Hi,

I was a victim of slander and false imprisonment at a department store in
California. Basically, I was accused of shoplifting and detained for almost an
hour. During this time, they threatened and humiliated me, in clear view of
other shoppers. No police was ever called.


Questions:

1) If a lawsuit is filed, how long does it typically take for a trial to be
held? 6 months? 1 year?

2) What monetary compensation is the norm for a case such as this?


Thanks.

TTTTRWEDDEDED! wrote:
Hi,
I was a victim of slander and false imprisonment at a department store in California. Basically, I was accused of shoplifting and detained for almost an hour. During this time, they threatened and humiliated me, in clear view of other shoppers. No police was ever called.

Questions:
1) If a lawsuit is filed, how long does it typically take for a trial to be held? 6 months? 1 year?
2) What monetary compensation is the norm for a case such as this?

Thanks.


Actually, they have the right to detain and question you.
Even though the police are not called and no charges filed.
Same as an officer stopping you on the street and asking you questions about
a crime that was committed.
As it stands now, I doubt if you have a case.

"False detention" is basically the act of holding someone and not allowing
them to leave at will. If you were confronted by several employees and they
stood around you so you could not move past them, then yes possibly you have
false detention. But if only one or two people were confronting you and you
had every oppurtunity to leave, then no, false detention is not apparent.
However, had you made an attempt to leave, and one grabs you, then there is
false detention and possibly assault.

All of this would strongly depend on precisely what your state laws define
is "false detention". It does vary from state to state.

The best thing to do would be to contact an attorney who has free
consultation and let them tell you how you stand.

I am not an attorney and do not give legal advice. Only an opinion.