Is it Discrimination for a Store to Monitor a Blind Shoplifter

[ChelseaLynn]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Utah.
First off, I want to start out with I know what I did was incredibly stupid and wrong, but I was caught shoplifting from walmart. The total of stuff was $37(I had the Monet to buy it) the only reason I did it was for my psychology class homework to break a social norm) stupid I know, I needed something better!! Anyway, I had all intent to purchace the merchandise. Cops were called and I now have a court date set. My thing is, can I get walmart for discrimination? I'm legally blind, and I came into walmart with my cane, they followed me from the beginning of the store and labeled me suspicious because how I had to get close to things(like insanely close) and it was not normal..I take full responsibility for the stuff I took, and kept telling them I was gonna pay!! I didn't directly go to the dept and start stuffing stuff..any advise?

[Disagreeable]

As your professor advised you, "Do not break the law in your selection". The truth is you are a thief. My stepdaughter put on fairy wings and she and my son spent a few hours at the mall. Nothing was harmed but societies perception of her sanity. Perhaps instead you should sing the praises of Walmart security who were so concerned about the adult with the blind person cane, they monitored them to make sure assistance was not needed.

Printed in large, bold, text to ease reading.

[ChelseaLynn]

The reason I did it was not the issue, ok, I said I was incredibly stupid, it's the fact I was followed the whole time because of my disability.

[Disagreeable]

See my response. You should thank them for being so concerned for your welfare.

[jk]

it's the fact I was followed the whole time because of my disability.

no, they followed you because you were suspicious and their suspicions were shown to be valid by the fact you were in fact stealing.




Ya know, it is really REALLY stupid to steal if you are a blind person. How do you know who is watching you? In fact, how do you know they were following you at all?

and your insanely close would be to your eyes, like in right out there in the open, about or around head level, kind of above the shoulders and above any place on your body that would allow you to conceal the merchandise,


unless it was Q-tips or pick up sticks. You could shove those in your ears to hide them.

[flyingron]

Shoplifters aren't a protected class. Further, watching someone closely is not discrimination even if they did it because you were disabled. Your excuses are spurious. Sell the Monet and use the money to hire an attorney. You need one now.

[jk]

Shoplifters aren't a protected class. Further, watching someone closely is not discrimination even if they did it because you were disabled. Your excuses are spurious. Sell the Monet and use the money to hire an attorney. You need one now.

I missed that. OP even capitalized it.

[LawResearcherMissy]

Anyway, I had all intent to purchace the merchandise.

Horsepuckey. People with intent to pay put their merchandise in a cart or basket, then they go to the checkout and PAY. They certainly don't make up some BS excuse about "breaking a social norm" homework. No professor would advise such nonsense, as Disagreeable notes above. I had the same homework years ago when pursuing my teaching credentials, and my professor was very clear that breaking the law would earn an F for the entire course. You couldn't dress up like Lady Gaga or something? Sheesh.

My thing is, can I get walmart for discrimination?

Oh dear gods, I laughed so hard, I almost peed.

In what universe do you imagine that it's discrimination to keep a close eye on a shoplifter? Or for loss prevention to follow anyone at all? They're doing their job - it's even right in the name of the department! No, it's not discrimination for them to follow you around.

You desperately need an attorney, because if you try the "it was for homework", the judge is going to ask you just how stupid you think he is, and throw the book at you. Lawyer up, kid.

[eerelations]

What's this "Said Rumination" all about?

[jk]

What's this "Said Rumination" all about?

while I suspect OP is using it to refer to something with this definition:

• Rumination (psychology), contemplation or reflection, which may become persistent and recurrent worrying or brooding

but I think it is more likely accurately used in this definition, at least such that the result of the rumination are what we are being presented with

• Rumination, the digestive process of ruminants

and just for clarity sake, a cow is a ruminant and if you limit it to male cattle, the result would be bullshit.