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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    1

    Default Accused of Stealing When Making a Return

    My question involves court procedures for the state of: Maryland

    Me and a friend were in American Eagle and we were shopping. I had to return about 3 items and at the time I couldn't find my receipt. The sales associate was very rude. Slamming my items on the counter and his face masked of frustration. I noticed but didn’t say anything. When we left the store I looked over my receipt and notice only 2 out of the items were returned but he kept all 3 items. So we go back into the store and his line was very long so we walk up to 2 females chatting. I interrupt and explain my situation and the lady start getting very irate. Later to find out she's the manager. She told me and my friend that we fit a description and the items we returned fit a description also. She also said we stole those items from Towson MD store ands we need to go back where we came from. We were modified. We asked her did she have the correct people and she said yes and she wanted us out of her store. If we didn’t leave she was going to call security. Of course we didn’t leave because we were being accused of stealing and we didn’t. She was screaming at is and all the customers were staring at us like they were disgusted at us. I wanted to cry that's how humiliated I was. The cops came and of course they already accuse you of stealing even if you didn’t. They took us to the side and ask us for our identification. We gave it to them and the officer took it to the manager. She in turn pulled out a loss and prevention form. We were trying to explain to the officers that we didn’t know what she was talking about. While the whole commotions were taking place I started looking into my bag for my receipt and I found it. We took it to the officer and manager and she didn’t even apologize she said "oh miraculous they found their receipt” I just looked at her because I couldn't believe a manager was acting like this to a customer. What are my rights can I sue the store for being wrongfully accused of stealing and discrimination?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9,096

    Default Re: What Are My Rights

    You can try.

    If you want to drop 10K on an attorney, go ahead.

    Exactly what were your monetary damages? I am not asking to be cute... monetary damages are the basis of a law suit.

    Oh, and the next time you are asked to leave a property, I suggest you do so... regardless of how righteous your cause. The manager could have had you arrested for trespassing.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Il.(near StL,Mo.)
    Posts
    5,252

    Default Re: Accused of Stealing When Making a Return

    Agree with cyjeff - what are your monetary damages? Keep in mind you will have to put out money for an attorney.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    3,835

    Default Re: What Are My Rights

    Quote Quoting cyjeff
    View Post
    You can try.

    If you want to drop 10K on an attorney, go ahead.

    Exactly what were your monetary damages? I am not asking to be cute... monetary damages are the basis of a law suit.
    Being accused of stealing is defamatory "on it's face" and requires no damages. Of course a 3rd party must be part of the accusation, which there were 2 of them, so each one was accused of stealing in front of the other.

    However, we have to factor in what specific facts were at work when such accusation was made. If it was made in good faith based on a known shoplifting at another store that matched some items, it may deminish such defamation??

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9,096

    Default Re: Accused of Stealing When Making a Return

    Especially in the face of a non receipt return.

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