$100k After Falsely Accused of Shoplifting in Maryland
After being falsely accused of shoplifting a $6 watermelon, Whitney, LLP’s client received a $100,000 settlement paid by the store owner. If you were falsely accused of shoplifting, call Whitney, LLP. Our attorneys represent victims who were wrongfully accused of shoplifting.
In this blog post, we’ll share details of a 2023 false shoplifting accusation case in Baltimore, Maryland in which we negotiated $100,000 in false shoplifting accusation compensation. Of course, all cases are different, and past results do not guarantee future results.
We represent clients across Maryland including in Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Glen Burnie, Ellicott City, Frederick, Dundalk, Rockville and Ocean City.
Read about one of our past $50,000 settlement for a shoplifting accusation at a mall, and watch our Youtube video on one of our false shoplifting cases.
We offer Free Case Evaluations for victims of false shoplifting accusations.
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Falsely Accused of Stealing in Baltimore, Maryland
In a recent case, a young woman experienced a nightmarish ordeal while leaving a local supermarket in Baltimore, Maryland.
What should have been an ordinary shopping trip turned into an ordeal when she was falsely accused of shoplifting and prevented from leaving by a store security guard.
$6 Watermelon leads to $100,000 in False Shoplifting Accusation Compensation
Our client’s shopping trip involved purchasing a watermelon for $6 at a self-checkout counter. However, upon trying to leave the store, she was confronted by a security guard. The security guard demanded to see the receipt for the $6 watermelon. He refused to allow her to leave when she was unable to produce the receipt.
When our client explained to the security guard that she had paid for the watermelon, misplaced the receipt and asked him to simply review the videotape for proof of her payment, he refused.
Instead, he prevented her from leaving and did not allow her to leave until she had provided a hand-written statement of her explanation of what happened.
What to Do After Being Accused of Shoplifting
Our client immediately called an attorney in Towson, Maryland that she had worked with before. That attorney referred the case to Whitney, LLP’s false shoplifting accusation lawyers.
Send Preservation Letter
Whitney, LLP immediately emailed and mailed a Preservation Letter to the store directing them to preserve the videotape of our client being prevented from leaving.
In cases that involve a videotape, it is critical to preserve the footage. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video can be worth much more when it provides accurate and irrefutable evidence of exactly what happened.
$100k Settlement After Being Falsely Accused of Shoplifting Baltimore Maryland
The supermarket’s attorney called Whitney, LLP’s attorney after receiving the Preservation Letter. After discussing the case with Whitney, LLP’s false shoplifting accusation lawyer, the store realized they were accountable for the actions of their security guard.
We explained that our client was detained for over 20 minutes without a legitimate basis for the security guard to do so, and that the store now faced significant liability for their negligence and false imprisonment and invasion of privacy of our client.
After negotiations, the case settled for $100,000, without a lawsuit being filed.
Victims of false shoplifting accusations have many legal rights in Maryland. You can fight back to recover significant compensation.
Falsely Accused of Shoplifting Compensation
Falsely accused of shoplifting compensation can be significant, based on the significant harm, including emotional distress and damage to one’s reputation, that can occur.
The amount of compensation that can be recovered after being falsely accused of shoplifting depends on several factors.
Falsely Accused of Shoplifting Compensation Factors include:
- Where the accusation and detention occurs (inside store, public parking lot; taken to a small security office, etc.)
- Length of detention;
- Public humiliation and embarrassment;
- Manner in which detained;
- Physical force used to detain;
- Police responding to the scene;
- A history of wrongful detention and false shoplifting accusations by the store or security guard, or security company; and
- Emotional distress suffered by the victim.
Whitney, LLP has experience applying the law and maximizing the compensation that victims of wrongful shoplifting accusations can recover.
What to Do If Falsely Accused of Shoplifting
A common question for victims of false shoplifting accusations is “what to do if falsely accused of shoplifting?”. There are several important steps to keep in mind that will increase the odds of being able to successfully hold those responsible for their actions. These steps may include:
- Call the police if you are being unlawfully detained;
- Get the name of the individuals who are preventing you from leaving;
- Immediately call a false shoplifting accusation attorney;
- Get the names of any witnesses, if possible; and
- Make sure video evidence is preserved by all parties that may have video. For example, a store may have video of an encounter, and a security company may also have video of the same encounter. All video should be preserved.
Falsely Accused of Shoplifting Attorney Maryland – Whitney, LLP
Whitney, LLP has experience representing victims of false shoplifting accusations in Maryland and recovering compensation for those wrongful actions.
We have successfully recovered compensation for victims of false shoplifting accusations in Maryland involving:
- Malls;
- Police encounters after police are called without a legitimate basis to do so;
- Security companies that detain shoppers without evidence or a reasonable basis to do so;
- Stores that behave unreasonably and prevent shoppers from leaving upon request;
- Stores that have no evidence of theft but detain customers on unsupported suspicion; and
- Racial profiling as a basis for false shoplifting accusations
If you or someone you know has been wrongfully accused of shoplifting, call us. We help our clients fight back.
We offer Free Case Evaluations for victims of false shoplifting accusations.
Call Whitney, LLP at 410 583 8000, or use our Quick Contact Form, to discuss your potential case.
