Karen was at Big Mart. She carried an umbrella that was similar to the one sold by the store. She left the store without passing through the checkout lane. Steve sees Karen and asks her to follow him to the store. Steve thought Karen was shoplifting, but she proves to him that the umbrella was hers. Steve apologized and allowed Karen to leave. The facts, in this case, show that Karen cannot sue the store for defamation or even false imprisonment (Abbott, Pendlebury & Wardman, 2013). The case, for example, does not provide evidence that indicates that Steve harassed or called Karen in front of people. The two were in the store, and there was no one else; thus, she cannot sue for defamation.
Karen cannot succeed if she sues the store for false imprisonment. According to the case, it is evident that she was only held for a reasonable time to allow Steve to confirm that the umbrella was hers. Similarly, the store enjoys the storekeeper privileges where they are allowed to detain individuals for a reasonable time to determine whether they have shoplifted. According to Hodges v. Meijer INC, the incident was unfortunate as well as traumatic since the appellant was not guilty. However, there was probable cause to suspect shoplifting. Karen cannot claim that the detention was intentional or unlawful; thus, she cannot succeed if she sued the store.
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According to Hodges v. Meijer, INC, a principle or agent with probable cause that an item in-store was unlawfully taken may detain such a person for a reasonable time and manner within the establishment. Such facts are supported by Leah Wynette Williams v. Lisa Annette Lipscomb. Steve or Big Mart is not liable under the principal-agent relationship. Steve was performing his duty, and there was probable cause for the action since the umbrella resembled the ones sold by the store.
References
Abbott, K., Pendlebury, N., & Wardman, K. (2013). Business law . Andover: Cengage Learning.
Finlaw. (2019). HODGES et al., Appellants, v. MEIJER, INC. Retrieved 29 October 2019, from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/oh-court-of-appeals/1097953.html
Leah Wynette Williams v. Lisa Annette Lipscomb. (2017). Retrieved 29 October 2019, from https://www.humanrightslawyerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/441/2017/12/2017.09.26-1-Complaint.pdf
