook of your criminal case whatsoever. A few 30-minute consultations between Minnesota and Wisconsin gave me this simple and final answer. Paying will only "release" you from your civil case and stop you from getting sued (in which you will NEVER get sued EVER because Palmer and Reifler are notorious for having the lowest suing ratio EVER; notice the uppercased words).

    " yes, they can sue you in Civil Court. AND they will add their attorney fees and filing costs to your tab. Since their lawyers will charge atleast $200/hour...do you really want to take that chance. We have seen cases where the amount more than TRIPLED by the time this happened."
    - Folks, I just can't stress enough to say this... Don't pay, or pay if it's part of a plea-bargain with a DA regarding your court date. Do a few searches on Avvo and this answer will come flying out at you. Again, let me state this again, Palmer, Reifler & Associates are notorious for sending MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of these demands out across the United States and having sued ONLY LESS THAN 10 TIMES.

    Edit: This is mainly to 'Pandorasbox,' Most, if not all, state statutes allow a reward of $500 MAX, yes $500 MAX, for winning a suit against retail theft. Now if you were a prosecutor would you really want to prosecute this case, file a suit, hire a lawyer ($200/hr as you said earlier, good job!) and go to court for a mere $500? Think again, buddy. Why, I don't think Palmer and Reifler would have the guts to come to court themselves considering what they're doing is "legal extortion" (not directly extortion, but reworded in the letters to not violate legal laws).

    If you want proof of this so-called "Law Firm," here it is (Official news and everything ):

    Source #1) Complaints against Palmer and Reifler - This isn't probably that significant to you guys, but have a look at it anyways.
    Source #2) "Shaking Down" on the Accused - This is still a current case, so we'll see where this goes against Palmer and Reifler.
    Source #3) MUST READ!! - And viola~ We hit gold!

    Happy hunting and cheers,
    Dongbae

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    16,474

    Default Re: Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    Quote Quoting Mr. Knowitall
    View Post
    What most people tell thieves like you is that if you don't pay, particularly if you choose not to pay after a store gives you a break by not prosecuting, you are taking a chance.

    The law specifically allows stores to send civil demands to thieves they catch stealing from them, so this has nothing to do with "extortion".
    I have actually had several different attorneys in my area tell me that those letters are "nothing more than legal extortion"...so the opinion is also shared by at least some attorneys.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
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    Default Re: Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    Quote Quoting llworking
    View Post
    I have actually had several different attorneys in my area tell me that those letters are "nothing more than legal extortion"...so the opinion is also shared by at least some attorneys.
    I am so glad that there is somebody here on this forum that is on my side. Welcome aboard, friend!

    Dongbae

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    Quote Quoting llworking
    View Post
    I have actually had several different attorneys in my area tell me that those letters are "nothing more than legal extortion"...so the opinion is also shared by at least some attorneys.
    I can't help it if some of the lawyers in your area are as dumb as our shoplifting friend here, dingbat. There is no such thing as "legal extortion" - extortion is not legal.

  9. #9
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    Mar 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
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    Default Re: Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    "Now if you were a prosecutor would you really want to prosecute this case, file a suit, hire a lawyer ($200/hr as you said earlier, good job!) and go to court for a mere $500? Think again, buddy."

    this shows your knowledge...of big time LACK of it.

    It's NOT the Prosecutor who files the Civil Demand/Civil Lawsuit. This is separate from the Criminal Case. This is a Civil Case filed by the store and it's attorneys/collection agency.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
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    101

    Default Re: Civil Demand Letter from Palmer, Reifler and Associates

    Quote Quoting Dongbae
    View Post
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Minnesota

    Well, I currently reside in Minnesota and was caught shoplifting in Wisconsin. Yes, I got off with a diversion program and received many letters from the "Palmer and Reifler" law firm. To those who have been told by this forum that by not paying this demand the law firm is likely to sue you. Well, let me assure you worried folks, after the third letter they have sent me, it stopped. Palmer, Reifler & Associates are a notorious law firm that are known to use scare tactics so that those who are worried and unsure will "settle" for this demand and not get sued in civil court. Well, I have to tell you guys, Palmer and Reifler are bluffing and using legal extortion by sending off these demand letters. Don't fall for these letters! My friend who was falsely accused of stealing an item (not taken to court, nothing) got these letters demanding him to pay $300, and nothing ever happened after 3 months! THEY ARE BLUFFING!

    Just a friendly letter to those who are worried about these demand letters,
    Dongbae

    P.S.
    You owe them nothing! Rest assured you won't be sued in civil/small claims court. Restitution for those items stolen were already paid back when you have them back to LP. Don't let this foolish forum fool you, Palmer and Reifler sent millions, MILLIONS, of these demand letters out and publicly admitted into only suing less than 10 people. Ridiculous!
    Well I have to disagree about your claim this is extortion and about the purpose being restitution. What they are doing is perfectly legal in many if not most states and the companies that hired them have a right to civil damages to cover the costs they incur because of shoplifting. Your sticky fingers end up costing everyone to the tune of $10 BILLION/year in lost merchandise and loss prevention measures. Though it is true that ignoring these demand letters rarely results in civil actions, I don't think anyone can rest assured that their particular case will be so treated. Just as deciding to gamble that you wouldn't get caught shoplifting, I suppose you could also gamble on this one

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